Hi,
Fisrt I must say I am a real beginner whit linux so please don't assume I know basic stuff cause I know nothing. I installed fedora core 6 on my acer 5002 wlmi laptop, but wifi access doesn't work, now I've done some research and download ndiswrapper but I cant get it to install when I do the make it guives me this error:
Can't find kernel build files in /lib/modules/2.6.18-1.2869.fc6/build

What do I do next?
I have internet access on the laptop in case you wonder(through wired connection).
I've had people telling to use yum, but I don't really know how it works so please if you tell me to do something include the fulle command line, that would really help. As I said I am really new to this linux world, but would be really glad to get rid of windows, but can't do it without your help.

Thanks

OK, first you need to blacklist the bcm43xx kernel module. As root add to the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist file;

# wireless drivers
blacklist bcm43xx

Because the module is broken for the broadcom 4318 chipset. Next you need to visit livna.org and add the repo to your yum configuration, as root type;

rpm -Uvh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm

Then use yum to install the ndiswrapper rpm packages;

yum install kmod-ndiswrapper ndiswrapper

And finally visit the acer ftp site and download and extract:

32-bit; ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/note...iver/80211.zip

64-bit; ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/note...bit/80211g.zip

Use the typed command 'uname -a' minus the single quotemarks to know which to download and use, the 64-bit for a 64-bit kernel (x86_64) the 32-bit for a 32-bit kernel (i686).

Install the Windows driver from the extracted directory location;

ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf

Sstill as root edit the /etc/modprobe.conf file and change the entry which may read as 'alias eth1 bcm43xx' to read something like 'alias eth1 ndiswrapper' of if you prefer 'alias wlan0 ndiswrapper'.

If you chose to use wlan0 instead of eth1 then you will have to edit the /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1 file to reflect this and rename this file to ifcfg-wlan0

When done reboot

ok did everything you said but got this error when trying to activate the device:
Determining IP information for eth1... failed; no link present. Check cable?

any idea?
(I installed the 64 bit version just so you know)

thanks for the help

OK, first did you happen to notice the wirless (orange) LED flicker a bit when the laptop just beore the error message. If not then from the console or xterm session as root try the following;

ifdown wlan0

Now press the LED button in once (the one closest to the audio jacks) then type;

ifup wlan0

If your wireless device is eth0 then adjust accordingly. If you still have a problem the edit the /etc/sysconfig/networking-scripts file and a a line entry;

GATEWAY=the IP address of your wireless router here

then save and restart the network service; service network restart

If still no connection then check the ndiswrapper FAQ and troubleshooting pages;

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

If you still need help then post back and provide the steps you took in detail, if possible provide a copy of the files (/etc/modprobe.conf and so on) and the output from the typed command; /usr/sbin/ndiswarpper -l

that is the error i got:

[root@localhost Archon]# ifdown eth1
bash: ifdown: command not found
[root@localhost Archon]#

Are you really root?? or did you use 'su' instead of 'su -' (big difference).

Try using the full path with the command; /sbin/ifdown eth1

Also check this thread; http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=512631

seems like i got it to kind off work.
I can see the wireless network in range, the problem is when I try to connect it ask me for a key (which I provide, it's wep128 bit hex) but it keep asking for the key without connecting (I am typing the right key of course) my router is dlink and works fine with other computers in the house (all under windows) is there a know issue or is there something I am not doing properly?

This key needs to be in a separate file in the same directory as your ifcfg-eth1 file named keys-eth1 which has at least one entry like;

KEY=1234567890ABCDE

ok but it doesn't seem to be my proble here, i got it to connect to the router but everytime the connection is drop after like 5 seconds, I even tried to remove the protection on the router, same thing happen. It connects then disconnects.

did some research, tried some things, but still doesn't work, any idea or should I abandon linux?

Review this please; http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=515983

Then check your router, it may be blocking your wireless device from connecting. Mine wireless router is configured to block via the MAC address of any wireless devices not granted access from an allowed MAC address list. Some wireless routers default to block all wireless devices unless specifically allowed. Some have problems connecting any other wireless cards not from the same maker which a firmware update for the router fixes.

The clue might be the wireless device LED blinks briefly every once in a while.

nope the adress is allowed, plus it work under windows and I tried whit no filter at all and still disconnect after 5 seconds

euh...this is this post???

Sorry, my mistake........ I was posting a link to this thread in a reply to another wireless thread and accidentally posted it here in this thread also.

Visit the ndiswrapper site and check out the FQA and troubleshooting sections (see post # 4 in this thread) if have not yet done so.