Can't get ndiswrapper to work, wifi issues.

[Retrowire]

Hello everyone. I am on a mission to convert an old HP G60 laptop into a steam in home streaming machine. I just want it to stream games from my Windows 7 PC to anywhere in the house.

Problem is, it's got an Atheros wifi PCI-e card in there. Within my hours of research, I've learned that this is the most notorious Wifi card to fix for Linux. I've traveled through mentions of MADwifi, ath5k, ndiswrapper and more while frying my brain trying to understand how to make any of that work. I'm an avid Windows user, but I'm learning fast that I have to unlearn everything Windows has ever taught me so that I can figure this out. I understand the basis of code, I've learned a bit of Javascript so I understand how syntax and all that is supposed to work but... Linux is a new kind of beast.

Everytime I come across a tarball file my brain dies a little, everytime I see a .deb I think I've found salvation, then something goes wrong and I don't even know what it means.

Please help this completely overwhelmed newbie. I will appreciate all help. Seriously. I want to be free of my Microsoft chains!!!

 

[skittle]

Post output of lspci please. And which Linux you are using..? Also post output of 'sudo rfkill list'

Typically atheros cards just work without additional firmware or drivers.

most notorious Wifi card to fix for Linux.

That title is reserved for broadcom cards 😉

 

[Retrowire]

Post output of lspci please. And which Linux you are using..? Also post output of 'sudo rfkill list'

Typically atheros cards just work without additional firmware or drivers.

most notorious Wifi card to fix for Linux.

That title is reserved for broadcom cards 😉

Alright, let me give a quick update before I give you that info.

I started my computer into BIOS and reset everything to default, ensuring the network card was enabled. Upon start up the Wifi was on, but not actively seeking any networks. I used the sudo iwlist scan command and it found the network, then I clicked the network icon again and voila, everything was working normally.

On the good side, it stays connected the entire time the computer is on. On the bad side, after shutting down and rebooting, the OS lost connection, but did not forget it's settings. No devices were blocked.

So now it seems, everytime I start the computer up, I have to run the "sudo iwlist scan" command in order for it to find and link up to the network again...

Anyway to fix that?

I don't think the results of those commands you mentioned are necessary anymore, unless you think so, in which case I'll gladly produce them. But I can say that I'm running Linux Mint 17.2

Thanks again for any help.

 

[skittle]

Are you using the ndiswrapper or the native Linux driver now? lsmod will identify which chipset you have.