mini-pci help

Yume · 01-12-2008, 05:23 AM

Ok so i'm not sure if i'm posting this in the right place or not. I have a dell Latitude D520 currently running windows XP. I desperately want to switch to Linux but my current network card is giving me trouble. I decided to go out and buy Atheros AR5005GS Mini PCI WIFI 108mbps Wireless Card which I figured would solve the problem. Now I thought that there was a mini-pci slot since it right now has a WLAN Mini-pci card in there. When the card finally arrived it doesn't even come close to fitting in that slot. Does anyone know if this laptop even has a mini-pci slot to fit that card, or am I just being stupid and can't find the right spot for it? Any information is greatly appreciated since I can't find any information on the subject.

**BCCOMP** · 01-12-2008, 07:12 AM

Hi Yume,
Here is some documentation for you:
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1015787
What type of problem are you have with the Dell Wlan card.
Thanks,
Bill

Yume · 01-12-2008, 09:01 AM

That is very disappointing that I can't put in a new network card

This laptop was kind of a waste of money in that case. Well the biggest problem I have with the WLAN card is that it refuses to connect whatsoever on Linux. I spent countless hours with numerous people trying to fix this problem, but unfortunately I still don't get wireless. The second problem is my wireless is constantly disconnecting, I have to reconnect literally every 5 minutes. I apologize for the complaints, i'm just very disappointed that I can't upgrade my network card or run linux.

**BCCOMP** · 01-12-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi Yume,
I am not the pro on linux. I will notify a Mod to move this thread to the linux suuport forum.
You may get better advice. I am sorry for the inconvenince, but I do not wish you I'll
advice.
Thanks,
Bill

**sobeit** · 01-12-2008, 08:49 PM

what distro of linux are you using. Did you try to setup ndiswrapper?

Yume · 01-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I am using the newest version of Ubuntu, think it's Gutsy. I tried the ndiswrapper several times.

xantham · 01-13-2008, 05:49 PM

Might be a stupid question, but are you sure you didn't buy a mini pci express card? It's the new interface and is about 3/4 (I think?) the size of the mini pci cards, so it wouldn't be compatible. If so, you could buy the right one and get this laptop going. Hope so.

Regards,

Keith

ncsu1983 · 02-05-2008, 09:07 PM

Atheros cards, I believe, are compatible with madwifi, which I think works out of the box with Ubuntu. If not, use Synaptic Package Manager to download it from the repository, or use the following command line in a terminal:

$ sudo apt-get install madwifi

Cheers

01-12-2008, 05:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Yume Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP	mini-pci help Ok so i'm not sure if i'm posting this in the right place or not. I have a dell Latitude D520 currently running windows XP. I desperately want to switch to Linux but my current network card is giving me trouble. I decided to go out and buy Atheros AR5005GS Mini PCI WIFI 108mbps Wireless Card which I figured would solve the problem. Now I thought that there was a mini-pci slot since it right now has a WLAN Mini-pci card in there. When the card finally arrived it doesn't even come close to fitting in that slot. Does anyone know if this laptop even has a mini-pci slot to fit that card, or am I just being stupid and can't find the right spot for it? Any information is greatly appreciated since I can't find any information on the subject.

01-12-2008, 07:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,054 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: mini-pci help Hi Yume, Here is some documentation for you: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1015787 What type of problem are you have with the Dell Wlan card. Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

01-12-2008, 09:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Yume Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: mini-pci help That is very disappointing that I can't put in a new network card This laptop was kind of a waste of money in that case. Well the biggest problem I have with the WLAN card is that it refuses to connect whatsoever on Linux. I spent countless hours with numerous people trying to fix this problem, but unfortunately I still don't get wireless. The second problem is my wireless is constantly disconnecting, I have to reconnect literally every 5 minutes. I apologize for the complaints, i'm just very disappointed that I can't upgrade my network card or run linux. Last edited by Yume; 01-12-2008 at 09:02 AM.

01-12-2008, 08:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,054 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: mini-pci help Hi Yume, I am not the pro on linux. I will notify a Mod to move this thread to the linux suuport forum. You may get better advice. I am sorry for the inconvenince, but I do not wish you I'll advice. Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

01-12-2008, 08:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: mini-pci help what distro of linux are you using. Did you try to setup ndiswrapper? __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

01-12-2008, 10:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yume Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: mini-pci help I am using the newest version of Ubuntu, think it's Gutsy. I tried the ndiswrapper several times.

01-13-2008, 05:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
xantham Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Ubuntu 7.10	Re: mini-pci help Might be a stupid question, but are you sure you didn't buy a mini pci express card? It's the new interface and is about 3/4 (I think?) the size of the mini pci cards, so it wouldn't be compatible. If so, you could buy the right one and get this laptop going. Hope so. Regards, Keith

02-05-2008, 09:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
ncsu1983 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 38 OS: Linux My System	Re: mini-pci help Atheros cards, I believe, are compatible with madwifi, which I think works out of the box with Ubuntu. If not, use Synaptic Package Manager to download it from the repository, or use the following command line in a terminal: $ sudo apt-get install madwifi Cheers