How to install drivers in linux (ubuntu)
 

I dont know how to install drivers in linux. i have a wifi card that came with drivers on a cd. i read the instructions they said to try "insmod -f rtl8180.24x.0"
but i just get no such file or directory. i am a total novice and im out of idea's. all my linux guides are real basic and dont shed any light on the matter

You need to run the command with root privileges and absolute path to the lsmod program.

Try 'sudo /sbin/insmod -f rtl8180.24x.0' and when prompted a password, type in your login password.

Also the module/driver has to be built against your running kernel. It's always better if you have hardware that the kernel has built in support for.

same comes up. i looked in device manager and the card is listed but it doesnt show up as a network device. would this affect things? i assumed that after i installed the driver it would be recognised properly.

What is the make and model of the card?

well the make is pretty generic. not clear what it actually is
the device shows up as a realtek rtl8180l 802.11b MAC in device manager. i've read quite a few threads about it in the networking section but it mostly goes over my head.

ok, so lets see if the kernel is recognising the card. What is the output of:

$ dmesg | grep -i realtek

is the module already being loaded for the card:

$ /sbin/lsmod | grep -i rtl8180

if not, try this to see if the module is on disk:

$ find /lib/modules -name rtl8180* -print

if it does exist, load the module by typing:

$ sudo modprobe <modulename>

where <modulename> is the exact file that find command produced minus .ko or .o extensions

nothing happens for any of them. just goes to the prompt again.
it appears in device manager as device type unknown
if i use 'lspci' it says ethernet controller: Realtek semiconductor co, etc etc

when people are trying to help you and ask for output, please include the exact output--ie dont write 'etc etc'.. because we dont know what 'etc etc' means. (sorry if it was oddly enough 'etc etc' as the output, but i doubt it)

anyways. what kernel and distro are you using? did you check the realtek site? because i know for a fact there is a unix driver on that site for this device.

As this still pops up on Google as "How to install drivers...ETC", I'd just like to mention that it's attitudes like this reply that puts newbies OFF asking questions on forums. There's a polite, gentle manner to say things, apart from the fact that the person to whom this reply was detined has already stated the reply, I.E. the "etc.", higher up in a previous post. This reply that I've quoted is of the type that cuts a discussion off cold. It's not very fitting behaviour or attitude for a "Senior" towards a newbie.
No, because of this stupid remark this post was of absolutely NO HELP. Thanks, but why don't newbies stick with Linux?????

What are you blathering about starlyte? The OP abruptly disappeared from our friendly forums seven years ago without so much as a 'thank you' to the volunteers who donated their time to (attempt to) fix the issue!!!

joshd1982 asked "help me fix my wireless card" and then didn't say what model wireless card he had. This is like asking "help me fix my car" and then refusing to tell the (unpaid volunteer) mechanic what kind of car you drive. At that point, nadroj politely asked for further clarification using the word "please." If you think nadroj's use of the word 'please' seven years ago was rude, then the Internet may not be for you. ;)

(edit) Looks like nadroj hasn't been seen around here for a few years, so it appears you are wasting your breath with your constructive feedback on his/her posting style. Perhaps the moderators banned nadroj due to his/her incredible rudeness?

Nope, I wasn't banned ;)

Sorry if my previous reply did not seem constructive or seemed rude, that was not my intention.

didnt this forum auto lock things that didnt have new posts after a year? sheesh.

It didn't seem rude to me at all, sorry if my sarcasm was over-the-top. ;)

Though the question was posted long ago, I have few points to add for the questions asked. Hope it helps somebody.

If the "lspci" displays the ethernet card as "ethernet controller: Realtek semiconductor.com 8180 .." and if none of the commands like dmesg, lsmod, insmod or modprobe are helping, then please check if /sys entry is created for the device when connected. Basically udev reads the /sys entry and creates the device file entry in /dev after loading the driver. If its not created, then the rtl 8180 module might not have been compiled within the kernel or as module. Please check in menuconfig if the rtl8180 kernel driver is enabled.

wireless not installing...
 

i have same problem and not installing any driver of system.
i m tired to installing this driver but this driver not installing,
plz someone telling me step by ste how can i install this...

i m trying installing some getting error example
( python: can't open file 'setup.py': [Errno 2] No such file or directory )
( dpkg: error processing w3af (--configure): )
( E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1))


OS : Linux ( Backtrack 5 )
Laptop Model : Hp Probook 5330m
Driver : Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6205


wirless driver links

Hp
http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/sit...tte.cachetoken
Wireless.Kernel
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi

im using Vmware Player AND VirtualBox...