ndiswrapper experience on Compaq X1005EA Fr

[Cr@shoverride71]

Personnally, I follow these steps to use my centrino wireless adapter :
1 - download the lastest CVS copy of ndiswrapper with the following command:
cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ndiswrapper co ndiswrapper
2 - install ndiswrapper : cd ndiswrapper
make && make install
3 - load the ndiswrapper :
modprobe ndiswrapper
4 - configure the adapter with the windows driver located in the /lib/windrivers directory :
ndiswrapper -i /lib/windrivers/w70n51.inf
loadndisdriver w70n51
5 - after a reboot it seems that I don't need /etc/modules.d/wlan0 file. I insert only the following line in the /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6 file :
ndiswrapper

driver tested on 2.6.3-mm4 kernel
for further informations look at the ndiswrapper forum.
_________________
Cr@shoverride71
Gentoo Linux 1.4
Le Creusot (71) - France
Notebook 2.6.3-mm4 kernel
Workstation 2.4.25 kernel

[Cr@shoverride71]

Checkout to the same forum for more information.

Ndiswrapper Wireless Setup for Compaq Presario X1005EA - Tested on 2.6.3-mm4 kernel
I am using the lastest CVS version of ndiswrapper.

1- References
Windows Drivers
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/supported_chipsets.html
Ndiswrapper website
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ndiswrapper/

2 - Installation of wireless-tools
emerge wireless-tools

3 - Ensuring card is correctly detected
lspci
Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter

4 - Download CVS copy of ndiswrapper
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ndiswrapper login
cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/ndiswrapper co ndiswrapper
(just press enter when it asks you for a password)

5 - Compilation and Installation
cd ndiswrapper
make && make install

6 - Download Windows Drivers of the corresponding chipset and Install it
- download the correct driver - see References
- mkdir /lib/windrivers
copy all dff, inf, sys files contained within the archive to the previously created directory

7 - Setting up the chipset
Load the ndiswrapper module
modprobe ndiswrapper
Configure the module
/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /lib/windrivers/w70n51.inf
Load the good driver in the module
/sbin/loadndisdriver w70n51

8 - Look at the dmesg and iwconfig output (for verification)

9 - Configure startup for launching wireless interface
cp /etc/init.d/net.eth0 /etc/init.d/net.wlan0
modify /etc/conf.d/net according to your network configuration
echo "ndiswrapper" >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
rc-update add net.wlan0 default

10 - this version of ndiswrapper works differently than the official way. At the first load in memory of the driver, it writes a config file to the /etc/ndiswrapper directory according to the driver you are about to use. This makes startup configuration easier.
_________________
Cr@shoverride71
Gentoo Linux 1.4
Le Creusot (71) - France
Notebook 2.6.3-mm4 kernel
Workstation 2.4.25 kernel