I may just give up on Linux if I can't get this to work.

October 4, 2007 5:28 AM

Getting linux (Ubuntu) to love my windows wireless settings.

I recently installed Ubuntu on my XP box (dual boot, hard drive partitions).

It loads up satisfactory - by this, I mean it screams "Cannot Display This Video Mode," loads up in a crappy resolution - a situation that requires me to go online to download some video card drivers...

Therein lies the problem. For some reason, ubuntu out of the box doesn't work with WPA. My XP, on the other hand, doesn't work well with WEP (a bit like this XP box).

So... I'm stuck.

Is there another solution other than switching off WPA & WEP, booting up Ubuntu, downloading all drivers etc, then rebooting back and hoping WPA works? Or am I missing a simple step here.

posted by aherdofturtles to computers & internet (7 comments total)

I had the same problem (albeit not on a dual boot machine, but I suspect that isn't the problem). I found this guide to be very helpful.
posted by gene_machine at 5:36 AM on October 4, 2007

If I understand your post correctly, the problem is you don't have a network connection to get the necessary drivers and programs to setup you Ubuntu installation.

If you can switch off WPA, provided your wireless card works out of the box without WPA, you would be able to install the necessary packages (video drivers and wpasupplicant I guess). It really seems to me like the easiest solution (apart from pluging into the network with a cable if you can do that).

I you would rather avoid this for some reason, you can download the packages from XP and then install them on Linux either by using a USB key or by accessing your windows partition to get at them. If you are new to Linux and I guess you are (you wouldn't want to give up on it if you were not ;-)), I have to admit it will be a little hard, particularly if you don't have another computer available to look at a tutorial.
posted by arnoooooo at 6:48 AM on October 4, 2007

Have you thought about just using an Ethernet cable temporarily to get all your updates?
posted by Malor at 6:50 AM on October 4, 2007

Sorry, I should have added that I used a wired connection until I got the wireless working!
posted by gene_machine at 6:52 AM on October 4, 2007

Find the files you need to fix video resolution and the WPA issue, burn to a CD boot to linux....Solved?

Maybe I am missing something it just seems like you need to get these files in which case as mentioned a wireless connection or some form of storage media would ix your problem quicker than mucking about with router settings.
posted by imjosh at 6:54 AM on October 4, 2007

I'll second gene_machine's link, I think that's the exact same page I used. I too used a wired network connection to clear up all the issues, then switched to wireless.
posted by pupdog at 9:32 AM on October 4, 2007

Yes - I thought I'd give Linux a go, especially with their "just works" help page...

I've got only 1 machine, so I don't like the idea of rebooting again and again if the files I download onto a USB stick aren't the right ones.

OK - wired solution it is...I'll let you guys know how it gets on [and give you your light green box because I know it's important!].

Thanks all.
posted by aherdofturtles at 11:40 AM on October 4, 2007