GearHack

: :

Add Comment | Related Links | TrackBack
Related Content

Network Problem on MSi Wind U100

These instructions were quite helpful. I got Mac OS installed without a hitch. The ethernet port also works with the fix.

The problem, now, is that the wireless utility for the Ralink doesn't see the card. It says "no device". I'm starting to suspect that the wireless card in my Wind is not a Ralink RT2700E. Is there a way I can determine the chipset from Mac OS X?

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:33:05 +0000

I assume you already enabled the wireless. I kept getting tripped up by this.

You can see if the driver got loaded by doing the following in the shell (Terminal):
sudo dmesg | grep -i ethernet

You should see one for the onboard ethernet and one for the wireless.

If not, try running "sudo dmesg | less" by itself and see if the card got recognized during startup.

If your computer's been on for awhile, you might have to restart to see the entries from startup.

gnowk
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:15:40 +0000

Thanks for the suggestions, I've tried turning the wireless on and off and see if it showed up in both instances. But so far it's no good.

I just tried the "sudo dmesg | grep -i ethernet" and it only shows the Realtek wired ethernet card. Nothing about a second card. That's true for both wireless on and off, too.

Got any other suggestions?

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:46 +0000

did you try "sudo dmesg | less" after startup? look for wl0 or wlan0.

if you still have windows running, you should be able to see the model under Device Manager.

another alternative is to boot up with a linux live cd and do "sudo dmesg | less" there.

when all else fails, just open the case and look. you can also double check to see if the card is seated properly and that the antenna cables are not loose.

gnowk
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:19:26 +0000

Thanks. There were no "wl" anything. "Ethernet" shows only the wired Realtek. The wireless just won't show up, even though it works just fine in Windows.

Anyway, I've been wanting to swap the card with the Broadcom 1020 card in my gaming notebook anyway. The Broadcom card doesn't connect to my wireless G router for some reason. And recently, has been acting up strangely on that notebook. So I want to troubleshoot it.

I have taken the Wind apart again. The wireless card is indeed a Ralink RT-2700E. But I have no clue why Mac OS X won't recognize it. I have swapped the Broadcom 1020 board into the MSi Wind. The Broadcom 1020 board is really thick on the bottom, whereas the Ralink RT-2700E. I have screwed it in anyway, which bends the card slightly.

After powering up the Wind, Mac OS X immediately detects it and activates the AirPort functionality. I am able to get on my wireless B network. Wireless G still doesn't work with this card. I guess it's just not compatible with my G router. Anyway, at least I am now un-tethered on the Mac OS X. :-)

So how do I uninstall software on Mac OS X? I like to uninstall the driver and the utility for the Ralink RT-2860 that I installed earlier.

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:26:51 +0000

interesting. that's the exact same card i have.

apps are in /Applications and drivers are in /System/Library/Extensions

with most apps, you can just drag them into trash. there are probably preference files that you have to remove also.

you can also use uninstallers, not sure if they work on drivers though.

more info here:
Uninstalling Applications in Mac OS X

for the 2 things you mentioned:
sudo rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/RT2860WirelessDriver.kext/
sudo rm -rf /Applications/WirelessUtilityCardbusPCI.app/

gnowk
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:16:10 +0000

Thanks for showing me how to uninstall stuff on Mac OS X. I think I'm going to put off uninstalling that stuff for a while.

Although the Broadcom 1020 card works great on the MSi Wind, the Ralink RT2700E won't work on the HP. HP locks the network card ID in the BIOS. It's actually rejecting the card. That is just ridiculous. I'm no longer ever buying a brand-name notebook ever again. I've documented that to remind myself in the future:

HP Locks the Network Card in Their Notebooks

So now, I got to swap the cards back and try it again in Mac OS X. I guess I need to do some reading on how people got the Ralink RT2700E to work under Mac OS X.

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:13:23 +0000

Ok, I got it to work. I had to download the slightly newer RT2860 driver from the MSi's Taiwan web site that is shown in this thread:

I made my RT2700E card worked with Leopard

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:44:32 +0000

If you guys are still running with the Ralink, here are some instruction and software I wrote to automate the reconnection on startup and on wake up:

Automate the Ralink Wireless Connection on Mac OS X

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:14:01 +0000

odd, when i was still using the ralink, it wakes up fine from sleep. anyone else have problems with this?

gnowk
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:02:18 +0000

No prob...I did before but after setting up the profiles and it has worked fine since...I keep expecting otherwise given my mutant powers to create computer problems...

Paul
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:34:57 +0000

That is very strange. The RT2700E requires radio off/on is a well documented problem. I wonder what is different about your set-up.

Even after you shutdown the netbook and start it up, you won't ever have to go into WirelessUtilityCardbusPCI to get it to connect? Does WirelessUtilityCardbusPCI start up automatically when you turn on your computer? (I'm not talking about sleep/wakeup, I'm purely talking about turning on/off your netbook.)

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:55:21 +0000

It starts automatically on bootup.

gnowk
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:06:35 +0000

Do you have to get it to reconnect on bootup? Or is it automatic?

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:06:42 +0000

Automatic.

gnowk
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:19:13 +0000

Well, I am quite baffled at the difference? Perhaps there is a slight different in the network card hardware. I remember having to use a slightly different version of the driver software than the one you linked to in your instructions. Or perhaps we are using different OSx86 distributions.

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:54:33 +0000

once you figure it out, you and paul might want to do the following with the Ralink Wireless Utility.

Mac Tip: Edit Info.plist To Make A Background App

gnowk
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:31:43 +0000

It's more curiosity than necessity. Don't have too much incentive to figure it out, since the automator does everything. I don't even notice it any more.

I don't really understand how that blog post apply to the Ralink wireless utility. You can just quit that application. It doesn't have to stay running for your wireless network to work. If you need it, I can write you a quick AppleScript to close the Ralink wireless utility on start-up.

Or am I missing something?

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:46:24 +0000

it's true it doesn't need to be running for the wireless card to work, but it might be needed for the card to wake up correctly.

gnowk
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:53:20 +0000

Nope. It doesn't work. It just says "Disconnected". I guess that makes sense. Otherwise, it would have worked every time I start up the computer.

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:32:55 +0000

Add Comment | Related Links | TrackBack
Related Content

Did your message disappear? Read the Forums FAQ.

Related Links

Add Comment

Spam Control | * indicates required field
Your Name: *
E-mail:
Remember Me!
Comment: *
File attachment is optional. Please do not attach a file to your submission unless it is relevent.
Attach File:
(20 MB Max)
Spam Protection: * Answer of 0 + 5?
Click button only once, please!

TrackBack

TrackBack only accepted from WebSite-X Suite web sites. Do not submit TrackBacks from other sites.

Send Ping | TrackBack URL | Spam Control

No TrackBacks yet. TrackBack can be used to link this thread to your weblog, or link your weblog to this thread. In addition, TrackBack can be used as a form of remote commenting. Rather than posting the comment directly on this thread, you can posts it on your own weblog. Then have your weblog sends a TrackBack ping to the TrackBack URL, so that your post would show up here.

Messages, files, and images copyright by respective owners.


Articles | Wiki
Forums | Latest | RSS
Library | Links | News
Search | Store | Help

358 Users Online



Hacking Digital Cameras
Fun for Photographers

Amazon Associate


Copyright © 2004 - 2024. All Rights Reserved.