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compatibility_drivers [2017/08/18 20:57] – Improved mister_xcompatibility_drivers [2018/07/19 03:44] – [Introduction] 2 not 3 related areas mister_x
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   * See this [[faq#what_is_the_best_wireless_card_to_buy|FAQ entry]] if your question is "What is the best wireless card to buy?".   * See this [[faq#what_is_the_best_wireless_card_to_buy|FAQ entry]] if your question is "What is the best wireless card to buy?".
  
-This section deals with a three related areas:+This section deals with two related areas:
  
   * Determine the chipset of a wireless card   * Determine the chipset of a wireless card
   * Determine the driver for a wireless card   * Determine the driver for a wireless card
  
-The previous version of this page can found [[compatibility_drivers|here]].+The previous version of this page can found [[compatibility_drivers_old|here]].
  
 ===== Determine the chipset ===== ===== Determine the chipset =====
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 Once you have determined the chipset, check the [[compatibility_drivers#drivers|driver]] section for which software driver you need. Software drivers connect the operating system to the hardware. The drivers are different for each operating system. There are also notes regarding limitations. Once you have determined the chipset, check the [[compatibility_drivers#drivers|driver]] section for which software driver you need. Software drivers connect the operating system to the hardware. The drivers are different for each operating system. There are also notes regarding limitations.
  
-If you are deciding on which card to purchase, check the "[[compatibility_drivers#which_is_the_best_card_to_buy|Which is the best card to buy?]]" section on this page. There are many considerations that should go into your purchase decision:+If you are deciding on which card to purchase, check the "[[faq#what_is_the_best_wireless_card_to_buy|What is the best wireless card to buy?]]" section on this page. There are many considerations that should go into your purchase decision:
  
   *Hardware compatibility with your existing equipment.   *Hardware compatibility with your existing equipment.
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 It is not an easy decision to make. By considering these factors, it will help you make a more informed decision on what to purchase. It is not an easy decision to make. By considering these factors, it will help you make a more informed decision on what to purchase.
  
-====== Examples ====== +====== Example: Alfa AWUS036AC ======
- +
-===== Alfa AWUS036AC ======+
  
 Searching for "Alfa AWUS036AC wikidevi" returns me [[https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ALFA_Network_AWUS036AC|this page]] on WikiDevi. Searching for "Alfa AWUS036AC wikidevi" returns me [[https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ALFA_Network_AWUS036AC|this page]] on WikiDevi.
  
 +{{ :awus036ac_wikidevi_1.png?200|}}
 The box on the right contain all the information needed to identify the chipset manufacturer and model. In this case, RTL8812AU. The box on the right contain all the information needed to identify the chipset manufacturer and model. In this case, RTL8812AU.
  
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 If it were on Windows, even if the drivers were not installed, looking in the device manager, that ID would be found in Details pane of the device itself, in the property "Hardware IDs". This is also displayed in WikiDevi: **USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8812** (this is the same as the IDs on Linux, they're just uppercase and they contain some text around: USB device, VID stands for Vendor ID, PID stands for product ID). If it were on Windows, even if the drivers were not installed, looking in the device manager, that ID would be found in Details pane of the device itself, in the property "Hardware IDs". This is also displayed in WikiDevi: **USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8812** (this is the same as the IDs on Linux, they're just uppercase and they contain some text around: USB device, VID stands for Vendor ID, PID stands for product ID).
 +
 +{{:awus036ac_wikidevi_2.png?200 |}}
  
 Searching for that ID in WikiDevi or any search engine would also help finding the chipset and driver required. Multiple pages would be returned because multiple adapters share the same USB ID. Searching for that ID in WikiDevi or any search engine would also help finding the chipset and driver required. Multiple pages would be returned because multiple adapters share the same USB ID.
  
-The exact same principles apply to internal devices, the only difference is they will be found under lspci.+The exact same principles apply to internal devices, the only difference is they will be found under **lspci**.
  
 Another way to find the chipset/driver, after exhausting the options above, if you don't have the device itself is to download the driver. It is very useful when searching for laptops that are too new to be in any search engine results. Another way to find the chipset/driver, after exhausting the options above, if you don't have the device itself is to download the driver. It is very useful when searching for laptops that are too new to be in any search engine results.
 +
 In this case, the Windows driver of the AWUS036AC. It doesn't really matter which version of Windows, the important information are some filenames (and content). In this case, the Windows driver of the AWUS036AC. It doesn't really matter which version of Windows, the important information are some filenames (and content).
-Sometimes the name of the files (//.cat//, //.inf// and //.sys//) can indicate the chipset codename. Most of the time, they don't and the .inf file needs to be opened in a text editor (supporting UTF-16). Scroll down and there will be lists of IDs that are supported by that driver. In this example, the driver supports both PCI and USB Realtek devices, so, it will help narrow down what compatibility you have to look for on Linux. 
-If the driver is packed in an executable (//.msi// or //.exe//), unpacking will be required. Sometimes multiple times, such as when it is bundled with a WiFi manager. UniExtract (Universal Extractor) is one of the tools to do so. 
  
 +{{ :awus036ac_inf_file.png?200|}}
  
 +Sometimes the name of the files (//.cat//, //.inf// and //.sys//) can indicate the chipset codename. Most of the time, they don't and the .inf file needs to be opened in a text editor (supporting UTF-16). Scroll down and there will be lists of IDs that are supported by that driver. In this example, the driver supports both PCI and USB Realtek devices, so, it will help narrow down what compatibility you have to look for on Linux.
  
 +If the driver is packed in an executable (//.msi// or //.exe//), unpacking will be required. Sometimes multiple times, such as when it is bundled with a WiFi manager. UniExtract (Universal Extractor) is one of the tools to do so.
compatibility_drivers.txt · Last modified: 2018/07/20 23:16 by mister_x