how are drivers loaded in a d-linux box?

[pplaw <pplaw@pcisys.net>]

debs,

i have a  question, to which an answer is obvious probably to all but
me, regarding the modem driver, as my bootable linux box just gives me
a  prompt  when i "pon," regardless of  the modem label (/dev/ttyS01;
/dev/ttyS02...):    how does a newly reformatted hard drive, previously
running win98, recognize a modem (or any device, for that matter) if
there isn't a micro$oft o/s for a driver install?

here's my setup:
1.  233mhz laptop;
2.  a reformatted, 2.1gb hard drive;
     a) partitioned:  (hda1) 500mb--dos 16-bit;  (hda2) 1.53gb  linux
native (bootable)--hda5; 68mb linux swap--hda6; and
3.  56k, v.90,  pcmcia modem.

pls unconfuse me.

thx.

bentley taylor.

p.s.

or, is the problem that i don't have the correct/real name for
/dev/modem?  if so, how do i find out  the correct/real name for the
device?

b.

//