Hi,

I'm planning to installing Slackware 12.1 on my computer which currently has Vista on it (specs: 2.20 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, complete specs in detail here: http://www.geocities.com/asdfsdf_sdfasdf/stats.html ).

I've read all the manuals I could, and I think I'll finally be able to handle the entire installation process - just one problem: the wireless adapter.

I tried Slax (a live Slackware-based distro) to get the feel of things, and to see if it the wireless adapter would work -- it did not.

Here is the lspci output from slax:

Someone suggested that I instead try slackware - that maybe the Slax's kernel wasn't equipped with the necessary components - but without entering the installation setup, and after the default hugesmp.s in the Slackware 12.1 dvd disc, prompt said: "lspci command not found"

Hardware ids of device manager (on vista) reveals the VID of the wireless adapter to be 15A9:0004.

I would much appreciate if someone could give me a few hints on what to do from here out.

I'm basically installing Slackware to get familiar with a nix system -- I'm hoping to have my wireless adapter working after the installation asap.

Thanks,
-Mark

Hi,

When you google the VID (15A9:0004) it shows the device is the built-in USB wireless device from the 'HP Pavilion Slimline s7700n PC'.

Worst case would be that you would use the ndiswrapper and the current 'Vista' driver.

When you boot the Slackware 12.1 or the Slax Livecd do a 'dmesg |grep -i wlan' or check for other devices via ID.

And even if the wireless would not work out the box - you can add the driver for that card to your Slackware machine after you've installed it, and make it work.

Eric

Indeed that was the case - it actually was recognized it seems, sorry about this (not very observant at this stage, as I'm a newbie).

Still, however, there's a small problem. On Slax, I can't connect to the WAP that has wep on -- the "Switch to network" button is grayed out (while another neighbor's WAP, I should point out, is not). On KwifiManager, going to Settings > Configure Editor, I activated wlan0 and input the correct wep key, but yet still the "Switch to this network" button is grayed out. What could I be doing wrong here?

Thanks for your time,
-Mark

Hi,

Any system device changes will have to be made as root.

Open a console as root. Make your changes within the console and restart the inet by '/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 restart'

Hi onebuck,

Thanks for the reply.

I was on Slax, a Slackware-based Linux distro, so I was already root.

Anyway, as for my problem, I *EXCITEDLY* report to you that it's been solved.

What was I doing wrong? Heh, something stupid.. something stupid that can be wholly blamed on Kwifimanager's poor user interface. Bless the programmers' hearts and soul for the time they've spent on it -- but it is very confusing for a newbie to tackle (and I'm not the only one with this opinion -- a quick search on google reveals lots of criticism directed solely to its confusing user interface).

Newcomers who might have similar problems, please follow this little howto *exactly in the order listed * (from Slax's site):
Thanks,
-Mark