modem busy/not found

hello, i am new fascinated user of knoppix 3.3, planning to get a usb to save settings and after i have learned enough install debian next to/instead of fx%fx$fx!!!xp only problem is i cannot connect to the internet, and yes i searched the forums before i posted. i have a thinkpad R40, modem is Agere AC97, i think that it shouldnt be a problem, but when i query i get these messages> either modem not found/on default "modem" or modem busy when i change to "0" or "1" or "2" i am a beginner, and i looked through all documentary available on the knoppix cd. any tips? thanks in advance.

if you are lucky the new 3.4 will have your modemdriver in it, IBM laptop modem is included in the newest 2.6 kernel sourses. otherwise you could alwas buy an external modem (serial) these work great with Linux, not optimal but...