I am currently running Linux Mint 9 “Isadora” on an IBM X30. Linux Mint 9 is based on Ubuntu 10.04 “Lucid Lynx,” which is, of course, based on Debian. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have an IBM ThinkPad X30 which has an Intersil Prism 2.5 chipset for wireless networking. The firmware is a revision which has support for WPA2 security. In the Linux kernel, there exist two different drivers for this chipset, “orinoco” and “hostap.” Orinoco has less functionality; the inability to connect to WPA2 networks is its most notable deficiency. Hostap does have this functionality. Of course, since the world is unfair and Murphy’s law seems at times to be a real law, the Orinoco driver is loaded by default, leaving one unable to connect to WPA2 networks.
After many attempts to replace the orinoco driver with the hostap driver (trying the solution mentioned in my previous post, trying to install hostap-utils, which, as described here, blacklists the orinoco modules, allowing the hostap modules to be used, trying other vague and unremembered methods to blacklist the orinoco modules or otherwise force the computer to use hostap) all of which resulted in a freeze sometime during the boot process, I learned that Linux kernel 2.6.35 finally disabled the orinoco driver in favor of hostap for most Prism cards. It seemed that this would finally allow me to use the hostap drivers without causing a system meltdown.
Using kernel 2.6.35 does indeed finally use the hostap driver instead of orinoco; and it doesn’t cause the computer to freeze while booting, with the following exception: the new kernel introduces some problem with how the graphics card works, causing a blank screen and frozen computer after seeing the boot splash screen flash intermittently for several seconds. I will here show how one can install kernel 2.6.35 on Linux Mint 9, and also cover how to get out of the problem this kernel introduces with the graphics chip (which is an i830, I believe. See thinkwiki.)
Installing kernel 2.6.35 is relatively straightforward. The kernel you will end up with is apparently the kernel from Ubuntu 10.10 “Maverick Meerkat” backported to 10.04 “Lucid Lynx.” I recommend using “Package Manager” from the Menu and not “Software Manager.” In Package Manager, search for “backport-maverick.” Mark for installation the following: “linux-image-generic-lts-backport-maverick” and “linux-headers-generic-lts-backport-maverick.” These packges will, via dependencies, automatically mark for installation “linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic,” “linux-headers-2.6.35-22-generic,” and “linux-headers-2.6.35-22.” Click “Apply” to install the new kernel and its headers. Then, reboot, and you will be able to boot the new kernel.
In order to avoid the graphics freeze-up, you must edit the “kernel line” in Grub. You must add the option “nomodeset” to turn off Kernel Modesetting, which seems to be the culprit. I also delete “quiet” and “splash” so I get to see all the old-school kernel messages fly by as the computer boots.
I will add an update later discussing the ins and outs of both temporarily and permanently editing the Grub menu.
