Please Tell Me How To Install Wifi

Originally posted by Andy
if your disk doesn't have the drivers/firmware, get it here http://packages.opensuse-community.o...o=openSUSE_103
click on the one-click install at the right of the page

That's a 1kb file... right? Just lots of lower case letters and numbers.

Should I have used a different version? I can't believe I've installed an OS that's got essential files missing

Can you recommend a better one please?

clemenzina

That's a 1kb file... right? Just lots of lower case letters and numbers.

Should I have used a different version? I can't believe I've installed an OS that's got essential files missing

Can you recommend a better one please?

clemenzina
[/b]

a better OS?? no, i can't recommend a better one. suse linux is an excellent OS. yes, the one click install is a very small file, it basically acts as links to repo's where it downloads the packages from. you say essential files? windows doesn't come with built in support for wifi cards, you still need to install the drivers. did you download a dvd of suse or the cd?

the file is 16k in size, but expands to about 1mb when installed. if you download it from the link in post #7 you will see this

Andy

a better OS?? did you download a dvd of suse or the cd?[/b]

I didn't mean a different OS, I meant a 'better' version of Suse - I downloaded mine and burned to a CD. It seems from some replies that there's a DVD version.

Andy, I downloaded the 1kb file and copied it to a floppy, that's how I know it's 1kb! But I can't copy the floppy to Suse's desktop so that I can accurately follow the instructions, I can only view contents.

I hope no-one's going to claim that Suse is intuitive

= = =

In fact, since I've been messing around with Linux trying to get something light for this Presario 711, my brother got interested - he's been working with computers since DOS-only systems but he's given up for the time being trying to get anywhere with Suse. He's normally very patient with PCs but always telling me to "suck it and see" when I ask questions, I could punch him :angry: and occasionally do.

The problem is, there's too much information out there and none of what I've found starts with basics, and kind users don't realise that their answers can be ambiguous.

I don't have a visible KMenu, for example, so telling me to start there causes a problem to start with.

I've formatted the drive (has to be done in Windows) and am going to start again.

clemenzina

my apologies for the difficulties you are having, i do understand that coming to a different environment can cause difficulties. It appears you are using the SuSE menu style, i prefer the old Kmenu style. i apologise for not making things clearer.having been a SuSE user for so long and trying to explain things is not easy, i try to explain things as simply as i know, I will now bow out and leave the explanations to someone who may be able to explain things in much easier steps. Good luck in getting it working

Andy

I will now bow out[/b]

Oh :unsure: Why not tell me what version you're using, then I'll download and install that one and we'll be singing from the same hymn-sheet?

(Tho' at the moment I've got to restore my master boot record before anything can be done, I can only get the dreaded Error 22.)

clemenzina

clemenzina, do you see something which resembles your deskto gui in windows? by that I mean do you have a gui with icons, a trash can, a tool bar at the bottom? if you do, then the symbol on the far left corner where you would find the START button on windows is your kmenu or suse menu (which has a search bar in it, as you type, the progam's location your looking for becomes apparent, predated window's start menu search) you can change the style by right click on that button and choose to switch to either one, if you are in susemenu it will offer to switch to kmenu which is more akin to the older windows expanding menu style... dependency packaging insures that each and every program only has what it requires. in windows executables or those .exe files are often bundled with things which aren't always necessary for the program itself and often just adds programs to your startup running process and sucks ram. even programs which are common on linux that also have .exe files for windows will RARELY add anything to your startup list....matter of fact I can't think of any.

the steps I laid out for you before if you take them one at a time instead of absorbing them all at once, are easily followed....for example my suggestions on using smart package manager is precisely directed to you so you can update your system easily and when you want to find programs you can search for them within it, download and install them without worrying about dependencies.

your first big hurdle is this...forget what little windows has taught you. if you are relatively new to computers...don't worry, if you can learn linux then every other system will be a walk in the park. many people who consider themselves "powerusers" on windows are not really so. it is often hard to get help from people who know a thing or two more about one operating system than the average end user but have never really delved into other systems.

here's a link to give you an idea of how your laptop generally fares with linux click here the model they are talking about is 711 EA very similar to yours. it's from linux-on-laptops.com

also check here linux-laptop.org..a great resource to bookmark, especially for those older laptops.

ok step by step here. remember what you are facing here is very common and once finished you will realize, "hey!! I feel comfortable with linux." why? because this is your first troubleshoot and as such your first dive into linux concepts and procedures...no more difficult than getting someone who has never used a windows machine and ask them to learn xp....doesn't sound true but it is....

1. read these links (funny the zd1112 in the second link is in spanish but it directs you to the sourceforge area for the driver)

START HERE!!

http://en.opensuse.org/Wireless_network_card

click here to see the sourc forge page

and this is the home page of the dev...linuxwireless.org

2. put your cd into your laptop. go to your "start" (kmenu) go system then configuration then yast then software management.
it will prompt you for your root password look for the package you seek, even if it is an older version. this will ensure that you have all the other programs, if any, which it will need. ALSO be sure to install KINTERNET, this will put an icon down by your clock, you can right click on this to connect to the internet and configure the settings. if you can't find the rpm then just make sure kinternet is installed and then download the rpm from andy's link. again, you can install via command as andy suggested, very easy, or when firefox asks you what do you want to do with the file, you can choose to install it right then and there.

3. configure the wireless via YAST make sure it is connected. IF YOU GET THE RPM INSTALLED YOU MAY WANT TO REBOOT after with the usb card left in the usb slot, I have heard this working on some usb wireless cards.

little quick howto via yast

resource page which also appears as a link in above howto

also our own swerdna has a good howto copied from andrewd18's howto(another member here and admin of our sister forum)



4. if you get it up and running you then should think seriously about getting smart package manager you will do this by again putting your cd in and installing SMART and SMART GUI after that go HERE to update to the better version of smart which has all the repositories or download servers for our linux. you can do this via the browser as you would in windows it just asks for a password to confirm before it uninstall previous versions and installs the new versions. the packages you will install from this site are as follows: SMART, SMART GUI, and SMART ADDONS. don't worry about debug or ksmarttray, which is an app which checks for updates automatically

5. shut down unwanted processes to free up memory, I have already mentioned how to do this...especially stop the zmd process...that's yast's auto update...

6. configure to get rid of TEMP files during boot up, also have explained how to do this. You have to understand as you use the system, files will be stored in the temp directory, as it fills, so does your harddrive, and since you have less space than the storage space on some usb flash sticks, well soon you will find that booting will be a chore. this is not a 'drawback" or fault of the OS, to avoid such things, you must understand the system you are working with. I would much rather deal with the learning curve on linux than worry about driveby downloads, spyware, viruses, and whole wide variety of vulnerabilities.....

what you need to do is just take a breath, open your mind, stop thinking about windows ways or any other way you would be used to, don't listen to windows users who have never run any other system on a regular basis. just get the rpm installed, ok? once that is done and you have tried some of the basic suggestions listed on the different links...then we can trouble shoot. one helpful thing is to write this down as a checklist on a piece of paper, and go through the steps one at a time...you may install the rpm without problems, but may not be able to reconnect, etc...don't panic first things first....

oh also instead of writing check this link out about reparing the master boot record...it's for an older version (10.1 but should still apply for 10.3, I am on 10.2)

Thank you KeyserSuSE, I've made a hard copy of your post and will check out the links. I really appreciate your time & trouble!

clemenzina

I truly hope we can get this resolved, because once you are able to turn your laptop into something fun and safe (much safer than windows) you will be able to tell others and educate them and so and so on...it's our master plan at world domination!! actually gnu linux is about freedom of choice, it is also I firmly believe as someone who lives in the third world....the best hope to bridge the gap between those who have access to bleeding edge technology and concepts and those who do not....I believe that socrates once said the key to a successful civilization is through the education of its youth, and in matters of technology, well...fire was man's first greatest processor....OK lame I know :unsure: but hopefully you get my point....don't give up, what you about to do is embark on an adventure which will give you so much more power as an end user. and don't forget that with linux there are thousands of free applications which will allow you to become incredibly productive...