Madwifi 2

[Tearose]

ndiswrapper is not solving my wifi problem, and there was an indication that the driver was the problem. So I've decided to try madwifi, since it seems to have an Atheros driver. I downloaded a TAR file, and was able to have it extracted to a root folder. But I couldn't understand how to actually install madwifi, and do I need to uninstall ndiswrapper? and how do I do that?
Jill

 

[pentode]

Can you tell us what Linux distribution you have again?

 

[Tearose]

Ubuntu

 

[geirendre]

From the

http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/Distro/Ubuntu

site :

Ubuntu ships madwifi in the restricted component, which is enabled in the default install. Madwifi chipsets should therefore ‘just work’.

In case you did a manual install, try installing linux-restricted-modules-$(uname -r) and that’s it.

For what it's worth....

 

[pentode]

To keep ndiswrapper from loading without actually removing it entirely:

Edit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist as root. This is just a text file. I use nano for this, but you can use whatever editor you want:

nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Add this line to the file:

blacklist ndiswrapper

You'll have to remember to comment it out (#) if you ever want to use it in the future.

 

[Tearose]

I can't believe it! I can see my network!. I haven't actually done any of the things you've suggested, just played with the wifi button. It's now flickering instead of steady (I thought since it was blue that it was on, then noticed that when I pushed the button nothing happened to the light. A few more pushes and it started flickering). I clicked on Network, and there were all the computers both in this office and the other office that's connected by VPN. So- the wireless is WORKING!!! And yes I feel like an idiot for not playing with the button before, and wonder how many things I've done that I didn't need to do. But I've also learned a lot about terminal commands, which I knew nothing about a couple weeks ago- so not a total waste of time. I'm giving you both stars for all your suggestions and putting up with my learning curve.

BUT_ I'm still not getting to the internet, which is really what I need it to be able to do. While I can ping the router and server, and bring up the router interface with Firefox, it is not showing the laptop as an attached device like the other computers. Also when I try traceroute to computers I can ping, I get "no reply". Any ideas why I can ping, get to the network, and not show up as being on the network, or get online?

 

[pentode]

Maybe take a look at the output of ifconfig and iwconfig first.

Also, do you know if there is any additional security measures set up in the router? MAC address filtering, etc.

 

[thedaver]

Sounds like the linux default firewall might be filtering your pings.

You may need to check your routing table to talk to the router.

Do you have any DNS services working?

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[Tearose]

I had written awhile ago, and see my post isn't here, so maybe I hit the wrong thing and it didn't post. Anyway, after a restart, the wifi light was steady again, and nothing I did (push and release, push and hold for a couple seconds...) would get it back to flickering. I think the button is faulty, and could explain a lot of the problems I was having. Next week, the twin of this laptop will be available, and provided the wifi button isn't also faulty on that one, I will set it up for this office and use the other in the other office, where plug-in is available where it will be used. I'm hoping that I've learned enough about Linux by now to get that one working without constant questions to you. Thanks for teaching me so much about how to use the Terminal.
Jill

 

[Tearose]

Just a follow-up here.
The twin computer has a working wifi button, which I tested before changing the operating system. Configuration wasn't completely smooth, but last Thursday, I could see the network once and set up printing on the network printer. I had trouble getting online, and tried several ways- manual configuration, allowing roaming, etc. I had to keep putting in the key for the router, could get online sometimes, but couldn't get it to keep a configuration that had the key, let me online and let me access the network. I thought I'd resume trying different configurations today, and turned it on and logged in. The wireless bars showed up. I looked for and found our network. I found our website when I started Firefox. I wrote instructions to use the laptop and they printed on the network printer. Couldn't believe it! I'm a happy camper at last!

 

[pentode]

Glad it's working - as long as you never have to reboot, you should be fine I've had that experience with my wireless connection a few times also.

But as we pessimistic engineers like to say: A problem that goes away by itself tends to come back by itself.