Can a usb wireless adapter help me connect to the internet using Linux?

Question

Right now I can dual boot with Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux. My wireless card doesn't work with Ubuntu. So I was wondering, could I buy a USB wireless adapter and try to connect to a wifi network using that? If so what is recommended to get? And where could I get drivers for Ubuntu Linux?

『 』 · Accepted Answer

What is your card model?  There might be Linux Based drivers for the chipset.  For instance I have a PCI Linksys WMP110 which has the Ralink Chipset, so I installed the Linux Ralink driver and it works perfect.

Also it works with Kernel 2.6.34 + without drivers (same with the Linksys WUSB600N).  If you can update your kernel to 3.6.34 (http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.34-lucid/ ) that might fix the issue.

Install in this order:
linux-headers-2.6.34-020634_ 2.6.34-020634_all.deb

[use the one that you need between 32bit and 64 bit]
linux-headers-2.6.34-020634- generic_2.6.34-020634_ i386.deb
linux-headers-2.6.34-020634- generic_2.6.34-020634_ amd64.deb

[use the one that you need between 32bit and 64 bit]
linux-image-2.6.34-020634- generic_2.6.34-020634_ i386.deb
linux-image-2.6.34-020634- generic_2.6.34-020634_ amd64.deb

tbnext · Answer

The short answer is yes, as long as you make sure that the chip-set of the USB wireless device is supported out of the box by the Linux Kernel. A quick google search of prospective USB devices and 'ubuntu' should let you know if it will work. 

but...

You may not have to buy a whole new device. Does ubuntu pick up your wired internet card? If it does, connecting ubuntu to the internet and having it check for updates may pick up your wireless card and allow you to download and install what are known as "restricted drivers." Worth a shot before you go off buying new hardware.

Linux Mint 11 · Answer

Here is the Official Ubuntu Wireless Documentation

Cards Supported
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported

Troubleshooting/Howto/General
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WiFiHowTo

In the event of your Wifi card being unsupported you can use Ndiswrapper Here is the Official Ubuntu Ndiswrapper Documentation
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper

Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) User Guide
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid


LUg.

Anonymous · Answer

you should have transfered all the settings from wins7 to linux when you installed it then the wifi would have worked

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Can a usb wireless adapter help me connect to the internet using Linux?

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