Hey,

I am new to the Linux operating system and I have a Belkin Wireless G Network Adapter, unfortunately Slax can't find my Adapter. I use a PC running on a wireless network. I know the modle number, and I will provide it if needed.

Slax v 5.1.8.1
BELKIN Wireless G Network Adapter (Slax Comp)
BELKIN Wireless G Router (Main Comp)

Thanks,
Linuxion

Welcome to LQ!

Actually what we need to know is the chipset that the card is using (and please tell me this isn't one of those USB abominantions). Have a look at the output of lspci and/or do a bit of google searching on the model number and see if you can come up with something. In Linux, it is the chipset that really determines what driver you need.

Actually, where can I find the chipset and the output of lspci? (I'll try to google, and repost.)

In a console, type lspci and you should get a bunch of information about the devices that are on the PCI bus. Sometimes, but not always, you can see identifiers that include the chipset. You can always dump console output to a file using a redirect:

lspci > lspci.txt

In that case, the file lspci.txt would contain the output from the lspci command, which makes it a lot easier to post.

Ok, I found the PCI bus on lspci!

00:le.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation: on 82801 PCI Bridge (rev11)

That correct?

*Also, I use a USB Adapter to connect.

Nope, that's not an ethernet card, that is a PCI bridge.


Sigh. OK, forget about lspci and hit google with the model number and see if you can find it. You could also look here in the HCL and see if someone else has gotten it working. Posting the model number may help.

By the way, USB wireless dongles can be a ROYAL pain in the posterior to get working under Linux, so be prepared for some pain. Personally, I think they should bring back flogging just to properly punish the clown that invented these monstrosities.

Ok, I use Belkin Wireless G Network Adapter (Model Number:F5D7050)

*Also, will it effect my internet connections because my Service provider will disconnect for server checks and such?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You are the proud owner of the biggest pile of garden fertilizer ever foisted on the wireless market.

I'm not trying to be an ass, but that thing simply doesn't work with Linux. If you do a search of LQ you'll see that a bunch of people have tried to get it working and largely failed. There are a few reports of success using ndiswrapper so if you really want, I would give that a try first. The ndiswrapper wiki has excellent installation instructions, and since you're using Slax, you'll probably have to compile from source. It is drop-dead easy however so don't let that scare you.

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here. Certainly your ISP will have no idea if you're using a wired or wireless connection to connect to the internet so no worries there. Maybe if you rephrase you're question or give an example of what you're worried about we can give better advice.

Where can I access the "ndiswrapper"? And could you show me what I have to do to access the network card. If I have to download ndiswrapper, how will I put it on Slax?

Also, what I meant was, if my Internet Provider ever was to randomly shut down...will that mean I have to do the whole thing all over again?

*Also, how do I put Slax on my pc and keeping my XP at the same time, I heard "copy2ram" command will inert it into the computer, but will it erase the other one while doing so?

Sorry, I spaced on that Slax is a live CD. Try running ndiswrapper -v and see if ndiswrapper happens to already be installed. According to the Slax documentation it should be there. If this is true, you'll just need to have your Windows wireless card drivers somewhere visible to Slax.

By the way, if your intention is to just give Linux a try, Slax may not be the best choice. It is a pretty stripped down version of Slackware, which is pretty minimal itself. A live CD of Ubuntu or Knoppix might give you a better idea of what Linux can do.

If your ISP has a random glitch, then the worst case is you would have to request a new IP address.

I don't think copy2ram is really where you would want to start. If you want to stop using the live CD and have Linux on your hard drive, you'll want to set your computer up to dual boot. Pretty much what that means is you need to re-partition your hard drive with a program like Partition Magic or GParted. Then you can install Linux on the new partition and set up the boot loader to recognize both XP and Linux. Some of the more newbie friendly distros like Ubuntu can hold your hand through this process. However, you really should be sure your XP is backed up because re-partitioning a hard drive can cause XP to fail completely. If you do some searching here on dual booting, you'll find a ton of threads on how to do it and how to set it up.

Actually, So far, none and I mean none of the Linux distrubutions work on my old pc at a normal pace. Also, my driver CD for my belkin mysteriously went missing...If anyone got the required files...(rt73.inf,rt73.sys,rt73.cat) please send them directly to me!

Computer Specs:
- INTEL Celeron processor
- INTEL (2001)
- 10/21/2002 << BIOS Date
- 128Mb of RAM
- 11.8 < (Total of 17.8GB)
- TEAC CD-WS16C

If you know any other types of Linux distros that will work, please tell me!

From my past and long efforts to run the "user-friendly" Ubuntu, on my old pc was endless hangs and no answers (sign of working) even with xUbuntu the "lightweight Ubuntu"...Then, when testing the Beta Wubi, ended in a fatal discovery that XP was no longer within this computer which of course I'm typing to you. But, I will still look for a lightweight linux distro that will not crash, freeze, hang, etc. Also, I have tried doing zenwalk LIVE and it also failed by crashing. Then, when I tried Slackware, it barely even made it to the desktop...as it failed to find something of which I no longer remember.

Have you tried looking on the Belkin website? The drivers should be available there.

That can be a really tough question to answer. There have been quite a large number of threads on getting Linux to run on older hardware, and a search should turn up some interesting ideas. If you haven't already, check out Linux on Laptops which organizes information by the make and model of laptop. It is a great place to find out what people have had success with on you hardware.

So far, I've heard that Sabayon or DreamLinux will operate on my pc. When I tried Sabayon, it was kind of slow. But, DreamLinux...(not tried) doesn't provide any min. specs to make it run! So, I'll be re-trying Sabayon very shortly.

EDIT: Ok...I have found the rt73.inf, etc. files and are now loaded on my floppy, as well, I have found MEPISLite to work on my 7 year old pc (my linux pc) of which I've been trying to enable internet on. So far, it keeps saying the files are invalid! Got any idea why it keeps saying it? The list said it should work, but heck, the instructions did make sense..