Re: [Madwifi-users] Some laptops unable to have Linux wireless (was: Problem with Netgear WG511T)

[Pavel R. <pr...@gn...>]

Hello!

Quoting Ken Sarkies <ksa...@tr...>:

> This started as a problem of Madwifi not recognising a PCMCIA card, and
> it was found that a recent kernel change prevents some laptops from
> seeing the cards.
>
> Peter Humphrey wrote:
> > My reading of the bug report shows that no fix should be expected, as the
> > problem is with a broken BIOS - not the kernel.
> >
> While this is starting to drift off-topic, I want to make this last
> remark for any of those subscribers who may be feeling a little
> dismayed, as I was, at the thought that we with certain machines may be
> left "in the cold".

As I understand it, the workaround is to disable PCI configuration via BIOS and
leave direct access only.

The fix is likely to be in 2.6.18 due to urgency of the problem.  We may even
see the fix backported to 2.6.17.x once it's tested.

> A "broken BIOS" presumably means that it does not respond in a way the
> kernel developers expected it to. They have faced far greater challenges
> than that.

In fact, there is a proven mechanism for working out such problems.  It's called
"quirks".  The affected hardware is recognized and appropiate fixes are applied.

> I thought that the Linux kernel bypassed the BIOS to avoid
> such problems, and the suggested fix seems to be suggesting the kernel
> return to this mode of operation.

Yes, sort of.  The direct access will have priority over BIOS access if both are
enabled.

> A change of one character in my GRUB config will ensure my laptop boots
> into Windows - Uncle Bill doesn't have problems with a broken BIOS.

> Don't take this the wrong way. It is not intended as a rant against
> anyone.

The above statements seem to contradict each other.  By the way, search for
"Windows BIOS problems" brings 13,100,000 results :-)

Sorry, I haven't followed this particular discussion, I just want to provide
some more useful information for those not subscribed to the PCMCIA list.

--
Regards,
Pavel Roskin