Problem with Linux Mint 9

Topic

New Reply

Considering the fact that Linux Mint uses a lot less battery than Windows 7 Home Premium ever will (an assertion I have indeed proven!), I installed Mint 9 x64, and wired networking worked out of the box. What hasn’t worked, despite many, many attempts, has been my wireless card. Let me update you on the machine, etc., so you might have some small idea of how to assist…

My machine is a Toshiba Satellite A505-S6005 w/4Gb RAM, Intel i3 processor (2-core that appears 4-core due to hyperthreading), with Intel display. The wireless is a Realtek RTL8192SE-VA2, and just simply works in Windows 7. I’ve gotten it to work a grand total of once in Linux Mint, and even then, had no Internet. (It was an ad-hoc connection, no internet access, 10.x.x.x IP address…)

I’d prefer to be able to boot to Linux for most things (Yes, many Windows programs can run in Linux, via WINE!) while booting to Windows 7 whilst on AC as needed. So far, I’ve had to stay with Windows 7 to have usable wireless, which puzzles me badly. Have followed the instructions to the letter for several dozen methods that have simply worked for others using this card, with only one partial, temporary success. To say I’m annoyed and dismayed is not understatement, because in almost all cases, the driver sees my wireless hardware, but (apparently) can’t wake it up or use it.

Even using Windows drivers (via ndiswrapper) has failed.

Anyone with any ideas, please assist?

Reply | Quote

Replies

Have followed the instructions to the letter for several dozen methods that have simply worked for others using this card, with only one partial, temporary success. To say I’m annoyed and dismayed is not understatement, because in almost all cases, the driver sees my wireless hardware, but (apparently) can’t wake it up or use it.

Even using Windows drivers (via ndiswrapper) has failed.

Anyone with any ideas, please assist?

Raymond,
Hello…To say “i feel you pain” is an understatement.. i had the exact experience with “Ubuntu”, Mint 7, and 8 … I never did get the verizon card to work more than once …. then “No way”. Trying Mint 9 the card just started working ? … Have you or can you Edit the network settings? Also for a while the card would work ( Mint 8 ) if i booted up coming from my Windows OS… but if i tried a “cold boot” directly into Mint i could not establish a connection My only advice is to post the question on the Mint forum http://forums.linuxmint.com/ Or maybe someone here has an answer …. Regards Fred

Reply | Quote

I have tried 2 versions of Ubuntu on a FujitsuSiemens Lifebook and haven’t been able to get Wireless to work (been able to connect but not surf). I’ve had much better success with Puppy Linux. The only problem there is that I haven’t been able to use any encryption on the the connection. (Though I haven’t tried a tip I saw about setting s: before the password yet)

Reply | Quote

Considering the fact that Linux Mint uses a lot less battery than Windows 7 Home Premium ever will (an assertion I have indeed proven!), I installed Mint 9 x64, and wired networking worked out of the box. What hasn’t worked, despite many, many attempts, has been my wireless card. Let me update you on the machine, etc., so you might have some small idea of how to assist…

My machine is a Toshiba Satellite A505-S6005 w/4Gb RAM, Intel i3 processor (2-core that appears 4-core due to hyperthreading), with Intel display. The wireless is a Realtek RTL8192SE-VA2, and just simply works in Windows 7. I’ve gotten it to work a grand total of once in Linux Mint, and even then, had no Internet. (It was an ad-hoc connection, no internet access, 10.x.x.x IP address…)

I’d prefer to be able to boot to Linux for most things (Yes, many Windows programs can run in Linux, via WINE!) while booting to Windows 7 whilst on AC as needed. So far, I’ve had to stay with Windows 7 to have usable wireless, which puzzles me badly. Have followed the instructions to the letter for several dozen methods that have simply worked for others using this card, with only one partial, temporary success. To say I’m annoyed and dismayed is not understatement, because in almost all cases, the driver sees my wireless hardware, but (apparently) can’t wake it up or use it.

Even using Windows drivers (via ndiswrapper) has failed.

Anyone with any ideas, please assist?

Common problem with Linux, your best bet is to plug the wireless in (it’s usb right), get the device ID with the lsusb command (it’s going to look like xxx:yyyy in hexadecimal) and search linux forums for a driver for that manufacturer. Most devices are made by a handful of manufacturers.
If you get the right name (for example RAxxxx), look for an installable package that has that name in it’s description. If you cant find a pre-made package that supports that device it’s going to be hard and you may have to recompile from source (oh joy!).

Happened to me and I threw out the device (all of 15$) and got another one known to work with linux, with a standard package (rpm).

It’s major pain with linux due to the fact that many manufacturers wont help the developers support the OS.

Reply | Quote

Not to belabor the obvious, but have you made sure the wireless switch on the side of the case is on? I’m assuming your Toshiba is like mine here. When switched on there is a light on beside the switch. Hope this helps.
JB

Reply | Quote