So, I have this low budget HP DV4.

Ubuntu recognizes that I have a wireless card, but that gimmicky touch sensitive button stuff along the top of the keyboard doesn't work.

Well, the volume controlling touch button works, but not the wireless touch button. It just remains "orange"... when it is on, it is blue.

Is there anyway to turn the darn wireless card on? Can I bypass that darn touch pad?

When I ran ubuntu off of the CD drive, the wireless worked. I thought "great! no wireless hassles!... ok, I'll install!".

But once installed, zippo!

Drats. any ideas?

linux detects the driver. Because you don't have specific driver that button is not working.

but you can still use that wireless card. Google for your specific driver , so that you can use that button. If not, you can also use that wireless card, using commands and using your network manager

Well, thanks... my google-ing didn't turn up a darn thing. That's why I came here.