Moving to Linux...

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 26 May 2006, 08:52

Hi,
I've been trying to move on to Linux but I'm having problems in finding a distro that supports all my hardware (or drivers for it).

Hardware:
->P4 @ 2.68GHz
->512 MB RAM
->NVidia GeForce4 MX 440 64MB
->C-Media AC97 Audio Device (onboard)
->LevelOne WNC-0301USB (USB dongle for wireless network)
->(Optional)Pen-drive = Verbatim Store'n'Go U3 Smart Drive
->(Optional)Lifetech Bluetooth adapter

It's being more difficult to find drivers for my network adapter and my pen-drive.

Since I use my computer for music, surfing and programming, I really need a distro that supports my audio board, my network adapter and maybe my pendrive.

Can anyone recommend me a distro? I have some experience with Slackware (kernel 2.6.15.7).

Post by **Gogeta70** » 26 May 2006, 09:07

Immunix, debian, mepis. All of those are fairly compatible.

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 27 May 2006, 06:13

Thanks, I'll try those.

Post by **bad_brain** » 27 May 2006, 07:51

I searched a little, but found no proof that the USB dongle is supported by Linux, all I found is that the model WNC-0300 is supported since kernel 2.4.22 or 2.6.x. if you have no luck you can use ndiswrapper, the WNC-0301 is in the list of supported devices:

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 27 May 2006, 10:19

Thanks for searching bad_brain but I already have those drivers. My LevelOne is based on the ZD1211 chipset http://zd1211.ath.cx/.
These drivers work but are a bit buggy. For example, if I try to download a file with more than 5MB the connection comes down and I have to restart the PC.

Maybe I should try ndiswrapper... What do you think?

Post by **bad_brain** » 28 May 2006, 04:42

well, the WNC-0301 is on the list of supported devices for ndiswrapper, so it´s the best option you have...official drivers do not exist, many manufacturers are still too lame to provide Linux drivers because they fear that they have to reveal the source code...

and if you don´t want to buy a new (officially supported) device you should try ndiswrapper....

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 28 May 2006, 05:20

I'll try it. Thanks bad_brain.

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 29 May 2006, 11:19

Well, followed your advice and I now remember why I uninstalled ndiswrapper from my slackware. After loading the module, my keyboard input is slowed down, I mean, it takes 2 secs for the key I pressed appear on screen, and the network also don't work!
I installed the ZD1211 beta drivers. It works but have some limitations.

By the way, I'm now using Debian "sarge" 3.1r2.

Thanks for everything.

H4evr · Post by **H4evr** » 03 Jun 2006, 05:55

Just to say the drivers for my network card are now more stable. maybe it was because of the kernel I used previously. I'm now using 2.6.8.

Post by **bad_brain** » 03 Jun 2006, 06:13

sweet!

well, hardware support is the only thing with Linux that´s a little annoying, the fault is on both sides: hardware manufacturers because they don´t want to supply the kernel developers with the driver source codes, and the kernel developers because they demand open source drivers (that´s a good attitude but the user has to pay the price sometimes)....