hello cybrog thank you for all your help and patience. I GOT IT TO WORK!! woohooooooo!!!! 2 days of tinkering with this is not bad at all, it feels gooooddd!! thank you thank you thank you!! i found a step through googling like you suggested that helped. i found also the gui network configuration. here are the steps i did to make it work (again thanks for all your help):
CONFIGURING WIRELESS NETWORK ON DELL INSPIRON USING FEDORA CORE 4
System: Laptop, Dell Inspiron 1150
OS: Fedora Core 4
Wireless device: 1350 mini-PCI WLAN
Installed by: A Newbie
1) Boot up your computer and log in as root.
2) Create 2 directories. Example:
[root@localhost ~]# mkdir ndiswrapper
[root@localhost ~]# mkdir wlan_1350
Note: Ask around what is the best place (folder or directory) to put downloaded files. I have seen people put their stuff in /usr/local/.
3) Download a stable copy of ndiswrapper (I got version 1.4) from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ndiswrapper/ You should get a file something like this, ndiswrapper-1.4.tar.gz.
4) Download the latest driver for 1350 wireless device from Dell's website. I used my Dell service tag to locate it. I got the file R102320.EXE.
5) Copy the files to their respective folders that you just created.
6) Go to ndiswrapper directory and issue these commands:
[root@localhost ndiswrapper]# gunzip ndiswrapper-1.4.tar.gz
[root@localhost ndiswrapper]# tar -xvf ndiswrapper-1.4.tar
You should see the file get extracted on your screen. After it's done, check the directory and issue a make install command as shown below.
[root@localhost ndiswrapper]# ls
ndiswrapper-1.4 ndiswrapper-1.4.tar
[root@localhost ndiswrapper]# cd ndiswrapper-1.4
[root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.4]#make install
7) Go to wlan_1350 directory and unzip the driver file.
[root@localhost wlan_1350]# unzip R102320.EXE
8) After issuing the unzip command, check if the .inf file is there.
[root@localhost wlan_1350]# ls */inf
bcmwl5.inf
Note: bcmwl5.inf has lower case "L" then 5. NOT the number "1" then 5.
9) Install the driver using ndiswrapper.
[root@localhost ~]#ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
10) Confirm the driver installation.
[root@localhost ~]#ndiswrapper -l
Installed ndis drivers:
bcmw15 driver present, hardware present
11) Load the ndis module to the kernel.
[root@localhost ~]#modprobe ndiswrapper
12) Confirm the load.
[root@localhost ~]#iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions etc. etc.
.
.
Warning: Driver for device wlan0 recommend etc. etc.
.
.
wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID

ff/any etc. etc.
13) Scan for wireless networks. It should show your router info.
[root@localhost ~]#iwlist wlan0 scan
Warning: etc. etc.
Cell 01 - Address: etc etc
ESSID: "etc etc"
Protocol: etc etc
14) At this point, check the GUI for network configuration. Go to your Systems Tools > Network Device Control.
a) On the Network Device Control screen, click on Configure. This should take you to Network Configuration screen.
b) Click on New. This should take you to Add new Device Type.
c) Select Wireless connection then click on Forward. This should take you to Select Wireless device.
****Note: If you do not see ndiswrapper (wlan0) listed on this page, close these windows and go to the command or terminal screen. Issue this command:
[root@localhost ~]#ndiswrapper -m
****Update: The above command was an update / correction to the typo I had in there before. I used to have modprobe -m in there and people were getting stuck with it.
Go back to the GUI network configuration as described above. Try rebooting after you issue the above command if you still don't see the ndiswrapper (wlan0) on the list.
15) You should see the ndiswrapper (wlan0) on the Select Wireless Device. Select it then click on Forward. You should be at Configure Wireless Connection screen.
16) My setup has this:
Mode: Managed
Network name (SSID): Specified (and I typed in the name)
Key: (I typed in my key here). Make sure you type 0x first for hex followed by your key.
17) Click on Forward. You should be in COnfigure Network Settings screen. I had mine in Auto obtain IP address dhcp, and Auto obtain DNS. Click Forward and then Apply.
18) Reboot your system. When it comes back up, go to the GUI for network configuration again. You should see your wlan0 there most likely deactivated. Activate it using the button. Then click on Configure.
19) It should take you to the Network Configuration screen. Highlight your wlan0 from the list and click on Edit button above. You should be in Wireless Device Configuration screen.
20) Mark the box that says Activate device when computer starts. This way when you boot, you do not need to activate it manually.
You should all be set. Have fun!!!!