Mandriva 2007.0 Wireless problem
 

I just got Linux on my machine today. I have a Dell E1705.
I have the right wireless drivers and the only version of ndiswrapper I have gotten to work is 1.21-1mdv2007.0 (packaged with the OS)
I have 1.28 on the filesystem - source code, but its uncompilable. gives me errors running make and make install.
I got to the point on the 1.21-1 version to where I have to modprobe ndiswrapper and that returns the fatal error.. After looking and looking through many forums and google pages, digging hard and finding ndiswrapper.ko.gz and copying ndiswrapper.ko and .ko.gz to all dirs I can think of - I'm stumped.
I'm also new to this.
If I try to run the install in the gui it tells me that firmware is needed and tells me to check the list on sourceforge.
I've been through many many install forums and questions and posts and whatever.. I just can't find it.
If you need to know anything more about my system (I checked 100 times, even PCI coded the drivers and their right.)
Please help,
thanks in advance,
Roarke

What is the wireless chip that you are using? How does it identify itself?
Frankly, with the last two Mandrivas (2006.2007), I never had to manually configure anything. The gui actually worked just fine. But, it is a 2 step process. You must configure the device and then configure the network. I have a Broadcom chip, which is generally the typical nightmare chip for wireless. The latest driver, BCM42xx, will not work with my setup, only ndiswrapper.

I have found that if Mandriva has attempted to add the device into the system already, I delete it and then reconfigure from the beginning.

I am using a Dell Wireless 1390, which I believe is a broadcom card. The driver file is bcmwl5.inf/sys.

Mentioning added to the system, in the harware config that I loaded (HardDrake I think), it did see it. However this was also after installing ndiswrapper + driver, but it sees it driver or not.

Should I try to find a way to remove that?

Thanks,
Nick

You have a Broadcom, the most common chip for ndiswrapper. Once you install the ndiswrapper, you must tell the system to use ndiswrapper for the nic. Go into MCC, configure the device, choose ndiswrapper, and go through the process completely, even if it claims to be already using the correct driver. It is a good idea to delete the device and start over from the beginning.

I believe the install your referring to me to do I mentioned in my first post as installing through the gui.
I can't find a way to remove the nic card as it doesn't see it as anything special, it just sees it. In MCC, unless I looked in the wrong place, I have no uninstall for the wireless card.
Trying to run the configuration and tell it through the gui to install, it gives me the error 'Unable to find ndiswrapper interface!'
then it tells me I need firmware for the device. I'm assuming, however that it doesn't get the drivers cause ndis isn't active.

Back to modprobing, I got it hooked to internet (thru wire) and urpmi several versions of kernel sources ( in some places I ahve 2.6.17, others 2.6.18 )

Also, I remind you I'm brand new to Linux.
I think I sound more understanding than I actually am.
I also either have a very problematic wireless card or linux distribution.
Can anyone suggest something more set for a beginner that picks up fast and likes diggin thru tuff stuff?

ty
Roarke

The error you name means that you need to try the other driver that is also located in your Broadcom directory in windows. Different brands do different things; my Acer puts all the Broadcom stuff in C:\windows\802BG. There are 2 drivers: BCMWL5.inf and BCMWL5A.inf. You must try them both.

Thats something new.. I havn't heard that before, nor seen that file. I'll have to check it out as soon as I can get my laptop up. TY Ixthusdan
Roarke

I was able to fire up my laptop now and the driver I downloaded does not include bcmwl5a*
the bcmwl5.inf/sys is what I use in windows, though I use an installer it came with some wireless tools.
Also, it is a Dell download, would that affect anything? Like them leaving out files that would be needed elsewhere, as they seem to have a tendancy to do that.
This things B**** O.O
TY again
Roarke