Hardware drivers can be a real pain for Linux users. If the manufacturer does not release the specifications of its hardware, it can be difficult, if not possible, to reverse engineer the information needed to write a driver.

True, a few manufacturers are enlightened enough to release Linux drivers or information, but most are content with ensuring their product works with Windows.

While it would be nice be able to boycott such hardware, there’s not much we can do if the laptop’s integrated wireless card has no Linux driver.

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From the Device Manager, you can check the status of your WLAN drivers to make sure the device is working properly. If the Device Manager shows a yellow circle and an exclamation point next to your wireless adapter, then your wireless adapter may not be properly installed.

Right-click the adapter in question, select Properties, and then look at the Device Status box from the General tab to see that the adapter is working properly. If necessary, select the Driver tab in the Properties dialog box to access controls that let you uninstall or update the
driver.

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D-Link unleashes DI-634M Super G Router.

Standard features

Four-port Ethernet switch NAT Firewall with VPN pass-through support Full security provision up to WPA (128-bit WEP, PSK TKIP/AES WAP) Parental control with URL filtering and domain blocking

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To protect your wireless network, make sure you’ve activated security settings at the highest level that all of your devices support:

1) Use either WEP (Wired Equivalency Protocol) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access).

2) Make sure that both your router or access point and all of the clients on your network share the same encryption key. Write down the key and put it in a safe place.
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The Kensington WiFi Finder Plus quickly finds Wi-Fi signals and displays their level of strength. With this device you don’t need to boot up your notebook to track down Wi-Fi hotspots. The WiFi Finder Plus detects 802.11b/g and active Bluetooth networks within range. It also automatically filters out signals from cordless phones, cell phones, and microwaves.
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