Okay, I downloaded the driver from sourceforge for my Dlink 650+ wireless laptop card. I ran make, and it says I need to follow the instructions on the README file:

--- LINUX 2.6 INSTALLATION ---

In order to use the acx100 driver with Linux 2.6 you'll need a complete 2.6
source tree and have to build the module "in-tree". You'll have to:

1. Create a directory drivers/net/wireless/acx100 in your 2.6 source tree.
2. Copy the files
- src/Makefile
- src/*.c
- include/*.h
from the acx100 sources into drivers/net/wireless/acx100 in your 2.6 tree.
3. Add a line reading "obj-m += acx100/" to the bottom of
drivers/net/wireless/Makefile .
4. Then build your kernel as usual, the acx100 driver will be built as module
(acx100_pci.ko). Make sure you have the required 2.6 module userspace
package (module-init-tools) and enjoy ;-)

What on earth does this mean? Where is this "source tree"? Where do I create this directory? Please help me with some veeeery simple step-by-step instructions. I just learned how to use apt-get last night, baby steps....

Thank you!

source tree means your linux kernel sources...usually found in /usr/src/linux if you have installed them. if you don't have a complete kernel source tree in /usr/src/linux, then get the package - if you use apt-get, use it to get a package that's called "kernel-source" or someting similar..install it and you've got the sources. then

mkdir /usr/src/linux/drivers/net/wireless/acx100

IF the sources were installed into /usr/src/linux - if it's something else, like linux-2.6.6, use that in the above line. (/usr/src/linux-2.6.6/drivers/ and so on)

then, cd into the driver directory and do this:

cp src/Makefile /usr/src/linux/drivers/net/wireless/acx100/
cp src/*.c /usr/src/linux/drivers/net/wireless/acx100/
cp src/*.h /usr/src/linux/drivers/net/wireless/acx100/

(on the above, the same thing - change the /usr/src/linux to the directory your source is in, if it's not linux)

then edit the following file (again, if the source directory is not "linux", change it to what it is):

/usr/src/linux/drivers/net/wireless/Makefile

and scroll to the bottom and add there this line:

obj-m += acx100/

then make sure you are in /usr/src/linux (and if it's not "linux", change the directory name) and read README instructions on how to compile. basically it goes like this:

make menuconfig
(if you are in X then type: make xconfig)
(edit any options you wish to edit, or leave as they are for a stock kernel, exit and save when prompted)
make all && make modules_install

after that just follow the README instructions and copy the kernel files into your /boot and you're done. just don't overwrite the old kernel in case the new one won't work...and remember to edit bootloader's config to match the new kernel too, and if you use LILO remember to run "lilo" from command prompt....that's it I guess. if you need more info, ask

I got as far as
[root@localhost acx100]# cp src/Makefile /usr/src/linux-2.6.5-1.358/drivers/net/wireless/acx100/

but it gave me
cp: cannot stat `src/Makefile': No such file or directory

Is this a syntax thing?

well, from

[root@localhost acx100]#

I see that you are in the acx100 -directory. see that in this particular directory you have the "src" directory inside, and in there (src) you have Makefile...and if you don't (which the case seems to be), do a quick search and find the src-directory and the Makefile inside; they should be where you extracted/put the files after downloading...

EDIT:

in the driver directory:

and if you get the "src" directory listed,
and look for Makefile...