[Deaf-lug] old laptop debian installed

[JGJones]

Try Ubuntu...

I might sound biased since I use Ubuntu...but in my experience, it's one 
of the best when it comes to wireless support...for example I've got a 
Sony VAIO LPC1 (not sure of exact model) with a Netgear PCI wireless. 
PLUS the computer itself have some unique hardware that does make it 
tricky for Linux to work on it.

The desktop itself take a plug. It comes with its own LCD screen, which 
have a single cable that plug into the desktop - This single cable 
carries the video, power, PS/1 keyboard, USB all in one. This often 
means the keyboard would not work. Oh and the desktop does come with a 
PCIMIA slot - unusual.

I've tried the following distro's with the aim of finding out what 
"works out of the box, no configuration"

* Debian 4.0 (Etch) - keyboard does not work
* Zenwalk 4.8 - No wireless
* Knoppiz 5.1.1 - Just doesn't start at all
* Fedora 8 Live - No wireless, keyboard flaky (it works depending on the 
position of moon and stars and the latest star charts)
* PCLinux OS 2007 (SAM variant - this is with XFCE desktop) - No 
wireless, I need to download a firmware to work...but with no wireless I 
cannot do this
* Mandriva One 2008 - no wireless
* OpenSUSE 10.3 - no wireless
* Ubuntu 7.10 - wireless works, keyboard works only if I use an older kernel
* Xubuntu Hardy Beta - everything works out of box including wireless 
(same as for 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon)

As for all that distro's I didn't download them...it was on the cover of 
Linux Format magazine - Distro MegaPack with 10 distro's on 1 DVD except 
  Xubuntu 8.05 which I downloaded - I'll suggest you give Xubuntu a try 
- it comes with a XFCE desktop so more suitable for your older laptop 
(how much memory does it have?)

The NetGear PCI wireless card I use only support WEP though so there's 
no WPA2 on my network :(

To download Xubuntu - go to 
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/hardy/beta/

Fintan Gaughan wrote:
> Got an old laptop , and i have installed  latest Debian  typing Boot:
> linux acpi=off
> Everything working except wireless.
> 
> I have a net gear MA521 card installed  use ndiswrapper to try and get
> it working but it seams the PCMIA switched off.
> 
> Did use knoppix live disc and the card lit up but i had problems
> configuring it as it seem to disapear on me, but i assume it work work
> if i installed knoppix.
> 
> Any ideas what i should do to get wireless working?
> 
> 
> Fintan
>