Driver for wireless usb adapter

[NoOp]

On 05/27/2010 11:26 AM, Christensens wrote:
> 
> Help. I am new to Ununtu. I have salvaged a Dell 2200 that was going to the dump 
> w/o a hard drive or power supply. Have replaced both at minimal cost but had no 
> Windows operating system to install. So decided to try ubuntu. After an abortive 
> experience with downloaded disc over the internet, I got a copy sent in the mail 
> that installed fine. All seems well but for some questions.
> 1. I would like to be able to access the internet with through my router using 
> my Trendnet wireless USB 2.0 adapter. However, the installation disc for the 
> adapter gives no information about how to install on ubuntu. When I look on 
> their website they say it will not work with ununtu. Does anyone have a 
> "workaround" or can anyone suggest another low cost usb adapter?
> 2. I now wonder whether any of my peripherals (printer, scanner, FAX) will be 
> compatible with ubuntu. Do I need special drivers, and if so , how do I get them?
> For your information : I have been a user of computers, not a tech person, for 
> more than 50 years (I am 75).. In the last couple of years I have amused myself 
> by salvaging laptop computers to give to kids. This is my first experience with 
> anything besides a Windows system.
> Thanks for any advice. drbobc
> 

Now that's my kind of guy; all of my desktops are recycled/discarded
machines :-)

Welcome to Ubuntu and to the list. Here are a few helpful links that you
should bookmark & review:

https://help.ubuntu.com/
 https://help.ubuntu.com/community
[note that on both you can use the search box just as if you were using
google or yahoo etc.]
On that last link you will find a link for
'Network, wireless, and internet devices - Setting up networking and
internet devices. '
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/NetworkDevices
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html
[the pdf is the full edition and is free]
http://ubuntuforums.org/
[often you may find the answer in the forums if not found on this list]
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu
[this is the primary place for looking up & reporting bugs. Also has a
decent Question/Answer section: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu]
http://packages.ubuntu.com/
[this is the place for finding packages (apps) in Ubuntu]
http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community/mailinglists
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid

In general, if you ask for help you'll need to provide some basic
information (which version of Ubuntu you are using, which desktop
(gnome, kde, etc), and as much detail about the problem and devices
possible. In nearly all cases you'll need to make use of the terminal;
so let's start there & get some basic information about your system. I'm
assuming that you are using the standard Ubuntu (gnome) desktop given
that you installed from a mailed CD.

1. Add the Terminal to your panel. Click on
Applications|Accessories|right click on 'Terminal' and click 'Add this
launcher to panel'. You might as well add it now, as you'll be using it
a lot & it's more convenient to simply single click the terminal icon on
the panel instead of having to go to Applications|Accessories|Terminal
each time you wish to use it.

2. Click on the Terminal icon on the panel. That will open the terminal
application & you'll see something like:

ubuntu at drbobc:~$

the '$' is the user prompt. So when someone suggests to 'provide the
output of:

$ uname -a

don't enter the '$' just enter

uname -a

3. Give us some basic info about your system. Please provide the output of:

$ uname -a

Note: copy and paste the output to your response so that it's accurate.

Regarding issue #1:
You'll need to provide further details on exactly what Trendnet wireless
USB 2.0 adapter, and exactly what type of router you have. There are
different models/revisons/firmware/chipsets etc.
  For the Trendnet, probably the easiest way to tell is if you open a
terminal and provide the output of:

$ lsusb

now plug in the Trendnet device to the usb port and provide the output of:

$ lsusb
$ dmesg |tail

Once we've figured out exactly what Trendnet device you have, someone
can probably point you in the right direction on getting it working.
Note: quite often you'll find answers if you google using a search with
'ubuntu' in the search. Sample:
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&complete=0&q=ubuntu+%2BTrendnet+wireless+USB&btnG=Search>

As for the printers et al; in many cases just plugging them in will
work. However, the https://help.ubuntu.com/community and
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html should get you started.
Either way you'll need to provide at least model numbers so that folks
on the list know what devices you are referring to.

Again, welcome to Ubuntu & to the list!