clevo b5100 Realtek rtl8191se driver issue [SOLVED}

[AlbertP]

The driver is only part of the kernels of older Ubuntu/Mint versions. It's probably an old (no longer available) version from Realtek.

[Windowsfree2012]

The driver is only part of the kernels of older Ubuntu/Mint versions. It's probably an old (no longer available) version from Realtek.

using ndis wrapper, should I try one of the windows drivers from Realtek?

Thanks.

[AlbertP]

Didn't downgrading to that 2.6.38 kernel work?

You could try that. Probably it's easier to get the .sys and .inf files from C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository. I think the folder's name will start with net as many network drivers do that.

[Windowsfree2012]

Ok, just to let you know, I tried just using the Windows driver and that does not work. Hopefully this week I will attempt to use the older kernel. I will post the info here.
Thank you.

[Windowsfree2012]

I contacted Realtek and it seems their driver works only on 32 bit. Since I have a quad core and 8 gigs of memory, I would be wasting a lot of resources by going to 32 bit OS for Linux Mint. I will obtain a USB network adaptor by ASUS that is supposed to work without issue. I will advise of that also.

Thank you.

[AlbertP]

There are lots of dongles that use Realtek chips (Asus also has some of them). These chips may work (because of different chip type), but there are also some that have similar problems.
You can check the chip type of many dongles on http://www.wikidevi.com.

[Windowsfree2012]

Asus n110 usb adaptor worked without issue. I have tried going back to previous kernel as described in one of the reply posts above but that did not work. The adaptor solved the issue and I don't mind using the USB port for that. Thanks to all who replied to this post and at this point the thread can be closed. Can't wait to see what happens with LM13. :D

[jimzhong]

I used the same chip before. It worked smoothly in Mint 12 after installing compat-wireless.
You can also download the driver for linux from Realtek's website. It also works.

[Windowsfree2012]

Thanks for the info, I will try that because my n10 USB adaptor overheated and is now dead. I am just frustrated that the kernel is not built to handle the Realtek hardware right away.

Thanks, if I get chance to try it, I will and post the results here. Did you get compat wireless from a repository?

[Windowsfree2012]

Just borrowed a N10 USB adaptor. I reinstalled LM1o prior to borrowing the network adaptor. Installed the live CD, connected to Internet and installed LM12 64 bit. (screenshot of live CD with Internet access attached - pardon the poor resolution, it was taken with a cell phone.) After installation adaptor would not stay connected as with RTL8191SE Realtek adaptor. Why did it work one time with an installed version and with the Live CD, but will not stay connected with the installed version?

I see that ThinkPenguin.com has a guaranteed adaptor to work with LM12, but don't want to have a large USB network adaptor hanging out of my laptop.

Any suggesstions?

[AlbertP]

I haven't had any problems at all with Sitecom's €13 RTL8191SE dongle, the WL-352, in either Mint 11 or 12. Don't know why Asus's one has to be so problematic.

[jimzhong]

Thanks for the info, I will try that because my n10 USB adaptor overheated and is now dead. I am just frustrated that the kernel is not built to handle the Realtek hardware right away.

Thanks, if I get chance to try it, I will and post the results here. Did you get compat wireless from a repository?

I didn't get compat-wireless from a repository. I downloaded the source code from http://linuxwireless.org/ and then compiled it.