installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

detox332 · 2007-11-23 19:06:38

So I finally convinced my dad to let me install Arch on his comp and wouldnt you know it, its giving me problems.

the main issue is that he is wireless only (linksys wireless-g with speedboost) and ive never played with wireless with linux. ive attempted to use bcm43xx but that doesnt work, i tried installing the driver via ndiswrapper but that doesnt work either. <--this is all within the install environment, i havent gotten past configuring the network

so with that issue unresolved as of now, i downloaded the core cd to see if i couldnt get the basic system up and then fix the wireless post-install, but it wont recognize the cd drive (HL-DT-ST GDR8161B)

any help?

floke · 2007-11-23 20:36:39

Before anyone can help we'll need to know what wireless card he has...

detox332 · 2007-11-23 20:38:36

wireless card: linksys wireless-g with speedboost (WMP54GS)

byte · 2007-11-24 12:45:44

Model names are mostly useless with Linux, it's always the chipset that matters:

lspci | grep Network

ralvez · 2007-11-24 14:58:27

If the command above does not give you a result try:

 lspci | grep  Ethernet

I mention it because in my system the other command will not return anythng.

R.

detox332 · 2007-12-01 22:02:34

managed to do the base install but now i have a new issue

i installed linux on an external harddrive but put grub on the mbr of the main computer because his comp doesnt support booting from usb and now all i get is

GRUB _

when i boot the computer (_ being a blinking cursor)

any ideas?

vogt · 2007-12-02 04:44:43

It might have to do with grub not being able to find a stage 2, you do have a /boot partition added to the laptop's hdd, which is how it is done normally.

I'm not sure if grub can access usb drives that it hasn't booted from (to get /boot), then you gotta specify it when you install grub to the mbr with the boot partition mounted:

grub-install --root-directory=/boot sda

Now, if that doesn't work, you'd probably have to go with using / making a tiny (20MiB) boot partition (for a single kernel + initrd) somewhere on the laptop's disk (which will work for sure)

Last edited by vogt (2007-12-02 04:46:18)

Arch Linux

#1 2007-11-23 19:06:38

installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#2 2007-11-23 20:36:39

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#3 2007-11-23 20:38:36

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#4 2007-11-24 12:45:44

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#5 2007-11-24 14:58:27

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#6 2007-12-01 22:02:34

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

#7 2007-12-02 04:44:43

Re: installing arch on my dad's computer, wireless only

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