Acer aspire one netbook linux cannot connect to internet

Hi Guys, as of yesterday I am the owner of an Acer one netbook bought second hand from ebay I was not aware until I opened the book that it was a Linux OS system, in fact I was so ignorant until I read up yesterday I didn't know that Linux was an OS. So I am a Linux virgin I'm afraid, I have to say I was really impressed with how easy and quickly it was to find my way around, I tried all the icons with 100% success until I tried to connect to the internet nothing happened either with LAN cable or Wireless, clicked on the network connection Icon to put in the Thomson modem access codes and nothing happened no drop down or sub menu nothing and not sure how to do a factory reset either, is there anyone who can help?

When you say "Thomson modem" do you mean a USB modem, or a router?

Try Settings - Network Center

As long as the hidden partition is still on the hard drive (Check Disc Management for hidden partition) Then press ALT and F10 at the Acer splash screen. This will take you to the Acer Factory Restore settings menu. 

WARNING - you will lose ALL your settings and may loose any saved files, if you do a 'Factory Restore' it will be like it was when it came out of the box.

If everything 'works'...I would try to sort the problem BEFORE a factory restore.

If you have a modem and not a router...my suggestion would be to get rid of it and buy a router....if you let me know what happens in settings-network center, which AA1 model, your modem/router make and model, and how you are trying to connect (USB, Wireless, or Ethernet cable) I will try to help

Another suggestion, if the Network Center is NOT working, and if you don't mind entering your network settings again is...open a terminal and enter:

rm -rf ~/.gconf/system/networking and hit enter.

Found here:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/acer-aspire-one-network-center-not-working-694251/

I forgot to mention, You will have to reboot after the above command