Define Cynical Fan Forums

Yes, it's true. I've installed Ubuntu on one of our older computers. I've got it working fine, but I can't get the wireless internet adapter working. The kernel doesn't seem to have the driver already installed, and when I try to use NDISwrapper I get "permission denied on line 152." I know we've got a lot of Linux enthusiasts here (*cough*Niner*cough*) and I was wondering whether someone who's not such a newbie as I could give me some help?

(*cough*Niner*cough*)

What? I hate wireless (which, yes, sucks on Linux even more)

But to really help you, we'd need to know what adapter it is...

(including lsusb output if it's a USB device, or lspci output otherwise)

(*cough*Niner*cough*)

What? I hate wireless (which, yes, sucks on Linux even more)

But to really help you, we'd need to know what adapter it is...

(including lsusb output if it's a USB device, or lspci output otherwise)

Yes, I hate wireless too. But I'm stuck with it. Our house is just too big for wires. Anyway, I have two different antennas I've tried to use: your typical Belkin USB key, and a Linksys Wireless-G. The OS won't even recognize the latter, and the drivers for the former (in the plural, since I've tried both the ones that came with it and the open-source versions for linux), well, I just don't know what to do with them. Since NDISwrapper won't work for some reason, I really don't know enough about Linux code to add in the proper driver manually (and the Ubuntu interface that's supposed to make it easy is mysteriously absent.) Blargh. I don't know. I've been working on this all day, literally, and I while I've managed to get it to recognize the network(!) temporarily*, even then I can't get it to connect. My ignorance is staggering.

*In other words, when restarted, whatever bit of program I managed to install vanished into thin air.

Anyway, I have two different antennas I've tried to use: your typical Belkin USB key, and a Linksys Wireless-G.

Unfortunaely, neither of those descriptions are detailed enough to be usable: For one thing, all you're doing is referring to a brand and a product category, which may still have more than one model associated with it. Heck, even knowing the model number isn't enough: you need the hardware revision number too.

For instance, I could say I'm using a Wireless G D-Link USB adapter, but that's not very specific at all: D-Link lists two such products on their webpage, and neither is the one I have. Its model number is DWL-G122, but that's still not enough. Why? There are three different versions of that model, and each needs a different driver (even on Windows). This is just my example, though.

If you look on the back of the device, it should list your model number and hardware revision. Then, your best resource for answers is Google.

Oh, and if you want more info, there should be command line utility called "lsusb" (it has to run as root, though; try "sudo lsusb") that will list out what is attached to your computer. It can offer hints about what is inside the adapters, which may help you find the right drivers and information.

As for ndiswrapper, I don't know enough about Ubuntu to know how to install it over there.

As for ndiswrapper, I don't know enough about Ubuntu to know how to install it over there.

Well, essentially, that's the problem. (The reason I wasn't more specific with the USB specs is because I already found drivers for it.)

So basically, I need to install a driver using code. The problem with that is, when you say something like "it has to run as root" I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. The directions with the linux drivers were the same way. I couldn't figure out the right steps to take in entering the code. Any ideas?

When something is run as root, it means that the program is running under the root (admin) account. It basically means the program has full access to the system's services.

As for ndiswrapper, I don't know enough about Ubuntu to know how to install it over there.

Well, essentially, that's the problem. (The reason I wasn't more specific with the USB specs is because I already found drivers for it.)

So basically, I need to install a driver using code. The problem with that is, when you say something like "it has to run as root" I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. The directions with the linux drivers were the same way. I couldn't figure out the right steps to take in entering the code. Any ideas?

Basically, it means (on Ubuntu) that every line is preceded with the word "sudo". This means you don't get "Permission denied" errors; you'll just be asked for your password to confirm that it's something you want to do.

As for ndiswrapper, I don't know enough about Ubuntu to know how to install it over there.

Well, essentially, that's the problem. (The reason I wasn't more specific with the USB specs is because I already found drivers for it.)

So basically, I need to install a driver using code. The problem with that is, when you say something like "it has to run as root" I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. The directions with the linux drivers were the same way. I couldn't figure out the right steps to take in entering the code. Any ideas?

Basically, it means (on Ubuntu) that every line is preceded with the word "sudo". This means you don't get "Permission denied" errors; you'll just be asked for your password to confirm that it's something you want to do.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH.............

I think I'm going to go do something now...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH.............

I think I'm going to go do something now...

The driver is installed now and it recognizes the network is there, but it still won't connect. I give up.

Kill and restart dhclient?

*shrugs* It was all messed up when I tried using Ubuntu too.

Kill and restart dhclient?

*shrugs* It was all messed up when I tried using Ubuntu too.

So what do you use? Debian?

Just for the record, I like openSuSE

Sorry I can't advise on the wireless (though Kubuntu did pick up my laptop's wireless fine when I tried it ages ago), but I prefer non-Ubuntu Linux since it doesn't throw up hurdles to custom installing stuff. To each their own ...

Kill and restart dhclient?

*shrugs* It was all messed up when I tried using Ubuntu too.

So what do you use? Debian?

Gentoo

If your house is too big for wires and you hate wireless, might I suggest power line networking? It's what I use at home and it's the best thing ever. It's insanely faster than wireless, and it's *gasp* ACTUALLY RELIABLE.

Ubuntu hates things being installed post-OS install.

What type of network are you using (WEP, WPA, etc)?