I just recently installed on a new build with older but new hardware.
AMD Athlon 64, with 2 GIGs of RAM, and 2 80 GB HDs. Not breaking any speed records and this computer has one purpose in life. To be my class room. I am using strictly for learning.
So I have done this so far; installed Win XP Pro, using EASEUS Partition Manager, I partitioned the Master to 20 GB for the Windows OS and the remaining is for my Linux Mandriva 2010 KDE. Partitioned the other 80 GB HD down the middle for independent storage for each OS. So far, everything is working great, I am able to duel boot to either OS.
Now, here comes the questions.
1. My wireless card gets 5 bars 87% - 92% in Windows (to be expected, router is upstairs) In Linux, I get 1 bar with only 15% Barely enough to keep a good internet connection. It would make sense to me that this is because I do not have a driver installed in Mandriva for my wireless card. Running lspci in the terminal it tells me I have this chipset:01:07.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8185 IEEE 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 20)
I brought this rig upstairs and did ALL of the updates (all 646 of them) via ethernet but this computer is going to be downstairs where I do not have a dedicated router to hook into so must use wireless.
So, any help that you can give me in tracking down the correct driver so that I can actually use it and helping with instructions on installing will be greatly appreciated.

What's telling you your percentage? I typically use iwlist for scanning. If you are using something else try giving iwlist a go and see if it's giving you the same numbers/range. It could be a driver problem where the linux driver is possibly no permitting the full power it gets(I could be wrong entirely just throwing a random idea out).

Panderiz
On the bottom right of screen, the wireless card shows an indicator. If you put your mouse cursor over it, it pops up a window telling you what network you are connected to as well as the percent of signal your card is receiving. After installing all 646 updates, the card did go from 15% to 17% WOOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!! LOL
The card is an Encore Electronics 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter model number ENLWI-G2 With a Realtek chipset. I looked at Encores webpage to try and find a Linux driver but did not have any luck. I am sure it is there but their site is not easy to navigate.

Are you using the windows driver through ndiswrapper or through the kernel? Also try doing an iwlist instead of relying on that applet it could be giving wrong numbers. That has happened to me in the past where some applet would say I got one percentage but then iwlist shows a different result(was like 20% difference)

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Thanks for the great advice. I have not tried ndiswrapper yet though I have been reading about it. It's funny you mention the current applet giving wrong numbers because after I performed all of the updates it seems like my internet connection is a lot faster. So I am definitely going to take your advice and try the iwlist. Is iwlist something I install through the add programs?
Also, strangely enough, when I type drakconnect in the terminal, the only option I get is Wired Ethernet. It does not even show my wireless?
But I believe in the ol' saying "If it is not broke, don't fix it"

In the past I've used ndiswrapper over linux drivers because they were a pain in my arse so I tried ndiswrapper and was happy, but I've had instances where it was just as bad so it varies..
wireless-tools on gentoo gives me iwlist and other iw related command line programs. A quick google and very little reading makes me think you just need to install iwtools to get the same programs.