Imac unable to get online

I have an older Imac with OS 9.1. It was set up on a college dorm network and later given to me.
I have attempted to get online with it with the network cable from my ATT combo Modem/router.
When I click on Internet Explorer the dialog box comes up and says, "The application Internet Assistant could not be opened because the "Internet Access" could not be found.
This is my first Mac computer and I have spent hours and hours trying to get it on the internet.
Can someone help me get this set up to go online?
I also tried my ATT Broadband Wireless USB device on it, and it would not load it's drivers as it usually does in any PC I plug it into. Thanks for the help. Joe

Tried to get online with network cable to my Modem/Router. Did not work.
found cable bad. fixed it and now able to get online. Now have to see how to use my ATT Broadband Wireless USB to work on this Imac.
Any ideas fellows and ladies?
Do I have to install what they call an "Air Card? Joe

You would need to update the operating system to get anything that is new to work on it. Do you have any info on the imac that you have there? OS X came out in 2001 so if you only have os9 on that mac i guess it's very old and there would be a limit on what version of the later operating system that would work on there.

And the card you are asking about is called a airport card and is used to connect to a wifi network.

Any updates mate?

I am able to get online now. I set it up to use DHCP and it then connected ok. I had spent 45 min with the ATT DSL tech support and they could not tell me what to do to get connected. They referred me to the Apple tech support. I was with them for thirty min or so and they also could not or would not help me unless I paid $45 for their real support.
and while on the phone with them I clicked on DHCP and voilla it worked.
But my next attempt is to see if and how I can use my ATT Broadband Wireless USB Card on it. I have my tow company storage yard office in a rural area and do not have either a phone line available nor can I get a DSL line installed because of the exhorbant cost involved.
But I do have a good ATT Signal Strengeh there. MY ATT Broadband Card works great on a regular PC.
How would I use my ATT broadband wireless card on my Imac?
It was manuf in 1998 and has OS 9.1.
I plugged the ATT Broadband card into my USB slot on the side. The software did not start up to install. Is there something preventing it from working?

You will need to see if there are any drivers for mac os9 before that card will work. Is it possible for you to get a copy of the newer osX that will really help you out with getting it to work with that card. Really though a newer mac would be a much better option if your looking to get into macs.

Thanks, I will look online at craigslist and Ebay for the OS X. I want to move into the mac arena slow and not invest too much yet until I get Mac figured out and be sure that is the direction I want to go.
The orig Imac I got was donated from my Amway Global Sponsor, and is a 1998 year model with OS 9.1.
I got it online finally as I said, but will upgrade it to OS X.
The other is also an Imac with the year model of 2000. It has OS 9.2.1 and I will also upgrade it to OS X.

When I get online with either one and go to the Apple website I have one challange.
When I click on the "Download" link on either Imac, the computer freezes up. The mouse pointer stays with the hourglass spinning around and never changes into the pointer, no matter where you point it. I cannot even shut it down through the normal way, nor will the Power switch shut it down. The only way to shut is down is to shut off the power strip it is plugged into. So that is a little challange. Thanks for the advise. Joe

Here is some info on your newer mac and the highest level of osX is panther and that is 10.3 http://guides.macrumors.com/iMac_G3
I hope this gives you some insight into the world of mac however they have come along way since your machine and the operating system is miles better than the best that machine will run on.

I bought the OS X (10.3) panther. I got both the CD rom and The DVD version.
Trying to install it did not go well. I had the computer turned on and installed the DVD into the drive.
It seemed to load up partially and stopped and then nothing more.
What is the right way to install the new os x system?

The way to do it mate is have disc in the drive ready to go restart the machine and hold down the c key might take a few minutes but you will boot to the disc from there run the installer it should work there are disc utilities to scan the HD if needed and finally try using the drive on the machine with the cd.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...x-panther.html