IMHO, if you are intending to install an O/S, and will need to have an Internet connection, you should ALWAYS have a thumb drive and another computer with a confirmed Internet connection before starting. The only exception to this rule is when installing OSX on a Mac - because they control the hardware and the software, you're almost always good to go out of the gate.
Windows is like this, Linux/BSD/etc is the same way.
Get a cup of coffee at a cybercafe if you need to for the 'net access!
That said, I've had little trouble with the Intel Wireless 2100 in the past on a Dell Inspiron 600m. Do a google search for "ipw2100", various RPM options show on the first page for me.
Good luck!
On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 12:08:05 pm Robert Heller wrote:
> At Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:44:17 -0600 CentOS mailing list <centos@centos.org> wrote:
> > On 02/16/2011 01:06 PM, Les Mikesell wrote:
> > > On 2/16/2011 12:41 PM, Robert Heller wrote:
> > >> The wireless on the X31 is an Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless LAN 2100
> > >> 3B Mini PCI Adapter (rev 04). Intel wireless chips are *very well*
> > >> supported *out of the box* under CentOS. You do need to download and
> > >> install the proper firmware.
> > >
> > > Isn't being supported "out of the box" and having to download something
> > > else a contradiction in terms? Not to mention a catch-22 when your
> > > usual connection to download is over wireless...
> >
> > So tell that to Red Hat.
> >
> > If it ain't in RHEL, it ain't in CentOS. Les, surely you know that by
> > now.
>
> Also *wireless* NICs almost always need some sort of firmware thing in
> /lib/firmware (or whereever). This is usually separate from any
> driver(s) that might be needed. Wired NICs don't need this firmware
> thing.
>
> In my case my usual connection is not wireless anyway, or at least it
> is not my only option -- the laptop does have a wired NIC, which also
> works *out of the box* and is also an Intel NIC (Intel Corporation
> 82540EP Gigabit Ethernet Controller (Mobile) (rev 03)). Oh, and it also
> has USB ports, which would be another option.
>
> (And *I* would avoid any laptop that *only* had a Wireless NIC.)
>
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