[QUOTE=tredegar;3168408]@ Both of you:
1] Welcome to LQ!
2] You really ought to start a new thread for your problems, but at least you have both discovered the [Search] Button on this board
The trouble is that I am now trying to answer two of you at once, my mind is tired, and it is confusing for everyone, having two different questions in the same thread. So, please chewinette (as you came in 2nd, there is no offense intended) start a new thread, with a sensible title of course

so I was an unhappy user of windows
I changed to linux and for weeks the wireless couldn't work,
I took my laptop at work yesterday to plug in a wired connection and send a desperate message on this board, and this morning it's working!

the restricted driver for atheros still says "not in use"
I don't understand, but I'm really glad it works at last!!