Linux video and wireless problems

[kopete]

Is there a distro that exists that doesn't have either wireless or video problems? Some of them have BOTH. I can't get wireless in Fedora 9. I can't get Kubuntu 8.10 to boot up. I have a helluva time in Debian getting wireless to work but maybe there is a way?

I mean, why do distros keep updating and moving on when they can't get fundamental functions to work like wireless and video (video drivers)?

It's SOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrating.

I want a debian-based (deb. or debian package management) distro that uses KDE but I'll settle for anything that is half decent and has wireless and video drivers working properly. I buy hardware that is explicitly stated to be VERY Linux compatible but still have major problems. Imagine if I bought whatever hardware was easily available and cheap?!?

I have an nvidia video card, a wireless usb adapter that uses the very common Linux-compatible zd1211rw driver. I'm not sure what else I can do. Are my complaints not justified? I just get bashed by Linux users who don't want to admit to the serious problems and difficulties. It is just frustrating because you try to find solutions from forums that contain something related to you but either it's not close enough or no one replies to your post. I like to try and help other Linux users' problems because I can so relate!

Anyway, I am interested in any answers and yes, I have posted my questions and issues in the specific forums of the distro I'm using to no avail.

Thanks for reading....

[Roxoff]

I mean, why do distros keep updating and moving on when they can't get fundamental functions to work like wireless and video (video drivers)?

It's SOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrating.

Nope, I dont understand what you're asking for here. Linux distribution producers are volunteers. You're slagging their efforts off without any acknowledgment that the problem could actually be down to your particular system, not some underlying flaw in the Linux disributions.

Actually if it were the case that there were some underlying problem with this, then it would fail for significantly more users. I, for instance, have installed Fedora 8 and 9 on my laptop and my eee pc and had both video and wireless networks operate with no hassle whatsoever.

What wireless network chipset are you using? Is it supported natively in Linux? Does it force you to use the horrid ndiswrapper? If so, consider getting a Linux-compatible USB wireless adaptor (I did, and it solved all my wireless headaches, all I needed was the firmware support module for it - it uses the Zydas chipset. Probably the best ten quid I ever spent).

And your video problems? Did you install VLC? It takes care of all my video nightmares, and I've run it on all platforms (including proprietary ones from Redmond) without hassle. I prefer Xine, though, but I keep them both installed. Fedora (which is my choice of desktop distro) has all the Xine codec angles covered through the Livna 3rd party repository.

You clearly need help with your system, but I suggest you ask for help without insulting the volunteer that produced the operating system you're trying to run.

[waterhead]

I recently installed Fedora 10 on my Eee Pc 901, using the DVD installation disk. Before I did, I downloaded both the Gnome and KDE liveCD versions.

The Gnome Fedora 10 LiveCD found my wireless and loaded the newer ath5k driver for it. And yes, it worked.

But I prefer the KDE desktop, so I then tried the KDE LiveCD. Not only was it very slow to load (anything), I could not get the wireless to work. Same wireless, same distro, same driver, but different desktop.

So I installed the Gnome desktop, and the wireless "just worked".

Your zd1211 device requires firmware before it even has a chance to work.
zd1211rw - Linux Wireless

[Roxoff]

Your zd1211 device requires firmware before it even has a chance to work.
zd1211rw - Linux Wireless

Yes, I know. It comes as a Fedora package. I'm not sure if it's through Livna or the original repositories, but it's just a 'yum' away. Although that's not the point I was making.

[waterhead]

That was meant for kopete. He may have overlooked a basic and simple fix for his wireless problem, and I wanted to make sure he knew about the need for firmware.

[kopete]

Nope, I dont understand what you're asking for here. Linux distribution producers are volunteers. You're slagging their efforts off without any acknowledgment that the problem could actually be down to your particular system, not some underlying flaw in the Linux disributions.

Actually if it were the case that there were some underlying problem with this, then it would fail for significantly more users. I, for instance, have installed Fedora 8 and 9 on my laptop and my eee pc and had both video and wireless networks operate with no hassle whatsoever.

What wireless network chipset are you using? Is it supported natively in Linux? Does it force you to use the horrid ndiswrapper? If so, consider getting a Linux-compatible USB wireless adaptor (I did, and it solved all my wireless headaches, all I needed was the firmware support module for it - it uses the Zydas chipset. Probably the best ten quid I ever spent).

And your video problems? Did you install VLC? It takes care of all my video nightmares, and I've run it on all platforms (including proprietary ones from Redmond) without hassle. I prefer Xine, though, but I keep them both installed. Fedora (which is my choice of desktop distro) has all the Xine codec angles covered through the Livna 3rd party repository.

You clearly need help with your system, but I suggest you ask for help without insulting the volunteer that produced the operating system you're trying to run.

I disagree. I believe the flaw IS inherent in Linux. Wireless is one of the worst aspects in Linux. It was before and still is. I have TWO damn usb wireless adapters that use a wireless chip that Linux supports. It's the infamous zydas zd1211b and many many many linux users claim it is the easiest to use but that is a pile of crap. Yes, it works and works for a while but then it is easily broken. I have firmware installed in three different distros and if I look it up in the respective distro's repository, there it is indicating that it's installed 'zd1211rw-firmware!'

I had at least one of the adapters working but all of a sudden, it didn't work when I tried to log in. It scans and can locate the network I want but a password is requested and the login screen keeps coming up. I tried various things I found via google 'modprobe' and such and now I'm getting messages like 'module not found.' I never touched a thing.

I got both usb adapters working in XP (wanted to compare) in less than 5 minutes. LESS THAN 5 MINUTES!!!!!!!! It's a crime that you have to fight with just about any wireless device you get for Linux even when the manufacturers claim they're well supported.

I always google and research for something that is 'linux compatible' or well-supported and what does it get me? Nowhere.

So, the firmware is installed, typing 'lsusb' or /sbin/lsusb in Fedora shows that the device is detected (regardless of which one I use, they both are) but I still can't connect.

Face it, Linux is absolutely BRUTAL BRUTAL BRUTAL at/in wireless. There are serious problems with video drivers but nothing beats the category of wireless for Linux.

[kopete]

I have to apologize profusely to people who were offended by my rant on Linux wireless. I still think it's the major issue in Linux so that much I still assert but my problem is now solved.

It was because someone changed the router password and didn't tell me!

I now have wireless working in Fedora 9 and I probably can get it working in at least some of the other distros I use. Debian is often a problem but I bet I can get it to work eventually by installing one of the wireless utilities available. If I was more proficient at it, it probably wouldn't take half as long.

Anyway, what confused me was the way Network Manager applet (0.7.0) kept popping back up when I tried to log-in with the password (well, it's a passphrase according to the router but it's what was input but that's another story), it would try to log in, fail, and then return the log-in screen.

I thought there was a problem but the router password was changed so when I tried the old one, unbeknownst to me, I was entering in the wrong info. I wish there was some function within NetworkManager that could detect something not matching up and getting a message back about it.

Anyway, I updated my Fedora 9 system and now everything is up to date. I have wireless and except for not being as proficient at Fedora, things are improved.

[waterhead]

Your apology is accepted. I do hope that you will find that Linux doesn't "suck" as much as your signature implies.

I agree that wireless is a major hurdle for many Linux users, especially the new and inexperienced users. This is why I have spent the bulk of my time, in these forums, helping solve wireless problems. I feel that most new users currently have working wireless in their other OS's, and they expect it to work in Linux too. If it won't work, they will not stick around very long. You actually stuck around longer than most of us expected you would. You have a tenacity that most new Linux users need in order to learn the Linux system.

The problem with the changed router password is disturbing. Did someone hack into your router and change it? Or is it a router shared with others, maybe room mates?

[kopete]

Your apology is accepted. I do hope that you will find that Linux doesn't "suck" as much as your signature implies.

I agree that wireless is a major hurdle for many Linux users, especially the new and inexperienced users. This is why I have spent the bulk of my time, in these forums, helping solve wireless problems. I feel that most new users currently have working wireless in their other OS's, and they expect it to work in Linux too. If it won't work, they will not stick around very long. You actually stuck around longer than most of us expected you would. You have a tenacity that most new Linux users need in order to learn the Linux system.

The problem with the changed router password is disturbing. Did someone hack into your router and change it? Or is it a router shared with others, maybe room mates?

Yes.

I can't be changing the .sig just yet. I'm always running into the most complicated and user unfriendly processes in Linux. I am trying to use devede and avidemux and I can't.

I've used avidemux in Windows without a problem. I'll probably have to drop Linux for a while. I'm not sure why Linux always has to be so complicated. It will never be a mainstream desktop at this rate. *Most* people don't have the time to constantly work on it. (i.e. the same problem).