Question: How do I have my netbook detect and install hardware?

Info: I have an Acer Aspire One, it came with windows XP and I loaded it with Win7. I decided I wanted to change to Ubuntu so I tried Ubuntu netbook remix, which failed horribly, and so after attempting 3 or so other OS's I ended with Ubuntu Desktop 9.10. Which worked fine for a while, but there were some minor issues so I asked a question about it here and decided to change my OS again.

This last weekend I tried mandriva like that guy in my other question suggested, no success. when I had though my netbook lost the ability to use it's touch pad, I didn't think much of it, just thought it must be a driver or something. But When Mandriva failed, and I also while I was at it tried Damn small linux and Debian, which both failed to, I decided to switch back to Ubuntu Desktop(some where in here my keyboard stopped working for one attempt to). But first I gave the netbook remix one more try. it worked this time, with the exception of it didn't have any networking. I thought it was a driver issue again and finished the weekend with ubuntu desktop 9.10 again.

But now things get really crazy. it doesn't know it has a wireless card or an ethernet card. It doesn't know my phone is connected trying to provide wireless broadband either. I'm clueless on what could be the problem. And with only a minimal amount of experience with Ubuntu can't navigate the entire interface with only my keyboard(it doesn't detect a USB mouse when I plug it in, it had when I installed it. in fact the network interfaces were working just fine when I live boot ubuntu to installed it). Even so, I don't know where to go or what to do to make it recognize it's hardware. I'm in a dire situation, any help is welcome.