Smuggling won't work without a cargo hold to store it in.
Back to the OP. Something's clearly happened to leave you with no cargo rack. If you've not yet earned any rep, or credits, or kills, you could reset the game and start over from the main menu. This should give you a Sidewinder with a cargo rack (I suspect you accidently sold it for NIL credits, a bit like the scanner would 'sell' for NIL).
Alternatively, keep with what you have and use the Basic Discover Scanner, and buy a 309cr fuel scoop, and jet off to explore unexplored local systems. 10 systems of data, when sold via Universal Cartographics will net 200/300 per system, so maybe 2000/3000 for 60 minutes work popping around other systems. Just jump into a system from the Galaxy Map, stay in Supercruise, kill speed to NIL (will glide at 30km/s), nose to the star and hit "T" for target to reveal the star's name, then fire the basic discovery scanner (should be mapped to a firegroup, right hand HUD), and finally, nudge the thrusters forward until the fuel scoop kicks in at 80% heat, then kill the speed again at 90%. With more experience you can hover at 98% heat, but if you go over 100% you'll start taking heat damage. The scanner picks up bodies within 500ls - you'll get more credits if you go and target (reveal name) of each body, but usually just doing the scan and naming the star bags enough credits.
With your explorer funds you'll be able to buy a cargo rack, and some left over to trade. That said, you only need 100cr to start trading - pick an Agricultural system to start and trade Grain outbound and Biowaste inbound.
Good luck Commander.