Needing help with Ubuntu 11.10
 

Ok so, I've never used linux before. Ever. A friend put lubuntu on my computer for me to check out and i really do like it but i need some help with minor/major issues im having. I cannot for the life of me seem to get it to connect, none the less FIND any wireless networks when there are very well at least two in the area. I have no way to put the computer that is using Ubuntu on the internet (as of right now) due to this problem. I also cannot connect it through a wired ethernet cable because i dont have one. If anyone could help please do

Please tell us more about your computer specs, particularly the type of wireless chip, and what make/model laptop you have.

This post will give you some hints; it's primarily about Broadcom wireless and Linux, but it will tell you how to determine what type of wireless chipset you have, and that is important information to dealing with this:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ux-4175434970/

im guessing what you are looking for is this "01:04:0 Network Controller: Ralink corp. RT2768 wireless 802.11n 1T/2R Cardbus"


or is it this "01:05:.0 Modem [0703]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4212 v.98 56k modem [14e4:4212]"


i hope ONE of those things is somehelp

In this case, the Ralink network controller is what we're looking for. The other is a modem, and is used to connect over phone lines at painfully slow speeds that wouldn't make you happy at all.

A quick visit to the Ralink website doesn't show your card as supported by Linux, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't work. It's been a few years since I worked with NDISwrapper, but if no one wiser and smarter than I (and most here are) has a better idea, you may be able to get it working with that package. It essentially allows Linux to use Windows drivers for cards that don't offer Linux support.

You can find more info and some instructions here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...er/Ndiswrapper

so i downloaded a .deb file that is the package installer for the ndiswrapper on the computer i have that CAN connect wirelessly though it is not running linux. SO, that leaves me with this question. since i have the .deb file on one computer, couldnt i just put the file on a thumbdrive, put said thumbdrive in computer using linux, and install the package?

You need ndiswrapper-common, ndiswrapper-dkms, ndiswrapper-utils-1.9, ndisgtk.

Put them in a folder and then as root (in a terminal) cd into that folder and type
and that will install it for you. Then open the Windows wireless drivers application in your menu and install the driver for your hardware.

Yes, you can transfer them on a thumb drive.

There are a lot of great references for using Linux. This forum is my favorite, but when you have a moment, you might have a look at www.linux.org for some good information and free online classes and resources. Ubuntu also has its own forum if, and if you really want to get into how Ubuntu and other Debian-based linux distributions work, try the Debian Reference Manual at http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ It's all command line, but the section on the file system is probably a really good idea to read, so you don't go poking with things that might break your system.

NDISwrapper, ugh. Theres got to be a better way than that, Ralink is very well supported.

I'd try taking the laptop to a wired conenction and running the hardware drivers tool (jockey-gtk).