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.