forums.xandros.com

[bluedogruns2]

Hello;

I have a Hawking Wi-Fi card that had been working very well on Puppy Linux with the Rt73 Ralink drivers.

I installed today Xandros V3. I figured if Puppy would run my card Xandros should. Well the Wi-Fi card was not plugged in when I installed the system. I plugged it in later just as if I just went out and purchased it.

The system shows the item in the usb list but it does not load.

Can anyone tell me how to get it up and running? If necessary I have downloaded the Linux and Windows version of the drivers directly from Ralink for this unit.

I know the Rt73 drivers work well on this card it is just a matter of getting them loaded.

Any help would be great. I have to use someone elses house to write this as I have my Windows hard drive pulled out and I connect to a Public commercial Wi-Fi service and don't have cat 5 abilities.

Thanks
Blue

[sqlpython]

You are probably going to have to run the ndiswrapper with your WinXp Wifi drivers..not difficult with the Xandros Interface..
First Locate the WinXP drivers on the CD thath came with the WiFi card.
Create a dir in home preferably a "dot" hidden dir like /home/YourUserName/.wireless
Then Launch > Control Center
Networks > Networking >

Wait a sec you said Verson 3......Do this

Just go to to the Control Center->
Network->
Network Connection->
Wireless->
at the bottom right choose Windows NDIS Wirless Driver (Button)
Insert your NIC's WinXP Driver disk/CD
If you can't find then download from NIC's home page with another Computer and put on a disk.
when indicate Browse for the Disk and choose the correct dir with WInXP drivers
and then install
Then select Network Name ESSID
Highlight and Choose your ESSID (router)
Choose Interfaces Tab
select your card from the Drop Down menu
Check Enable Network / Set Gateway / and DHCP if it applies
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[bluedogruns2]

I had planned on trying to use the ndiswrapper tomorrow. I understand that the linux native drivers actually run better so I was just waiting to see if I was missing something.

I do have a Linux driver downloaded for the card but following the install directions it seems long and when I have tried to run them and compile the driver I run into messages telling me some of the commands are not allowed or restricted.

Given a choice, how much difference is there in benefits trying to run the native vs using ndiswrapper, is it noticable? I ran the built in native drivers on another Linux build and my Wi-Fi worked flawlessly. No disconnects for hours pulling down a lot of data.

After answering the questions above, if I should decide to try just once more to compile the linux drivers before using ndiswrapper is there a way to copy the commands from the instructions and past them directly in the console? That would sure reduce much of the typing. Then if that fails ndis here I come.

Thanks
Blue

[sqlpython]

[bluedogruns2]

Hi sqlpython;

That is great news.

I am also very performance critical, I got that way because of my job. I work nights on our computer system and as the only tech for the company in about a 100 mile radius I don't want to get called to a location needlessly during normal business hours, when I am sleeping.

I even have one personal computer that never goes on line except for software updates. I want to make sure I have one system that works well at all times.

I notice you have made a great many posts and if the ndiswrapper works for you and you have it on some Linux systems and not on others with no noticeable difference, that is good enough for me, being I am new to Linux and have no basis to dispute any issues yet.

I am not a die hard anything. I will support what ever product or service that I am using at the time and if mix and match such as using Windows drivers on a Linux system works then so be it.

One last question about using ndiswrapper. Luckily Xandros sees and properly loads my PCI 10/100 card which I also plan to use separate from my Wi-Fi card. Am I correct in my understanding that ndiswrapper will only allow the use of one set of drivers at a time?

Thanks
Blue

[sqlpython]

[bluedogruns2]

Thanks I was not concerned much about the second network card. I was just going to use it to connect to my desktop with Internet connection sharing so I did not have to move my Wi-Fi card back and forth.

Anyway I still have no drivers. Here is why and maybe you can tell me what the heck to do.

1. Can't run the Windows driver because the company only offers it as an exe program with all the drivers compiled inside the package. Codeweavers refuses to run the exe file. I had downloaded the drivers from the Ralink site and then decided to open the box of the new Wi-Fi card I just purchased,( was borrowing one) to get the cd out of the box and it was the same exe installer only no inf files.

2. When trying to create the compiled file for the native Linux drivers either I am not understanding something or it fails too.

I tried to follow the instructions starting with the tar file in my documents. Did not work. I did manage to create the makefile after that it says directorys do not exist and other things but that is as far as it goes. So I tried to put the tar file on root and try it again but Xandros will not let me do that, every time I try to copy it there I get the crash handler.

Below in a different color I am going to post the info in my readme file that tells how to compile the Linux drivers. Maybe you can help with this.

I have spent so much time on this it is out of control. I uninstalled went through all of the settings and checked out all of the programs and even played with most of then including learning how to personalize the system and that took less time way less time that it is taking to install one stupid Wi-Fi device.

By the way I am writing this using Puppy Linux which is minuscule by comparison but is simple to make Wi-Fi work.

Thanks for any more incite you can give on this issue, this is my last attempt. If I fail again Xandros is our and I will try something else that just may come with the drivers I need pre installed.

Blue

Readme file has been edited out and the following added.

I want to thank sqlpython for the suggestions, it is not sqlpython's fault that the drivers are not supplied in a format that can be used in the ndis wrapper.

This is a sad story with this dam network card. I just spent $50.00 for it because I figured it would work just fine. It works good in Puppy but puppy is limited. Xandros refuses co compile the Linux drivers downloaded from more than one source. Keeps telling me that this directory or that directory does not exist and it refuses to create it. As far as the windows drivers go the only drivers available are executable drivers and even if manually unpacked they do not contain the proper files to run them from ndiswrapper.

So lets see $50.00 for my Wi-Fi card that I can not return and do not need.
12 hours trying to figure out how to make the Wi-Fi work on the Xandros system and an undisclosed $ per hour rate. My days off of work wasted.

Total experience with Xandros Nightmare at best.

Could have purchased a commercial product that although not perfect would have worked. Time to format and start all over again.

[sqlpython]

Some solutions:

1. Windows Wifi drivers that come in an exe ..do not run as an exe. that is an extraction file..At least every single one that I have seen in over 25 years has been ....
So,, run the exe on a Windows machine and it should extact them to a Dir in the extension format of .dll and .inf and .sys ..
All you need to do is grab the .inf and the .sys files..that is the pertinent files which end with those extensions..
Then use the instructions to choose them to install per ndiswrapper..
I may be wrong on this, I was once in 1957, but I have not seen a Wifi driver that actually RUNS as an exe.

2. If you can't exchange the Card get a Credit. Most stores will find that exceptable and then Get a Linksys or Netgear card they always work..
I would never again do business with a retailer that did not agree to those conditions, just not acceptable.

3. Try MEPIS, Kubuntu or PClinux..all good alternatives and have found Wifi Cards that Xandros did not..Check the Forums first. and Best of all they all run as Live CDs..MEPIS and PClinux will often boot up live running the WiFi like Puppy linux.

Good luck, I am sure you will find a Linux solution to your Wifi issue amongst the above three mentioned.
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[bluedogruns2]

I really like Xandros was just frustrated, yes it is uninstalled but not forgotten.

I do plan on working out a way to get my drivers. The reason I stated that I could not get the .inf and the .sys files is because others have tried doing exactly what you said and then could not find the files on the Windows machine. However I have an idea.

There is a program out there (can't remember the name) but I will find it. This program will let you take a Windows exe program and open and extract all of the contents to a folder without actually running it. Something like opening a zip file and only extracting what you want. This may prove to find the files. May they just don't actually get installed.

I am going to try that first before I give up on Xandros.

I have tried most of all of the other distros out there in the past week. I can't remember when I got Xandros but I did purchase a boxed version. As far as the others go they all give me the same errors. After unpacking the tar with Linux drivers in it when I try to run the Make command it does create a portion of the file structure then dies gives errors stating either the files or directory does not exist.

Of all of the other distros I have tried I did like Mepis the best, have not got the drivers installed there yet either. That is what is currently on the test hard drive. I have not made a choice yet what to put on the final drive. Of all the distros the only one to recognize my card from the onset was Mandriva One Spring 2007. Have not read the license there yet. My question about the licenses are this. I am not a corporation but I do some website work for a couple businesses from home and my job as a Windows support tech I sometimes log in to remote machines from my home machine using logmein which saves me a 50 mile drive to fix a 5 minute issue. I will have to write to Mephis about this and Mandriva if they are the same which I expect since they list a corporate version and see how that effects me. The Xandros license is clear. Up to three personal machines and one commercial machine for each package purchased. So no issues there.

Tried Ubuntu also. Strange it will run slow from the live CD but refuses to finish the boot when loaded to the hard drive, boots to tan background then just sits there.

Hopefully after the night is over I will have figure out how to get Xandros my system of choice going.

Blue

[sqlpython]

I don't know what Hawkins WiFi card you have but..................
I went to the site, out of curiosity, and was able to get drivers and then unpack the .sys and inf files.. I did this with both the HWP54G & HWC54G.

Exactly, what is your exact card Model #..?
Let me know and I will try to get them and unpack them and email them to you.
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[bluedogruns2]

I have the HWUG1.
Drivers Page
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wod5z

When I talked to Hawking they stated that only my card and the HWU54DM use the Ralink drivers, their other cards use other chip sets.

I did get a reply back from Mepis and am cleared in writing to use that distro. Mandriva will work with my card out of the box. That is a good thing but it looks awful.

Hopefully if you can pull the files I need from my drivers I will be in good shape.

I tell you this is a great Wi-Fi card, except for the issue in getting the drivers I can not ask for a better one. It may be because I am connected to a High Power commercial Wi-Fi tower only about 25 feet from my door but this card never drops a connection not once due to it's own fault. It only looses connection when our system reboots at 2am each night. The other thing about this card is it has the ability to connect a Hi-Gain antenna to it and it is USB.

By the way the name of the program I was going to download and try to do the extract is called universal extractor. Just have not done it yet because it is a Windows program and I have my Windows hard drive removed for safey reasons during this trial of many distros, wanted to make sure when tired I did not accidently overwrite it.

Thanks
Blue

[sqlpython]

Well I have the exe and see that the drivers are installed with it...
Problem being is that with an install program of this type you must
1. Run on WinXP.......no problem
2. Have the Wifi card available to be detected... PROBLEM for me..

SO you said

[bluedogruns2]

Tomorrow or Monday I will reinstall the Xandros if I have time then I will look in that location and see if I can find them, my guess it though if they were there the system should have found them. When you look in the usb devices it does show the device as a Ralink device.

It could be that version 3 was released before these drivers came to existance.

Blue

[bluedogruns2]

I downloaded the Hawing drivers and the drivers from the Ralink site.

Used the universal extractor program to remove the files. The ralink drivers refused to extract, the ones from Hawking did extract.

The extracted files from the Hawking included everything except the required files to use ndiswrapper.

It looks like I am at the end of the road now. Have spent 3 long days wasted my entire time off trying to get this %#$%#$% thing going.

So not it is time to either get a different Wi-Fi card and get rid of this unusual thing which has nothing but complaints on the internet of people asking how to make it work or settle for Mandriva which this card works with.

So if you never see me here again it is not by choice it is because I could not return myWi-Fi card but I don't think that will happen.

Blue

Edited Below:
I may have gotten someone at Hawking that is willing to send me the stand alone drivers just waiting to see now.

[bluedogruns2]

Looks like I am finally on my way.

I know NDISWrapper will work if I got the right drivers. I borrowed another adapter from someone and tried it in the Linux I was using and NDISWrapper worked just fine.

Now I just got an email with the Ralink Drivers Unpacked directly from a helpful support rep at Ralink.

I currently have Mepis in the test drive. Their NDISWrapper is harder to use but going to try it. If I get them working there I am sure they will work in Xandros so I will reinstall and finally be done.

Will let you know how it goes but may be awhile now that my time at work being off is over.

Blue