[SOLVED] best distro for old laptop

Rickkkk · 03-27-2017, 07:45 AM

Hey bsth123,

Sorry to see you're still struggling with the wireless on the T43 ... Have you tried Arch again ? As mentioned previously, I have found its support for wireless fairly complete and you have an Intel mini-PCI, so it shouldn't be that much of an issue.

Let me know if you decide to give Arch another go (don't forget, February 2017 ISO or earlier for 32-bit ...).

Cheers !

cynwulf · 03-27-2017, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

Apology accepted. I did check my /etc/rc.conf file and I had entered the number for my wired connection.

The FreeBSD iwi(4) driver supports the wifi chips you included in your original post:

https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=iwi

You will need to read the man page and also the FreeBSD handbook pages on wifi configuration.

But, you should only need to add these two lines to loader.conf(5)

Code:

if_iwi_load="YES"
legal.intel_iwi.license_ack=1

And something like this in rc.conf

Code:

wlans_iwi0="wlan0"
ifconfig_wlan0="WPA DHCP"

And finally suitably configured wpa_supplicant.conf

Code:

network={
  ssid="MY_ESSID"
  psk="MY_PSK"
}

MY_ESSID = you will put your wireless network SSID here.
MY_PSK = Put your wireless network key here

You can also generate the file by using the wpa_passphrase tool from the command line.
e.g.

Code:

# wpa_passphrase MY_ESSID MY_PSK > /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

(all explained in the man pages for both)

Once configured, reboot and the connection should come up (unless you've made typos or missed steps, etc...)

bsth123 · 03-27-2017, 08:22 AM

I already have wpa_supplicant configured aand this line in /etc/rc.conf

Code:

ifconfig_bge0="DHCP"
sshd_enable="YES"

I'll try the rest. Thanks

edit: as root when I try to modify loader.conf says it's unwritable

shadow_7 I forgot to mention one of the first things I installed was nano.

cynwulf · 03-27-2017, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

I already have wpa_supplicant configured aand this line in /etc/rc.conf

Code:

ifconfig_bge0="DHCP"
sshd_enable="YES"

No this line will bring up your wired ethernet connection on boot, not the wifi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

edit: as root when I try to modify loader.conf says it's unwritable

Does it exist...?

Code:

% ls /boot/loader.conf

bsth123 · 03-27-2017, 09:10 AM

It exists. I already checked. i googled but couldn't find anything. I was showing my broadcom wired connection as an example. Thanks

cynwulf · 03-27-2017, 09:44 AM

If it exists, it can be modified by root. (hint: root can hose the whole system)

bsth123 · 03-27-2017, 11:38 AM

I figured out the problem. In freebsd you cannot su to root by default. The answer is supposed to be to add wheel to user but that's never worked for me. So you have to boot into single user mode. I forgot that the partition had to be mounted first. Anyway I read the link and carefully followed your instructions with no luck. The other thing is that /boot/loader.conf was empty until I added those lines. But I read the documentation and since everything is working fine I left it alone.

I'm very familiar with root and I know that rm -rf is one command I will never use. I may be new but I read a lot.

jamison20000e · 03-27-2017, 12:15 PM

Hi. https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ml#post5685940

bsth123 · 03-27-2017, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamison20000e

Hi. https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ml#post5685940

Hi jamison. I confess I didn't read the whole thread because it was so long but maybe you can briefly explain why you posted the link.

Thanks

cynwulf · 03-28-2017, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

I figured out the problem. In freebsd you cannot su to root by default. The answer is supposed to be to add wheel to user but that's never worked for me. So you have to boot into single user mode.

It does work, I can assure you. You will need to log out and log back in for group memberships to take affect however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

Anyway I read the link and carefully followed your instructions with no luck.

This doesn't give a lot to go on...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

The other thing is that /boot/loader.conf was empty until I added those lines. But I read the documentation and since everything is working fine I left it alone.

It's normal for it to be empty on a new install. So it's working now then?!

jamison20000e · 03-28-2017, 02:43 AM

A netinst is great for any hardware and on old why sacrifice, go stretch/sid... imho.

bsth123 · 03-28-2017, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cynwulf

It does work, I can assure you. You will need to log out and log back in for group memberships to take affect however.

This doesn't give a lot to go on...

It's normal for it to be empty on a new install. So it's working now then?!

Unfortunately not. I've quadruple checked and more and everything is correct. I think that maybe it might have a bad chipset because it should work. I ordered a wireless dongle that according to my research should work. As far as the other I meant that I had read the link you provided and did everything accordingly. Thanks

Jamisom I appreciate it but as I've said repeatedly this was all about the learning process and I've learned a lot.

un1x · 03-28-2017, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsth123

Unfortunately not

listen to >>> http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post5689146

:hattip :

bsth123 · 03-28-2017, 08:23 AM

I have debian on my new laptop. Unfortunately some people don't understand even though I've stated repeatedly I'm not looking for easy.

un1x · 03-29-2017, 03:37 PM

well ... then install Gentoo : https://gentoo.org/

period !

next ! !