[jddphd]

I know this isn't directly about BBs, but many moons ago I reported about my failed effort to get Ubuntu running on my new box. I had a wireless problem, and it was just too hard and time-consuming to figure it out.

Well, I downloaded PC Linux OS 2007 and finally gave it a shot. I did the Live CD thing since I figured that was a fairly safe bet. It only asked me two questions during setup:

1) what time zone are you in?
2) what about your network connection.

I'll tell you, I was a little nervous when it asked me for the wireless info and I thought "ok, here's the test".

I was presented with two options. The first showed my actual card name/model (which I thought was promising), and the other said something about ndiswrapper and led me to believe it would hunt for a Windows driver.

I tried option #1 but no dice. I tried option #2. Again, no joy.

So I hit the PREVIOUS button and went backwards. I figured "I'll give it one more try", so I told it I had a wireless network connection and sure enough it came back with a THIRD option that simply said "ra0". It sniffed the network, asked me for the pwkey, and off it went! Loaded up a charm. It ran a little slowly, though I expect that that's a function of me running it off a CD without installing a swap file or any of the other junk on the HDD. But it worked. And get this - I even found the Remote Desktop application (KRDC or something) and managed to RD over to my work machine (which is a big deal for me as I work out of the house and need the work laptop to get onto our corporate network but don't use it for anything else because it's a piece of crap).

The interface seemed a lot easier than Ubuntu Edgy. I saw things that made sense to me in my Windows-indoctrinated brain. As I mentioned in my first effort, I'm not a complete bozo when it comes to these things. But I can't be bothered to spend a lot of time trying to figure it out when "it just works" in Windows (nb: the intelligent Linux advocate should understand this assertion to be merely a statement of familiarity and not necessarily a value judgment).

Anyway, now I'm actually thinking... maybe a dual boot?

I found some instructions.

I'm intrigued by all this...

[LunkHead]

Never tried PC Linux as I am not a big fan of KDE.... Glad it's working for you though..

Kris

[jddphd]

Well I spoke to soon. The Live CD worked fine, but on install I had a hardware problem (e.g., it could never "remember" what it already knew about my wireless adapter) and I could not seem to adjust the monitor, and I tried to use the synaptic apt-get thing but it didn't seem to work either (yes, this was after I reinitialized the wireless connection). Fortunately I had partitioned my hard drive so I could just blow it away.

[greeneggsandham]

Do you know what wireless adapter hardware you're box is using?

A couple releases ago OpenBSD made big push to reverse engineer a bunch of wireless adapters and code up os drivers. OpenBSD is not a *nix newbies OS but might be worth a shot if you're having problems with your card. Here's list of supported wireless adapters on i386 platform:

Wireless Ethernet Adapters

* ADMtek ADM8211 IEEE 802.11b CardBus adapters (atw), including: (A) (B) (C)
o 3Com OfficeConnect 3CRSHPW796
o Blitz NetWave Point
o D-Link DWL-650 Rev. L1
o SMC 2635W (version 1 only)
o TRENDnet TEW-221PC
* ADMtek ADM8211 IEEE 802.11b PCI adapters (atw), including: (A) (B) (C)
o Belkin F5D6001
o D-Link DWL-520 Rev. C1
o LanReady WP2000
o Xterasys XN2511B
* Aironet Communications 4500/4800 IEEE 802.11FH/b ISA PnP, PCI, and PCMCIA adapters (an), including: (A) (B) (C)
o Aironet 4500/4800
o Cisco 340/350
* Atheros IEEE 802.11a/b/g CardBus adapters (ath), including: (A) (B)
o 3Com 3CRPAG175
o Cisco AIR-CB21AG
o D-Link DWL-A650
o D-Link DWL-AB650
o Elecom LD-WL54
o Linksys WPC51AB
o Netgear WAB501
o Planet WL-3560
o Proxim Skyline 4030
o SMC SMC2735W
o Sony PCWA-C500
* Atheros IEEE 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (ath), including: (A) (B)
o D-Link DWL-A520
o IBM 11ABG WL LAN Mini PCI
o Proxim Skyline 4032
o Senao NL-5354MP Mini PCI
o Wistron CM9 Mini PCI
* Atheros USB IEEE 802.11a/b/g USB adapters (uath), including: (G)
o Compex WLU108AG
o Compex WLU108G
o D-Link DWL-G132
o Netgear WG111T
o Netgear WG111U
o Netgear WPN111
o Olitec 000544
o PLANET WDL-U357
o Siemens Gigaset 108
o SMC SMCWUSBT-G
o SparkLAN WL-785A
o TP-Link TL-WN620G
o TRENDware International TEW-444UB
o TRENDware International TEW-504UB
o Unex Technology UR054ag
o ZyXEL XtremeMIMO M-202
* Atmel AT76C50x IEEE 802.11b USB adapters (atu), including: (G)
o 3Com 3CRSHEW696
o AboCom BWU613
o Accton 2664W
o Acer Peripherals AWL300
o Acer Peripherals AWL400
o Actiontec 802UAT1
o Addtron AWU120
o Aincomm AWU2000B
o Askey Computer Voyager 1010
o Askey Computer WLL013 (Intersil Radio)
o Askey Computer WLL013 (RFMD Radio)
o Atmel AT76C503 (Intersil Radio)
o Atmel AT76C503 (RFMD Radio)
o Atmel AT76C505 (RFMD Radio)
o Atmel AT76C505 (RFMD 2958 Radio)
o Atmel AT76C505A (RFMD 2958 Radio)
o Atmel AT76C505AS (RFMD 2958 Radio)
o Belkin F5D6050
o Bluetake BW002
o Compaq iPAQ h54xx/h55xx Internal WLAN
o Conceptronic C11U
o Conceptronic WL210
o Corega WLAN USB Stick 11
o Dick Smith Electronics CHUSB 611G
o Dick Smith Electronics WL200U
o Dick Smith Electronics WL240U
o Dick Smith Electronics XH1153
o D-Link DWL-120 rev E
o Geowave GW-US11S
o Gigabyte GN-WLBM101
o Gigaset WLAN
o Hewlett-Packard HN210W
o Intel AP310 AnyPoint II
o I/O DATA USB WN-B11
o Lexar 2662W-AR
o Linksys WUSB11 802.11b
o Linksys WUSB11 802.11b v2.8
o MSI WLAN
o Netgear MA101
o Netgear MA101 rev B
o OQO model 01 WiFi
o Ovislink AirLive WL-1120USB
o OvisLink AirLive WL-1130USB
o Planex Communications GW-US11S
o Samsung SWL2100W
o Siemens WLL013
o SMC EZ Connect 11Mbps (SMC2662w)
o SMC EZ Connect 11Mbps v2 (SMC2662wV2)
o Tekram U-300C
o TRENDnet TEW-229UB
o W-Buddie WN210
o Z-Com M4Y-750
* Broadcom AirForce IEEE 802.11b/g CardBus adapters (bwi), including: (G)
o Buffalo WLI-CB-G54
o Linksys WPC54G Ver 3
o Linksys WPC54GS Ver 2
o US Robotics 5411
* Broadcom AirForce IEEE 802.11b/g PCI adapters (bwi), including: (G)
o Apple Airport Extreme BCM4306
o Apple Airport Extreme BCM4318
o ASUS WL-138g
o Compaq R4035 onboard
o HP nx6125
* Conexant/Intersil Prism GT Full-MAC IEEE 802.11a/b/g CardBus adapters (pgt), including: (G)
o 3COM 3CRWE154G72
o some NETGEAR WG511 (those made in Taiwan, NOT in China)
o SMC EZ Connect g 2.4GHz SMC2835W-v2
o Soyo Aerielink
o ZyXEL ZyAIR G-100
* Conexant/Intersil Prism GT Full-MAC IEEE 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (pgt), including: (G)
o D-Link DWL-g650 A1
o I-O Data WN-G54/CB
o I4 Z-Com XG-600
o I4 Z-Com XG-900
o Intersil PRISM Indigo
o Intersil PRISM Duette
o PLANEX GW-DS54G
o SMC EZ Connect g 2.4GHz SMC2802W
o SMC 2802Wv2
* Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 IEEE 802.11b PCI adapters (ipw) (G)
* Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG/2225BG/2915ABG 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (iwi) (G)
* Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG IEEE 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (wpi) (G)
* Marvell Libertas IEEE 802.11b/g CardBus adapters (malo), including: (G)
o Netgear WG511v2
o Tenda TWL541C
* Marvell Libertas IEEE 802.11b/g PCI adapters (malo), including: (G)
o Netgear WG311v3
o Tenda TWL542P
* Marvell Libertas IEEE 802.11b/g Compact Flash adapters (will be detected as PCMCIA adapters) (malo), including: (G)
o Ambicom WL54CF
* Ralink Technology IEEE 802.11a/b/g CardBus adapters (ral), including: (A) (B)
o A-Link WL54PC
o Alfa AWPC036
o Amigo AWI-914W
o AMIT WL531C
o ASUS WL-107G
o Atlantis Land A02-PCM-W54
o Belkin F5D7010 v2
o Canyon CN-WF513
o CC&C WL-2102
o CNet CWC-854
o Compex WL54G
o Conceptronic C54RC
o Corega CG-WLCB54GL
o Digiconnect WL591C
o Digitus DN-7001G-RA
o E-Tech WGPC02
o E-Tech WGPC03
o Edimax EW-7108PCg
o Eminent EM3036
o Encore ENPWI-G-RLAM
o Eusso UGL2454-01R
o Fibreline WL-400X
o Gigabyte GN-WMKG
o Gigabyte GN-WM01GS
o Gigabyte GN-WM01GM
o Hawking HWC54GR
o Hercules HWGPCMCIA-54
o JAHT WN-4054P
o KCORP LifeStyle KLS-611
o LevelOne WPC-0301 v2
o Micronet SP908GK V3
o Minitar MN54GCB-R
o MSI CB54G2
o MSI MS-6835
o Pro-Nets CB80211G
o Repotec RP-WB7108
o SATech SN-54C
o Sitecom WL-112
o SparkLAN WL-685R
o Surecom EP-9428-g
o Sweex LC500050
o TekComm NE-9428-g
o Tonze PW-6200C
o Unex MR054g-R02
o Zinwell ZWX-G160
o Zonet ZEW1500
* Ralink Technology IEEE 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (ral), including: (B) (C)
o A-Link WL54H
o Amigo AWI-922W Mini PCI
o Amigo AWI-926W
o AMIT WL531P
o AOpen AOI-831
o ASUS WL-130g
o ASUS WIFI-G-AAY
o Atlantis Land A02-PCI-W54
o Belkin F5D7000 v3
o Billionton MIWLGRL Mini PCI
o Canyon CN-WF511
o CNet CWP-854
o Compex WLP54G
o Conceptronic C54Ri
o Digitus DN-7006G-RA
o Dynalink WLG25PCI
o E-Tech WGPI02
o Edimax EW-7128g
o Eminent EM3037
o Encore ENLWI-G-RLAM
o Eusso UGL2454-VPR
o Fiberline WL-400P
o Gigabyte GN-WIKG Mini PCI
o Gigabyte GN-WI01GS Mini PCI
o Gigabyte GN-WI02GM Mini PCI
o Gigabyte GN-WPKG
o Gigabyte GN-WP01GS
o Gigabyte GN-WI02GM
o Gigabyte GN-WP01GM
o Hawking HWP54GR
o Hercules HWGPCI-54
o iNexQ CR054g-009 (R03)
o JAHT WN-4054PCI
o KCORP LifeStyle KLS-660
o LevelOne WNC-0301 v2
o Linksys WMP54G v4
o Micronet SP906GK
o Minitar MN54GPC-R
o MSI MP54G2 Mini PCI
o MSI MP6833 Mini PCI
o MSI MS-6834
o MSI PC54G2
o OvisLink EVO-W54PCI
o PheeNet HWL-PCIG/RA
o Pro-Nets PC80211G
o Repotec RP-WP0854
o SATech SN-54P
o Signamax 065-1798
o Sitecom WL-115
o SparkLAN WL-660R
o Surecom EP-9321-g
o Surecom EP-9321-g1
o Sweex LC700030
o TekComm NE-9321-g
o Tonze PC-620C Mini PCI
o Tonze PC-6200C
o Unex CR054g-R02
o Zinwell ZWX-G360 Mini PCI
o Zinwell ZWX-G361
o Zonet ZEW1600
* Ralink Technology IEEE 802.11a/b/g USB adapters (ural), including: (A) (B) (C)
o AMIT WL532U
o ASUS WL-167g
o Belkin F5D7050
o Buffalo WLI-U2-KG54
o Buffalo WLI-U2-KG54-AI
o Buffalo WLI-U2-KG54-YB
o CNet CWD-854
o Compex WLU54G
o Conceptronic C54RU
o D-Link DWL-G122 (b1)
o Dynalink WLG25USB
o E-Tech WGUS02
o Eminent 3035
o Gigabyte GN-WBKG
o Hercules HWGUSB2-54
o KCORP LifeStyle KLS-685
o Linksys WUSB54G v4
o Linksys WUSB54GP v4
o MSI MS-6861
o MSI MS-6865
o MSI MS-6869
o Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector
o Nova Tech NV-902W
o OvisLink Evo-W54USB
o SerComm UB801R
o SparkLAN WL-685R
o Sphairon UB801R
o Surecom EP-9001-g rev 3A
o Sweex LC100060
o Tonze UW-6200C
o Zaapa ZNWUSB-54
o Zinwell ZPlus-G250
o Zinwell ZWX-G261
o Zonet ZEW2500
* Ralink Technology USB IEEE 802.11a/b/g USB adapters (rum), including: (A) (B) (C)
o 3Com Aolynk WUB320g
o Abocom WUG2700
o Airlink101 AWLL5025
o ASUS WL-167g ver 2
o Belkin F5D7050 ver 3
o Belkin F5D9050 ver 3
o Buffalo WLI-U2-SG54HP
o Buffalo WLI-U2-G54HP
o CNet CWD-854 ver F
o Conceptronic C54RU ver 2
o Corega CG-WLUSB2GO
o D-Link DWL-G122 rev C1
o D-Link WUA-1340
o Digitus DN-7003GR
o Edimax EW-7318USG
o Gigabyte GN-WB01GS
o Gigabyte GN-WI05GS
o Hawking HWUG1
o Hawking HWU54DM
o Hercules HWGUSB2-54-LB
o Hercules HWGUSB2-54V2-AP
o LevelOne WNC-0301USB v3
o Linksys WUSB54G rev C
o Linksys WUSB54GR
o Planex GW-US54HP
o Planex GW-US54Mini2
o Planex GW-USMM
o Senao NUB-3701
o Sitecom WL-113 ver 2
o Sitecom WL-172
o Sweex LW053
o TP-LINK TL-WN321G
* Raytheon Raylink/WebGear Aviator IEEE 802.11FH PCMCIA adapters (ray), including: (A) (B) (C)
o Raytheon Raylink WLAN
o WebGear Aviator 2.4
o WebGear Aviator PRO
* Realtek RTL8180L IEEE 802.11b CardBus adapters (rtw), including: (A) (B) (C)
o Allnet ALL0182
o Belkin F5D6020 V3
o Buffalo WLI-CB-B11
o Corega CG-WLCB11V3
o D-Link DWL-610
o Edimax EW-7106
o GigaFast WF721-AEX (R* serial)
o Jensen AirLink 6011
o Level-One WPC-0101
o Linksys WPC11 v4
o Netgear MA521
o Ovislink AirLive WL-1120PCM
o Planet WL-3553
o Q-Tec 770WC
o Q-Tec 775WC
o Roper FreeLan 802.11b
o SAFECOM SWLCR-1100
o TRENDnet TEW-226PC
o VCTnet PC-11B1
o Winstron CB-200B
o Zonet ZEW1000
* TI ACX100/ACX111 IEEE 802.11a/b/g CardBus adapters (acx), including: (G)
o D-Link DWL-650+
o D-Link DWL-G630+
o D-Link DWL-G650+
o Ergenic ERG WL-003
o Hamlet HNWP254
o Linksys WPC54Gv2
o Microcom Travelcard
o Sceptre SC254W+
o USR USR5410
o ZyXEL G-160
* TI ACX100/ACX111 IEEE 802.11a/b/g PCI adapters (acx), including: (G)
o D-Link DWL-520+
o D-Link DWL-G520+
o Hawking HWP54G
o Netgear WG311v2
o Tornado/ADT 211g
o USR USR5416
o ZyXEL G-360 EE
* WaveLAN/IEEE, PRISM 2-3, and Spectrum24 IEEE 802.11b Compact Flash adapters (will be detected as PCMCIA adapters) (wi), including: (B)
o AmbiCom WL1100C-CF
o ASUS SpaceLink WL-110
o Belkin F5D6060 (version 1 only)
o Buffalo AirStation
o D-Link DCF-660W
o ELSA XI800
o Linksys WCF12
o Netgear MA701
o Pretec Compact WLAN OC-WLBXX-A
o Senao NL-2511CF
* WaveLAN/IEEE, PRISM 2-3, and Spectrum24 IEEE 802.11b PCI adapters (wi), including: (C)
o 3Com AirConnect 3CRWE777A
o Addtron AWA-100
o Belkin F5D6001 (version 1 only)
o Corega CGWLPCIA11
o D-Link DWL-520 (rev A and B only)
o Intersil Mini PCI
o Intersil ISL3872
o Longshine 8301
o NDC/Sohoware NCP130
o Netgear MA311
o Nortel E-mobility 211818-A
o Samsung MagicLAN SWL-2210P
o Senao NL-2511MP
o Symbol LA4123
* WaveLAN/IEEE, PRISM 2-3, and Spectrum24 IEEE 802.11b PCMCIA adapters (wi), including: (B)
o 3Com AirConnect 3CRWE737A
o Actiontec HWC01170
o Adaptec AWN-8030
o Addtron AWP-100
o Agere ORiNOCO
o ARtem Onair
o ASUS SpaceLink WL-100
o Belkin F5D6020 (version 1 only)
o Buffalo AirStation
o Cabletron RoamAbout
o Compaq Agency NC5004
o Contec FLEXLAN/FX-DS110-PCC
o Corega PCC-11
o Corega PCCA-11
o Corega PCCB-11
o D-Link DWL-650 (rev A1-J3 only)
o ELSA XI300
o ELSA XI325
o ELSA XI325H
o EMTAC A2424i
o Ericsson Wireless LAN CARD C11
o Gemtek WL-311
o Hawking Technology WE110P
o I-O DATA WN-B11/PCM
o Intel PRO/Wireless 2011
o Intersil Prism II
o Linksys Instant Wireless WPC11
o Linksys Instant Wireless WPC11 2.5
o Linksys Instant Wireless WPC11 3.0
o Lucent WaveLAN
o Microsoft MN520
o NANOSPEED ROOT-RZ2000
o NEC CMZ-RT-WP
o Netgear MA401
o Netgear MA401RA
o Nokia C020 Wireless LAN
o Nokia C110/C111 Wireless LAN
o NTT-ME 11Mbps Wireless LAN
o Planex GW-NS11H
o Proxim Harmony
o Proxim RangeLAN-DS
o Samsung MagicLAN SWL-2000N
o Siemens SpeedStream SS1021
o SMC 2632 EZ Connect
o Symbol Spectrum24
o TDK LAK-CD011WL
o US Robotics 2410
o US Robotics 2445
* WaveLAN/IEEE, PRISM 2-3, and Spectrum24 IEEE 802.11b USB adapters (wi), including: (A) (B)
o Acer Warplink USB-400
o Actiontec HWU01170
o AirVast WM168b
o Ambit WLAN
o Apacer Wireless Steno MB112
o ASUS WL-140
o Compaq W100
o Corega WLUSB-11
o Corega WLUSB-11 Key
o D-Link DWL-120 (rev F)
o D-Link DWL-122
o I-O DATA WN-B11/USB
o Intel PRO/Wireless 2011B
o Intersil Prism 2X
o JVC MP-XP7250
o Linksys WUSB11 v3.0
o Linksys WUSB12
o Melco WLI-USB-KB11
o Melco WLI-USB-KS11G
o Melco WLI-USB-S11
o Microsoft MN510
o Netgear MA111 (version 1 only)
o Pheenet WL-503IA
o Planex GW-US11H
o Siemens SpeedStream SS1022
o Sitecom WL-022
o Syntax USB-400
o US Robotics 1120
o ViewSonic Airsync
o Z-Com XI-725/726
o Z-Com XI-735
o ZyXEL ZyAIR B-200
* ZyDAS ZD1211/ZD1211B USB IEEE 802.11b/g USB adapters (zyd) (G)
o 3COM 3CRUSB10075
o Acer WLAN-G-US1
o Airlink+ AWLL3025
o Airlink 101 AWLL3026
o AOpen 802.11g WL54
o Asus A9T integrated wirless
o Asus WL-159g
o Belkin F5D7050 v.4000
o Billion BiPAC 3011G
o Buffalo WLI-U2-KG54L
o CC&C WL-2203B
o DrayTek Vigor 550
o Edimax EW-7317UG
o Edimax EW-7317LDG
o Fiberline Networks WL-43OU
o iNexQ UR055g
o Linksys WUSBF54G
o Longshine LCS-8131G3
o MSI US54SE
o Philips SNU5600
o Planet WL-U356
o Planex GW-US54GD
o Planex GW-US54GZL
o Planex GW-US54Mini
o Safecom SWMULZ-5400
o Sagem XG 760A
o Sagem XG 76NA
o Sandberg Wireless G54 USB
o Sitecom WL-113
o SMC SMCWUSB-G
o Sweex wireless USB 54 Mbps
o Tekram/Siemens USB adapter
o Telegent TG54USB
o Trendnet TEW-424UB
o Trendnet TEW-429UB
o TwinMOS G240
o US Robotics 5423
o X-Micro XWL-11GUZX
o Yakumo QuickWLAN USB
o Zonet ZEW2501
o ZyXEL ZyAIR G-220