[wellylug] Enabling Wireless Operation on Acer # 4315 Laptop

[marchetti]

Came with Ubuntu 7.1, now 8.04. After this upgrading, more
by good luck than management, I managed to get the wireless
operation going. Duh, I should have taken notes. Recently I
had to reinstall 8.04 (I accidentally started a media player
during a downloading/application of updates, and I suspect
one of the updates involved the kernel or something else
important - result was a repetitive soft lock up).

Having reinstalled, I checked the network manager icon and
found I could only connect to a wired connection (there was
no searching for wireless networks as there was previously,
with the overlapping monitors icon changing to two rotating
globes, then a signal strength indicator). I then checked
under Hardware Drivers, Proprietary Drivers, one of which
was support for Atheros 802.11 wireless LAN cards - enabled
(ticked) - status (ticked) in use. I then sniffed around in
Network and Network Tools, but to no avail. Made no progress
in Ubuntu Help either, but did not persevere there, though,
as I did not feel comfortable with sudo command strokes.

Even before the above accident, I had noticed some
reluctance, on occasions, of the Acer's wireless electronics
to connect to any wireless router, be it my home one, or
say, CafeNet.

I take this is probably because the Acer's wireless may be
optimised for Windows, but not to hot operating with other
OS...

I am bringing the PC to the Installfest, but is there an
easy solution I can implement now? The other thing I would
like help with is codec installation for DVD playing.

Okay, gang, see you on Saturday!!