Wireless problems

[Derek5272]

So, I downloaded Mint 3.0 today, and have been trying to test it out from a Live CD before partitioning my drive.

So far, I've been unable to get Mint to detect my wireless PCI adapter. It's a D-Link Airplus G DWL-g510 (rev. B), and I've downloaded the latest drivers for it from the website, in a setup.exe file.

The mintWifi index.html file tells me to use unzip, unshield, or cabextract commands to extract the files from it so I can install the drivers. However, none of these will work: unzip tells me that it isn't a zip file, unshield tells me it isn't an InstallShield Cabinet File (which I know it is, as I've opened it in Windows), and cabextract gave a similar error message (can't recall exactly what it was at the moment).

Also, I've located the .inf file for my drivers on my computer, but when I try using ndisgkt (or whatever, I'm sure you know what I mean), it just does nothing. No error message, but nothing happens. Any suggestions? I'd really like to get this running so I can familiarize myself with Linux a bit before I get into IT at school this fall.

[merlwiz79]

Download the XP driver from here
http://www.dlink.com/products/support.a ... v=66&sec=0
Then extract and everything should be in the Drivers folder.(forget the setup.exe)

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/joom ... ,list_c-f/
15.
Card: D-Link DWL-G510 (Rev B)
Chipset: Atheros
pciid: 168c:001a
Driver: Version 1.0, Provided on CD. Version 2.11 from dlink.com also works.
Other: only WEP tested, works fine on 2.6.9 and 2.4.27. The short-named .conf file symlink was pointing to the wrong long-named .conf file - fixed manually.

[Derek5272]

So I have A3Ab.cat, A3AB.sys, DWLINst.dll, and NetA3AB.inf in the Drivers folder. Do I just have to tell it to install NetA3AB.inf and that's that?

[merlwiz79]

So I have A3Ab.cat, A3AB.sys, DWLINst.dll, and NetA3AB.inf in the Drivers folder. Do I just have to tell it to install NetA3AB.inf and that's that?

I never needed mintWifi so I never used it.
The step is number 6 and you need to continue to the end.
file:///usr/lib/linuxmint/mintWifi/index.html

[Derek5272]

Tried installing the .inf with Windows Wireless Drivers application and it did absolutely nothing. Would be great if this thing gave an error message or something when it didn't install the files. Anybody know what's going on?

[nelamvr6]

Did you go to this location:

file: /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintWifi/index.html ?

There are step by step instructions there.

[Derek5272]

Yes, I did that a long time ago. All it does is get me to where I need to install them using the Windows Wireless Drivers application.

[merlwiz79]

Move only the Drivers Folder to your Home Folder then install the driver as normal.

[Derek5272]

Does it make a difference if I put it in the Home folder, or just plop it down on the desktop? Because I had it on the desktop before.

And I'm assuming "as normal" is how I've been trying to do it?

[merlwiz79]

Does it make a difference if I put it in the Home folder, or just plop it down on the desktop? Because I had it on the desktop before.

And I'm assuming "as normal" is how I've been trying to do it?

I moved it to the my home folder (ie merlwiz79) because the name of the extracted folder was to long and made ndisgtk(Windows Wireless Drivers application) unable to install the driver.

[Derek5272]

Ok, I guess I'll give that a shot, then. But if, what, mint/home/desktop ? is too long, then...

[merlwiz79]

Ok, I guess I'll give that a shot, then. But if, what, mint/home/desktop ? is too long, then...

This is were mine was located before.
/home/merlwiz79/Desktop/D-Link AirPlus G Utility (V2.11 Build 50317) for G510_G630 released(Driver 4.0.0.1414)-us/Drivers
Moved Drivers folder to /home/merlwiz79/

[Derek5272]

Well, putting it right in Home worked - It installed the driver. Unfortunately, I only get WEP for encryption options, and my router's WPA. Looks like there's a fix for that that requires rebooting, though... So I'll try installing it now so I can do that. Thanks for the help.

[Epke]

Hi a friend of mine used the Live CD on his laptop there didnt also work the Wireless driver, but he wanted Linux so he just installed Linux Mint and funny enough his wireless card was WORKING after a complete install! So maybe it turns out the same way for you!

[jbaerbock]

EDIT: after typing all this I noticed you had already gotten in worked out hehe sorry for the wasted forum space.



Hi there I can understand your frustrations with wireless. In general wireless technology (cellphones included) is grouchy on the best of days. I have a broadcom wireless card which had issues. I selected the .inf file (which was on a flash drive) and used the mintWIFI program to install it. After the install it may say no hardware present. In said case it probably installed ok but still has an alternate driver attached to the device. In said case you must blacklist that driver before the new driver you just installed will work. Yeah I don't know why we must blacklist manually but ah well.

First off go to your terminal and type: ndiswrapper -l
then it should list your driver you installed as installed ok and may list an alternate right after in ( ). If so that driver name in the ( ) is what you need to black list.

To blacklist type: gksudo nautilus
this will bring up the file manager in root user mode.

After bringing nautilus up simply go to root folder then etc folder then modprobe.d folder.

After doing such you will want to find and open the file called blacklist. After opening the file choose anywhere you want on the file and type in: blacklist and then the name of the driver you saw in the ( ) earlier. Click save and restart the computer.

This was the problem I had with mintWIFI hope it helped you somewhat. Any questions feel free to ask.