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lilou_b 04-14-2010 04:02 PM

Msi Wind: can't find wifi or networkmanager
 
i recently got an msi wind U100x running on linux suse enterprise 10 sp1.

i am totally new to linux and i believe that msi wind is not helping. i remember at some point seeing an icon in my toolbar to indicate available wifi networks, but it disappeared a few weeks ago, and i was never able to locate it again. out of dispair i reset the computer to factory settings.
all i have is "no network connection" icon, and when you click on it you have both enable networking and enable wireless.

i read somewhere in help that i should have a knetworkmanager, but i can't find it anywhere. all i see in my control center is network card, and when i go in there, i go to 'user controlled with networkmanager' and i see 'micro-star international ethernet controller not configured'.
before i reset to factory settings i used to have a wireless card as well.

in a word: i am totally lost and don't know where to start. any step by step to help me connect again?

grail 04-15-2010 01:01 AM

I am not a 100% clear on what you mean by:
Quote:

i reset to factory settings

hda7 04-15-2010 07:34 AM

If you're not concerned about user friendliness, there are several command line tools for configuring wireless and wired controllers. See man pages for `iwconfig' and `ip(8)'.

lilou_b 04-16-2010 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grail (Post 3936021)
I am not a 100% clear on what you mean by:

factory settings, i mean when i reboot, i choose option: "recovery to factory setting".

i am kind of into userfriendliness very much, because i am not a developer and i struggle with line commands and such like. i like the ethos of linux, but i need accessibility!

is it the case i need to download some wireless software?
do i have to configure and add a new wifi network card??

grail 04-16-2010 07:12 AM

Hmmm ... you still have me lost, i must have my thick hat on, when you say,
Quote:

i mean when i reboot, i choose option: "recovery to factory setting"
Is this part of the original BIOS screen or is this one of the choices from your grub list (this is where you pick which
kernel you want to boot into <kinda>)?

I only ask as I have never heard of a Linux distro which resets anything in this way??

schneidz 04-16-2010 10:29 AM

^ some pc manufacturers include a hidden partition instead of an install cd (useful for netbooks without a cd-rom drive).
with these you can reboot hold down f12 or something and select 'return to factory default' -- it basically deletes everything on the hard drive and make it seem as if the day you bought it.

hda7 04-17-2010 05:22 AM

Quote:

i am kind of into userfriendliness very much, because i am not a developer and i struggle with line commands and such like.
If you're willing to try something, type
Code:

iwlist scan
on a command line and post the result. If that gives a usage error, try
Code:

for iface in `ip link | grep '<*>' | cut -f 2 -d :`; do iwlist $iface scan; done
One of those should give a list of network "connections", and if your wireless card is working properly, one of those "connections" should give a list of wireless networks in range. The others should just say something like "This interface does not support scanning."

lilou_b 04-19-2010 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hda7 (Post 3938353)
If you're willing to try something, type
Code:

iwlist scan
on a command line and post the result. If that gives a usage error, try
Code:

for iface in `ip link | grep '<*>' | cut -f 2 -d :`; do iwlist $iface scan; done
One of those should give a list of network "connections", and if your wireless card is working properly, one of those "connections" should give a list of wireless networks in range. The others should just say something like "This interface does not support scanning."

Code:

iwlist scan
"interface doesn't support scanning"

Code:

for iface in `ip link | grep '<*>' | cut -f 2 -d :`; do iwlist $iface scan; done
cut: you must specify a list of bytes, characters, or fields
Try `cut --help' for more information

schneidz 04-19-2010 09:39 AM

please post the output to:
Code:

lspci # will tell us the pci devices you have in your system.
lsusb # will tell us the usb devices you have in your system.
ifconfig # will tell us what network interface cards that are turned on you have on your system.
ifconfig -a # will list all network interface cards you have on your
iwconfig # will tell us which of your network interface cards has wireless capability
lsmod # will list the modules that are loaded on your system.

once we know the above information; these commands usually get people conected to their wireless routers:
Code:

sudo iwlist <network-card> scan # this will use the <network-card> interface (that from the iwconfig command above) and scan for wireless routers that are accessible.
sudo iwconfig <network-card> essid <your-router-name> # assuming no security (the access point names will be provided by the previous iwlist command).
sudo dhclient # will attempt to get ip-address, subnet mask, dns server information automatically from your router assuming dhcp is turned on on your router.

there are, of course, gui ways of accomplishing this but you would not be able to copy-paste gui windows for us to identify your set-up (i hear wicd is a good network manager gui program). it would be easier for us to read if it is in [code] tags.

lilou_b 04-21-2010 10:57 AM

thanks for that,

here it is

Code:

~> lspci
bash: lspci: command not found
~> lsusb
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0bda:0158 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
~> ifconfig
bash: ifconfig: command not found
~> ifconfig -a
bash: ifconfig: command not found
~> iwconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

ra0      RT2860 Wireless  ESSID:""  Nickname:"RT2860STA"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Bit Rate=1 Mb/s
          RTS thr:off  Fragment thr:off
          Link Quality=10/100  Signal level:-256 dBm  Noise level:-97 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0  Missed beacon:0

eth0      no wireless extensions.

~> lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
rfcomm                41364  2
l2cap                  30848  3 rfcomm
bluetooth              51300  2 rfcomm,l2cap
wlan_scan_sta          18308  0
ath_pktlog            17160  0
wlan_xauth              5760  0
wlan_wep              10880  0
wlan_tkip              16256  0
wlan_ccmp              12800  0
wlan_acl                8704  0
ath_pci                57856  0
ath_dev              115924  2 ath_pktlog,ath_pci
ath_rate_atheros      58248  2 ath_pktlog,ath_dev
ath_dfs                37320  1 ath_dev
wlan                  234240  9 wlan_scan_sta,ath_pktlog,wlan_xauth,wlan_wep,wlan_tkip,wlan_ccmp,wlan_acl,ath_pci,ath_dev
ath_hal              346368  3 ath_pktlog,ath_pci,ath_dev
r8180                141840  0
ieee80211_rtl          96904  1 r8180
ieee80211_crypt_tkip_rtl    14592  1 ieee80211_rtl
ieee80211_crypt_wep_rtl    9600  1 ieee80211_rtl
ieee80211_crypt_ccmp_rtl    12032  1 ieee80211_rtl
ieee80211_crypt_rtl    10116  4 ieee80211_rtl,ieee80211_crypt_tkip_rtl,ieee80211_crypt_wep_rtl,ieee80211_crypt_ccmp_rtl
cpufreq_ondemand      11020  2
cpufreq_userspace      8448  0
cpufreq_powersave      5760  0
speedstep_centrino    11184  0
freq_table              8448  1 speedstep_centrino
snd_pcm_oss            42272  0
snd_mixer_oss          20352  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq                50512  0
snd_seq_device        11532  1 snd_seq
button                10640  0
battery                12164  0
ac                      8964  0
loop                  19592  0
usb_storage            76480  0
ide_core              123468  1 usb_storage
i915                  23040  2
snd_hda_intel        339992  1
snd_pcm                71428  2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_hda_intel
snd_timer              24964  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc        14088  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_hwdep              12676  1 snd_hda_intel
drm                    69400  3 i915
snd                    60228  10 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_hwdep
soundcore              13024  1 snd
r8101                  31376  0
intel_agp              26260  1
rt2860sta            435160  1
i8xx_tco              11032  0
agpgart                33352  3 drm,intel_agp
ehci_hcd              31880  0
hw_random              9496  0
uhci_hcd              32272  0
usbcore              115460  4 usb_storage,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
i2c_i801              12044  0
i2c_core              23680  1 i2c_i801
ext3                  123656  2
jbd                    62496  1 ext3
edd                    12484  0
fan                    8580  0
thermal                17544  0
processor              31208  2 speedstep_centrino,thermal
sg                    35356  0
ata_piix              18436  3
ahci                  25608  0
libata                116508  2 ata_piix,ahci
sd_mod                23040  4
scsi_mod              131468  5 usb_storage,sg,ahci,libata,sd_mod


hda7 04-21-2010 11:11 AM

OK, here is a breakdown:
Quote:

Code:

ra0      RT2860 Wireless  ESSID:""  Nickname:"RT2860STA"
          Mode:Auto  Frequency=2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
          Bit Rate=1 Mb/s
          RTS thr:off  Fragment thr:off
          Link Quality=10/100  Signal level:-256 dBm  Noise level:-97 dBm
          Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
          Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0  Missed beacon:0


means that interface ra0 is (of appears to be) a wireless controller. That means you can try:
Code:

iwconfig ra0 essid your-network-id
dhcpcd ra0

The first command should set your wireless card to your network. The second will get an address from your router. If the second command fails, you may have to set the network channel:
Code:

iwconfig ra0 channel your-network-channel
or
Code:

iwconfig ra0 freq your-network-frequency
Cancel the failed request:
Code:

kill `cat /var/run/dhcpcd-ra0.pid`
And then repeat the second command again.

lilou_b 04-21-2010 05:19 PM

ok, got a problem with the first command
Code:

iwconfig ra0 essid your-network-id
i get the error
Code:

Error for wireless request "Set ESSID" (8B1A) :
    SET failed on device ra0 ; Operation not permitted.


grail 04-21-2010 10:15 PM

I think the issue here is as you are new you have typed exactly:
Quote:

iwconfig ra0 essid your-network-id
Which is cool as it means you follow instructions to the letter :)

What hda7 meant is that where you see the words "your-network-id" you are supposed to put in what you
have called your wireless network, ie at home one of my wireless routers has a name (essid) = LANplan,
so for me the entry would look like:
Code:

iwconfig ra0 essid LANplan
Let us know how you go?

lilou_b 04-22-2010 04:39 PM

doh that was funny! unix is very much like german to me, i.e. very logical, yet wonderfully obscure.

so if i put the name of my wireless network as i renamed it, what happens if it's hidden? do i have to unhide it? what about the WPA personal security/password? will i get prompted in the terminal to enter it in order to connect?
i didn't think we had reached that stage yet.

schneidz 04-22-2010 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilou_b (Post 3943230)
ok, got a problem with the first command
Code:

iwconfig ra0 essid your-network-id
i get the error
Code:

Error for wireless request "Set ESSID" (8B1A) :
    SET failed on device ra0 ; Operation not permitted.


well it should've incorrectly bind your wireless adapter to the ssid your-network-id. in order to get around the operation not permitted error try running the command with sudo.

sudo iwconfig ra0 essid your-network-id
if that doesnt work then try switching to root (su - then enter your root passwd)and running the program.

i am still concerned that some of the programs you are running are returning command not found.
maybe you need to be root to run them or your system is fubar.

grail 04-22-2010 10:04 PM

Quote:

what happens if it's hidden?
Hiding just means you have to know the name, ie it won't broadcast for others to pick up :)
Quote:

what about the WPA personal security/password? will i get prompted in the terminal to enter it in order to connect?
Been a while since I have done this manually (lazy i know :( ), but I don't think so. Obviously if it does just enter it and see how you go.

btw. I did find this other reference to help setup manually (it is Ubuntu but should work on any system (except for installing software of course
but I think you may already have all the necessary software it just has to be configured))

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=318539

hda7 04-23-2010 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneidz (Post 3944735)
i am still concerned that some of the programs you are running are returning command not found.

I think that sometimes you have to get development packages to get programs like lspci. I actually have lspci bot don't have lsusb! As for ifconfig, see if it has been replaced by ip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grail (Post 3944736)
Quote:

what about the WPA personal security/password? will i get prompted in the terminal to enter it in order to connect?
Been a while since I have done this manually (lazy i know ), but I don't think so.

No, you must set it with another call to iwconfig:
Code:

iwconfig ra0 key network-key-in-hex
By the way, lilou_b, to avoid any confusion, I have italicized the words that you should replace with the proper text. I think that that is a general convention.

grail 04-23-2010 07:27 AM

@hda7 - cheers, I knew i was a bit rusty :redface:

lilou_b 04-23-2010 12:43 PM

ok so first i'd like to thank everybody who's tried to solve that one, i am glad at least you seem to be exchanging useful info for your own enlightenment.

then.
the config thing wasn't working in normal mode, so i tried in sudo, i entered my password, and then?? i don't seem to get any messages back in that mode when i enter a command, i.e. nothing happens.

another dispaired attempt after that bit of frustration and i tried a wired connection to my modem: 2 good news:
- network manager reappeared and is now staying :)
- i can connect to the internet via wire

about network manager:
- networkmanager applet 0.6.4 from gnome.com. i saw they now have applet 0.8 which i tried to download but it comes in little packets and i don't even understand how to unpack it.
- i can never scan for a network, i have to know the name, but i assume the newer version can do that
- so while i try and use the 0.6.4 interface, i can try and set up a new wireless connection by name, but none work (neither my own network, nor the neighbour's which is unsecured :), i.e. the networks are never found

in case someone has time to kill, i am happy to hook up on skype and/or screenshare so i can get this baby working. i'd love to be able to use it while working on the field out in africa (NGO), so that would be time killed+good deed on your part,
ta!!

capitalist 04-23-2010 09:11 PM

Have you tried
#service NetworkManager restart

By reading your first post, I got the same problem as you in a couple of days ago, I searched for solutions in Google and then I figured out that. I then disabled network by
#service network stop

lilou_b 05-02-2010 06:58 PM

OK
i think i finally found it, it is very MSI related: simply press both FN and F11 at the same time, and that reactivates or stops the wireless card. (see http://support.msicomputer.co.uk/ind...kbarticleid=32)


my problem now is finding a driver, but will post that somewhere else, this string can be closed!

grail 05-02-2010 10:30 PM

Quote:

this string can be closed!
As the owner you need to mark it as SOLVED. See My signature


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