I figured this was a Mandrake issue, but if not I apologize. Sometime last year I tried to move to Linux using Fedora Core 2, which was a nice system despite that I never got my networking card to work. I'm again attempting to switch to Linux, with little success. I have a dual-boot now with Windows XP and Mandrake 10.1.

My networking card in a Dlink 520 rev E. I've read threads all over this board on the card, but can never really figure out how to set it up. I'm about ready to break this card in half and just find a new one as it is driving me insane!!!

Again I'm using Mandrake. I've heard that it works with linux_wlan (from DLink, although I'll need firmware) and with HostAP (from a guide I found via the HCL here). I'm not sure which one to use, but trusting some random person over Dlink themselves is what I went with.

http://home.columbus.rr.com/andrewba.../dwl520e1.html

I came to find out that Mandrake already has the HostAP driver installed (at least by the looks of it) along with a few other tools required according to the guide I'm using.

I tried to use the GUI of Mandrake to setup the networking card. It used 'New Connection'. I choose Wireless, I wasn't sure if LAN was right or Wireless. So help here would be appreciated.

I then chose 'wlan1' as it seemed to be the right option. It said that it was going to use the HostAP driver, which sounded right. Then I get a bunch of parameters that I really have no idea about such as Host Name, so I could use help here too.

Then the network restarts and I'm still not connected. Would this be because I still need the firmware? This would narrow down my issues so much, but I'm not sure.

As a Linux newbie I'm guessing that I'm going to have to install the firmware and configure HostAP to use it, which I'm clueless how to do. Then it would be a snap to setup and I could use Mandrake full time, which would be nice.

So I really need to help on what to do or if I should chuck it and buy a new card (one that will work out of the box with Mandrake). Any simple instructions on where to go or what to look into I would appreciate, again I'm using Mandrake 10.1 and I'm a complete Linux newbie.

I've downloaded the appropriate firmware, but I'm having no luck finding the hostap driver files so I can point them to the approriate firmware.

Again I'd appreciate any help.

I had the same problem with mine, and the only thing that worked for me, and with some simplicity(which shocked me :P) was DriverLoader, its not free but there is a trial, also its JUST 20bucks so it shouldnt be too hard to get. hope that helps.

I'll have to try it out, or at least take a look at it. I've gotten the firmware and driver up and configured, but I still don't see a connection. I'm also looking at just getting a better networking card, it would be well worth it.

But thank's for the suggestion.