ndiswrapper wont modprobe

[swearinhagen]

I have a wireless card, (the model is irrelevant, I know it works) that I used to get to work with ndiswrapper. However, that was quite a while ago, and now when I install the driver, it doesn't work. Modprobe says it's added, but network settings says ndiswrapper isn't added every time I start up. I don't get it.

I would love to get this fixed, because at the moment all I'm stuck with is vista. ()

[lwfinger]

swearinhagen wrote:
> I have a wireless card, (the model is irrelevant, I know it works) that
> I used to get to work with ndiswrapper. However, that was quite a while
> ago, and now when I install the driver, it doesn't work. Modprobe says
> it's added, but network settings says ndiswrapper isn't added every time
> I start up. I don't get it.

Does the output of dmesg teell you anything about this problem. Please
do not post the entire output - look through it for messages related
to ndiswrapper.

It is possible that your device is now supported by a native driver
and that ndiswrapper is no longer needed. Go to the wireless subforun,
read the stickies, and provide the info regarding your device.

[swearinhagen]

I'll look into a native driver, but my experience with b43 is that it drops out and gives me poor signal. I'll definitely look into it.

As for dmesg, I'll check that out next.

[lwfinger]

swearinhagen wrote:
> I'll look into a native driver, but my experience with b43 is that it
> drops out and gives me poor signal. I'll definitely look into it.
>
> As for dmesg, I'll check that out next.

Have you checked b43 with openSUSE 11.1? It has improved a lot - most
of the difference is in the MAC layer. Driver b43 doesn't work with
one of my devices, so I have used ndiswrapper with it. It dies
horribly after 3-4 hours and cannot be restarted even if ndiswrapper
is unloaded and reloaded. For my other BCM43xx devices, b43 just chugs
along.

[swearinhagen]

Ok, so I've done some research on how to use b43, but I can't find anything really helpfull.

Where can I get the firmware files? Am I just not googleing enough?

My device is a wmp54gs, if that can help any, I'll get more detailed specs later.

[lwfinger]

swearinhagen wrote:
> Ok, so I've done some research on how to use b43, but I can't find
> anything really helpfull.
>
> Where can I get the firmware files? Am I just not googleing enough?
>
> My device is a wmp54gs, if that can help any, I'll get more detailed
> specs later.

Go to the wireless subforum, where wireless questions are discussed.
At the beginning of that forum, you will find a couple of stickies.
Read them. In one of them you will find a prescription for installing
the firmware. There are two scenarios described - one with Internet
access while in Linux, and one where there is no access.

After you read these, it should be very clear. If not, then post in
the wireless forum and you will be helped.

[swearinhagen]

Thank you, I will look into it asap

[swearinhagen]

My wireless works! I followed the guide for b43 and it works!
I had to unload ndiswrapper first, then I was able to configure my wireless card. Now everything is working great and I'm typing this from opensuse right now.

Edit: I was going to mark this tread as solved, but I guess opensuse forums doesn't do that.

[lwfinger]

swearinhagen wrote:
> My wireless works! I followed the guide for b43 and it works!
> I had to unload ndiswrapper first, then I was able to configure my
> wireless card. Now everything is working great and I'm typing this from
> opensuse right now.
>
> Edit: I was going to mark this tread as solved, but I guess opensuse
> forums doesn't do that.

Welcome to the family of b43 users. The interface/driver should work
well for you, but it will be even better in the near future (11.2 ?) -
there are many improvements in b43 and the MAC layer in the pipeline.

One of those changes is open-source firmware. The current effort can
receive but not yet transmit. When that is available, b43 will work
"out of the box".

Larry