Hi, i want to install wifi card driver(rt73.ko) to my "small linux" which is kernel 2.6.16.46, i have download this driver from official product website *.tar.bz2 , i have success follow the step from this website to install into my CentOS 5.2 linux box(kernel 2.6.18-92). But when i try to install to my "small linux"(kernel 2.6.16.46) than having error, so i try to copy the driver file rt73.ko from my CentOS(kernel 2.6.18-92) to this "small linux"(kernel 2.6.16.46) box to load the driver command: modprobe rt73.ko but fail....

1. If currect linux box kernel is 2.6.18 can use this driver, so other version linux box kernel is it totally cannot compatible(cannot use)?

2. is it can use a linux box(example CenOS 5.2)kernel 2.6.18-92 as a driver compiler, than i have many linux box(kernel 2.4. 2.5 ....) than download the individual kernel source code, than copy it to my CentOS to compile it than copy it out to individual other linux box?

What error did you have when installing driver on 2.6.16.46 kernel?

You may have better luck getting the source code and compiling a fresh driver than copying the module and firmware. I've noticed that my drivers would either become unstable or break outright when using a *.ko file compiled on an even slightly older kernel.

Any actual progress yet? It may work, but don't let compiling drivers scare you. Sometimes you have to wait a long time before the latest packages get into the repositories.

I've got some recent RT73 and RT2860 code and compiling info on my site - it may be useful.

http://ab9il.net/linuxwireless/wifidrivers1.html