Loading Puppy on a way old laptop

What works, and doesn't, for you. Be specific, and please include Puppy version.
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ardvark
Posts: 1448
Joined: Tue 02 Jul 2013, 03:43
Location: USA

#21 Post by ardvark »

rokytnji wrote:Nope You can use your pcmcia slot instead. It is always how I roll on ancient laptops.
I never even thought of that because, I think partly, the last time I used a PCMCIA card on a laptop (running Windows 95) back in 2003-4, there would be times where the card wouldn't even register with the computer even though the card was fine. This would require me to reboot the system a second time. It may have been a Windows issue but it left a bad taste in my mouth as far as PCMCIA was concerned. :(

Regards...
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tempestuous
Posts: 5464
Joined: Fri 10 Jun 2005, 05:12
Location: Australia

#22 Post by tempestuous »

razenxd wrote:So Wpa isn't supported from my card or from the driver?
Correct.
Like many/most old B-mode wifi devices, only WEP encryption was supported
... however ...
WPA support has been added by recent drivers (both Windows and Linux) and you will see that the Linux airo driver definitely now supports WPA, but probably NOT WPA2 -
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/airo
... however ... WPA support also requires an update to the device's onboard firmware.
Here's where things get difficult, because Cisco does not provide firmware to end-users, only to vendors (such as IBM).
Some reading on the web leads me to believe that updated Windows XP drivers from IBM will automatically upgrade the onboard firmware. So if you still have Windows XP on your laptop, you could try installing the "Cisco Systems Mini PCI Wireless LAN driver Version 3.8.26.01" from -
http://support.lenovo.com/au/en/product ... inkpad-t42
Then boot back into Puppy.

Personally I think this is really trying to "hot rod a horse cart". It would be better to replace the wifi device with a modern unit.
Apart from the options already mentioned: USB and PCMCIA, there's also the option to replace the internal miniPCI card - this seems the most elegant solution to me. The miniPCI card needs to be an official IBM unit, otherwise the BIOS won't recognise it. I suggest the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG -
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_PRO ... CI_Adapter
On eBay search for "IBM 2200BG Mini PCI" - they can be found for $10.
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