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Idea #8558: Automaticly install wireless cards that need NDIS Wrapper

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #130: Include ndiswrapper on CD.
Written by massond the 14 May 08 at 17:08. Category: Hardware support. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
I propose that if you have a wifi card with no Linux drivers the hardware drivers manager should be able to install them automaticly. It should install NDIS Wrapper, get the driver, and install it in NDIS Wrapper.
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98
votes
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #8558
Written by massond the 14 May 08 at 17:08.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #8558 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Rabbid wrote on the 14 May 08 at 17:37
I would rather see more pressure on developing Linux drivers than trying to use some crappy hack.

massond wrote on the 14 May 08 at 17:43
Still this would be a nice feature to have. Not only that, but many companies outright refuse, like broadcom.

andersja wrote on the 14 May 08 at 19:04
If you like this idea, you might also want to check out and vote for idea number 8538: "Do an (optional) HW test on first install":
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/8538/

Also see idea 7955: "Have a device manager":
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7955/

massond wrote on the 14 May 08 at 20:42
I already voted against that... There already is a device manager... and you could install any wireless card with this.

steve196 wrote on the 14 May 08 at 20:52
Ugly hack, but would improve usability a great deal. +1


seventynine wrote on the 15 May 08 at 02:30
It will be a lifesaver for a large number of users. Without it, this is how a novice (like me) would act:

1) PC1: Wireless isnt working [1 minute]
2) PC2: Searching ubuntu forums why [2 hours]
3) PC1: Open box to figure out what hardware maker and model number you have [10 minutes]
4) PC2: Google what chipset it uses. Then go back to ubuntu forums and search through posts for people who were installing wireless driver for your chip. Download the driver. Try to understand what is NDISwrapper and how to use it. Find USB drive or CDR. [4 hours]
5) PC1: Install driver from usb. Something still isn't right. Try to trace back your steps. [3 hours]
6) PC2: Search ubuntu fourms why it still isnt working. Find someone suggesting alternate method. [2 hours]
7) PC1: Apply the alternate method. It works. Or doesn't work. [20 minites]
8) PC1: Happy if it works, give up on Ubuntu if it doesn't.

climatewarrior wrote on the 15 May 08 at 02:58
Such a project is on the works. https://launchpad.net/auto-ndiswrapprer

Fjatle wrote on the 15 May 08 at 14:21
Ubuntu have got lots of plaudits for theire restricted driver manager.
Auto-Ndiswrapper would have been a great supplement to the out-of-the-box distro!

+1

sciurus wrote on the 19 May 08 at 01:43
I wouldn't want to do it automatically, but I would like to see it added to Restricted manager.


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