From: TJ@noneofyour.business   
      
   On 02/08/2013 07:51 AM, Daniel47@teranews.com wrote:   
   > Dual Boot MD 2009 & Win7 on a HP 6730B laptop   
   >   
   > Normally, I connect to internet via a USB Dongle Wireless to local   
   > Telecom provider. I was thinking of d/l'ing updated Mandriva/Mageina   
   > Linux distributions, but my normal account is only 3GB/month, so that   
   > was not going to fly!!   
   >   
   > However, this week-end, I will be spending a lot of time with one of my   
   > sisters working on Family Tree files whilst at another sister's place,   
   > so have the opportunity to connect into the sister's wireless network   
   > which then goes via cable to her ISP.   
   >   
   > In Win7, I selected the appropriate wireless network, entered an eight   
   > digit number and away I went.   
   >   
   > In MD2009, I went into MCC, selected "Network & Internet", then "Network   
   > Center" then "Wireless (Wi-Fi" but the screen is empty, i.e. no network   
   > to select, even after a "Refresh".   
   >   
   > What should I do, so that I can connect to my sister's wireless network???   
   >   
   > (I'm spending time there next week-end as well (and further into the   
   > future), so even if I do not get things working this week-end, there's   
   > always next week-end!!)   
   >   
   > TIA   
   >   
   > Daniel   
   For the Mandrivas or Mageia to operate the dongle, you'll most likely   
   need the proper firmware files installed on your hard drive. Which   
   firmware you need and the installation method required will depend on   
   what chip your dongle uses. Some wireless devices have open source Linux   
   driver modules that work very well, and others need closed source   
   drivers to work properly. So the first step you need to do is identify   
   your dongle chip.   
      
   I've been having some problems with my own dongle and Mageia 2, as   
   outlined in the Mageia newsgroup. The dongle worked fine with Mageia 1   
   and the open source driver, once I installed the firmware files on my   
   hard drive, but has never worked right with Mageia 2. I suspect it's a   
   problem with the kernel module itself, as these problems are reported   
   across several distros. The proprietary driver from Realtek seems to   
   work better, but I am in personally-uncharted territory when it comes to   
   getting it installed the way it should be.   
      
   But take heart - there is one more solution usually available if all   
   else fails, but many Linux users reject it out of principle. If you have   
   the Windows driver CD for your dongle, you can install ndiswrapper and   
   try using it to apply the Windows driver.   
      
   TJ   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)