I just set up Suse 9.2 on my laptop (IBM Thinkpad T20) after liking it a lot on my desktop!

During the setup, Suse detected my PCMCIA 802.11 wireless card (as well as the onboard ethernet). I was able to configure it directly during setup including the SSID and WEP encryption.

However, I cannot connect to the internet via wireless. The card is not even powered on (I'm assuming cause the light is off), though the configuration is set for starting on bootup. If I type in iwlist wlan0 scan, it says "hardware does not support scanning" or something like that.

If I plug in with wired ethernet cable, I can get on internet fine. I'm guessing I'm pretty close, but when I did a Google search, I found so much stuff it got my head spinning! Lots of references to ndiswrapper to use Windows drivers, but I don't know if I need it since I was able to set up during install.

Some advice to this newbie would be awesome!

IM me on AIM - ooSirSlappyoo and I'll help you.

Thanks. But I don't have AIM. Any tips you can give?

It sounds like the module for the card isn't loaded, or perhaps there isn't a kernel module for it.
You can use ndiswrapper and the windows driver to make it work, it's what I do for mine.

1. Install ndiswrapper using YAST.

2. Copy the windows driver inf and sys files to a directory on your drive.

3. To install the driver using ndiswrapper do the following as root

4. in console: ndiswrapper -i /path-to-driver file/driver-file.inf

5. ndiswrapper -l (this whould show driver install/hardware present [if inserted])

6. modprobe ndiswrapper (card should power up)

7. ndiswrapper -m

8. Use YAST to configure the card. Configure as normal wifi card NOT pcmcia. put ndiswrapper in the module field. enter the key.

you should be up and running by thins point.

Okay.

1. Done
2. I copied these from the installation CD of the card
3 & 4. Done
5. ndiswrapper -l shows the file installed above, but says Hardware Not Present
6. Executed the command, but no power up LEDs
7. Done
8. Done. There was already a config from Suse installation, but I deleted that.

But alas no wireless . LEDs are still off. ndiswrapper -l still shows the .inf file name but says Hardware Not Present.

More help please. Thanks!

Have you tried other cards in your pcmcia slot? Now it sounds a lot like pcmcia isn't running. What's the output of lsmod?

I don't have other PCMCIA cards, but the card and wireless work fine on XP. So I know the slot and card are not damaged. I will check lsmod output when I get home.