No networking access from USB Boot of Ubuntu OS (unknown version)

[mirka2]

Hi everyone,
Hopefully I am posting this in the right forum (and to the right people). I am setting up my office and trying to setup all the applications from my employer. They have sent me a USB stick with a bootable secure desktop on it - from what I understand it's ubuntu (i think - it looks a bit mac-ish).

*UPDATE* I found something that refers to DEBIAN when i tried it again. Still same issue. I found lots of posts that say to download a new realtek driver for unix/linux but I don't know how to do that from windows - I can't edit anything on their USB stick, it's on lockdown....

I am not savvy at all with this, so line commands and such I won't be quick to understand.

I have an HP Pavillion G7 laptop. Running windows 7 Home 64-bit, Intel core i3-2330M CPU
I have a Ralink wireless network adapter but I am not allowed to connect wireless with their system. The other adapter listed is a Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller for regular LAN connection, so I am using that right now. I have internet access on my windows profile, but when I boot to their USB device it pops up saying:

WIRED NETWORK
Disconnected - you are now offline


I've spent about 4 hours with their technical support teams who have offered no help or information and have decided simply that my network adapter is incompatible. Is there something I can download or install on my laptop to sort this out?

I wish I could give more information but that's all I have - It is also a totally secured USB Stick, so modifying anything on that particular device is a no go as well

[mörgæs]

If you create your own USB stick with the latest Buntu and boots into the live environment, do you then get wired access?