Eee PC + Xubuntu + wi-fi?

[Chrisz]

Evening all,

I have just had my Eee PC loaded with Xubuntu - everything seems to work nicely

However, I can't seem to get it to hook up to our wireless network/broadband - any ideas at all please?

Cheers

 

[peanut]

you loaded suitable drivers for the wireless card ?

What do you see enabled under Network connections in control panel?

this might help
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessTroubleShootingGuide

 

[Chrisz]

In Network settings there are two things listed;

Wired connection (Roaming mode enabled)

Modem connections (This network interface is not configured)

That's it. Any use?

 

[peanut]

sounds like you haven't even set up a wireless network on the laptop yet. Have you checked in start, control panel, system, device manager to see if you have a wireless card fitted and it is enabled and has drivers etc ?

 

[Chrisz]

sounds like you haven't even set up a wireless network on the laptop yet. Have you checked in start, control panel, system, device manager to see if you have a wireless card fitted and it is enabled and has drivers etc ?

Linux so no control panel etc.

It's my first time using Linux and I still haven't figured out any of the apps like control panel, device manager etc.

 

[peanut]

sorry never used it know nothingabout it .
If you don't either why did you install it ? its not compatable with anything else as far as I hear.

First issue is you must find your hardware list and check that you have installed the drivers for everything especially the wireless card.
Then you need to find your 'network connections' and add a wireless connection .

Whoever installed ubuntu should know how to do it.

Have you read through the specific Ubuntu /wireless advice link I gave you yet ?? read it through it tells you exactly what you need to do

 

[Chrisz]

peanut, I got it put on because the Eee PC only has a 4gb hard drive and MS XP takes up the whole lot and a fair bit more besides. I have heard that Linux can be made to work with MS Office documents.Adobe Reader etc. so figured it would be my best option. Although I've never used it before, I had also never used Windows when I first got it - it's a learning curve

I haven't figured out how to check the hardware profile as yet _ I'm hoping that it will work if I use the cable to connect it to the wireless router? I can then get on-line and download the suitable drivers (planning on using Drive Doctor).

Failing that I'll get the guy who set it up to pop round and assist (he only lives a few doors down) - although I'd prefer to figure out how to do it myself if at all possible.

Yes, I did read the link - all good until it started talking about type command - doesn't explain how or where to type said command - completely lost me

Cheers

 

[peanut]

mmm 4Gb is very small indeed. The notebook is intended for children really .
You'll need to use cut down or lite versions of any software you need like word and spreadsheets etc.
You can use a USB pen drive to store all your digital images and MP3 files etc to free up your drive space. They are only about £10 in Asda or wherever.

If you use an external modem you'll still need to install drivers . Every bit of hardware requires drivers in order for the laptop to use it. naturally you will need Ubuntu drivers not Windows .

If I were you I would dump ubuntu and install Win 2000 or Win xp You can download Winlite which is a program that can reduce the size of Windows down to just a few hundred Mb. Ubuntu is for geeks and is a complete nightmare to get working properly .
Google is your friend . http://hehe2.net/linuxhowto/howto-your-perfect-ubuntu-on-your-perfect-eee-pc/

I don't mean to be insulting but with you having such a minimal experience of such a vast subject It would be an impossible task trying to sort this problem on a forum. It would require hours of work to install everything and configure it all to get a useable laptop.

To give you an example it takes me at least 6 hours to format a disk partition it and install windows, office suite,Image and Music editing software, DVD player,All your drivers . Then setup internet service provider ISP email account, Then there is all the vital stuff like antivirus, firewall, Adobe PDF , Winzip , CD ripper MP3 converter , printer software and drivers etc etc

 

[Piemaster]

Chrisz, I'm using Ubuntu and have been for around 3 - 4 months on an old advent laptop . Installed straight off a magazine disc. I even ran it off the disc (LiveCD) to try it first. Never had any bother with the wireless, in fact its now more stable and reliable than it ever was under windows which kept dropping the connection. Only thing that doesn't work are a row of 5 shortcut keys, including one for turning the wireless on/off (it's now on all the time)
I'd be very surprised if someone isn't already quite happily doing what you want to, think Tescos sell something similar to what you have that comes with a flavor of linux on it from new.
I'd stick with it. Open office will cover ms office apps and adobe docs, flash players, etc.
Don't know if your gui is similar but networking is under system > preferences > network configuration. Also worth checking your package manager that the drivers are installed.

 

[yello]

Chrisz, I'd ignore take what peanut says with a pinch of salt. He admits to knowing nothing about linux and then damns it and recommends you install windows!

I used Ubuntu on my EeePC (same spec as yours) quite happily. It recognised both a wired and wireless network connection straight off, no problem. It might be a driver problem but I wouldn't have thought so. Btw, you can use windows drivers on linux, you just have to what is called 'wrap' them - it's no big problem, it just means loading some linux software (e.g. ndiswrapper) that recognises the windows driver.

Is it the EeePC specific version of Xbuntu you are running? Peanut is right in suggesting you seek help on one of the specialist forums. This forum...

http://forum.eeeuser.com/index.php

...would be worth you searching for answers on. Chances are it's something quite simple to fix and somebodies already run into the same problem and sorted it. Bonne chance!

Thinks: you said...

Modem connections (This network interface is not configured)

The EeePC doesn't have a modem so that's to be expected.

If there were a problem with drivers it's more likely to be the wireless that'd present the problem. So let's start with the wired connection; they usually self detect. Have a little play with menu options; look at things that refer to 'System', 'System Preferences', 'Network Connections', 'Ethernet'..... you're looking for something called DHCP, that should be set as automatic. If that's done, a wired network should self detect all it needs.

 

[peanut]

Chrisz, I'd ignore take what peanut says with a pinch of salt. He admits to knowing nothing about linux and then damns it and recommends you install windows!

.

there is no need to be rude or specifically insulting just because you have a different view to someone else. It just shows your inadequacies and insecurities.

if you had not been so keen to attack my post you would have noticed that the poster also has no experience of Linux either which is why I suggested Windows .

As I understand it the poster is familiar with Windows and there is an abundance of free software to download plus all hardware is compatable and insytantly recognised. This saves trawling the net everytime you need to install something.

My answer to your suggestion would be 'why make work for yourself unecessarily?'
There is nothing whatsoever to gain by using linux except drive space and there are easy ways to reduce the size of windows.

Heres an interesting article with a guide of how to get wireless working on the EEE
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/12/07/eb_eee_pc_with_xp/

 

[yello]

I wasn't being rude. I was amused that you'd admit to knowing nothing about linux but then happily suggest it is "not compatable with anything else". You seem to have some experience with computers so you must appreciate that's a bit of a vague statement.

The OP has chosen linux for whatever reasons. Why not stay with that chosen path when it is perfectly workable? I agree the specialist forum is the best course of action.

 

[peanut]

The OP has chosen linux for whatever reasons. Why not stay with that chosen path when it is perfectly workable?

well thats where I have to disagree with you. If it was perfectly workable as you put it why are there thousands of posts across the net requesting help because of software and hardware incompatability issues?

If its a second PC then fine play with it experiment etc but if its the prime computer the O P would surely be better off with a tried and tested Windows OS with negligable compatability issues and an abundance of free downloadable software . An operating system that they are already familiar with.

I think the choice of Linux by the manufacturers is purely down to limited drive space and the limited intended use of the laptop. Its not intended to be a prime family PC

 

[Piemaster]

I think the choice of Linux by the manufacturers is purely down to limited drive space and the limited intended use of the laptop. Its not intended to be a prime family PC

I'd agree, but perhaps not in the way you intended .
Windows is pretty much everywhere - my 'prime family pc' runs XP, mostly because that what my kids use at school and as its also a games machine.

Linux on the likes of the eepc due to its limited hardware - agree there as well, also keeps the cost down, making them ideal web surfers / email clients. Seems to be recognised now that XP will continue longer than MS wants because of netbooks as Vista is far too demanding of hardware. With linux you can pick the version that suits your needs/hardware, rather than having to install lots that isn't required.There is no equivilent from ms, no 'windows lite'. There isn't much choice in what you get with a new windows install.
Being a recent convert, I'd go for linux over windows on the posters eepc

 

[yello]

why are there thousands of posts across the net requesting help because of software and hardware incompatability issues?

Any windows doesn't have problems? There are no "thousands of posts" on, say, virus problems?

Look, let's not getting into a pissing contest over this. The OP wanted help with Xubuntu. Your recommendation is to ditch it and go Windows. That's fine and I have no problem with you giving that advice. It's up to Chrisz what he does. I'm prepared, where I can, to assist if he stays on the linux path.