wifi, SPDIF, tv out and dual display

More tests on the Acer Aspire laptop:

Wifi:
Wifi finally enabled thru ndiswrapper. It probably works with the Atheros driver from madwifi latest svn build, but didn't try it. Took quite a while get it working because I tried to take short-cuts which didn't work. First tried with the kernel source given in the DVD, didn't work since an update had upgraded the kernel from 2.6.17-13mdv to 2.6.17-14mdv. Then, I disregarded a forum post saying the latest madwifi patches will be needed, and madwifi stable didn't work. Then used old version of ndiswrapper on the DVD, didn't work with the Windows driver. Finally worked with latest stable ndiswrapper tar.gz. I've not tested with a hotspot, just saw that Mandrake Control Centre and ifconfig recognize the interface wlan0. Left it disabled since A doesn't have wifi at home.

TV out:
Works in Windows, NTSC, after going to Intel display properties tab after clicking display properties Advanced button, needs the connector to be plugged in before the settings appear. Doesn't work in Linux.

External Monitor:
Works in Windows and Linux, Windows has option of switching between Extended Desktop on CRT, Cloned Desktops on LCD and CRT, LCD only and CRT only modes, while on Linux Cloned displays on both is the only option. If external monitor is connected, BIOS, GRUB etc display only on the external monitor. When Ext Monitor and TV-out work, video overlays on those displays were working too - videos played in KMplayer and Xine for Windows and Linux tests.

Details of wifi exteriments:

Using http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/Distro/Mandrake/OldGuides

inside the madwifi directory, ran

make KERNELPATH=/usr/src/linux-2.6.17-13mdv 
make KERNELPATH=/usr/src/linux-2.6.17-13mdv install
cp -rf /lib/modules/2.6.17-13mdv/net/* /lib/modules/2.6.17-14mdv/kernel/net

Kernel couldn't load the module on modprobe.

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Got new kernel source, did again. Then,

modprobe -v ath_pci

gives in /var/log/messages

Jul  2 09:43:21 aceraspire kernel: ath_pci: 0.9.4.5 (0.9.3.1)
Jul  2 09:43:21 aceraspire kernel: ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:03:00.0[A] -> GSI 17    (level, low) -> IRQ 17
Jul  2 09:43:21 aceraspire kernel: wifi%d: unable to attach hardware: 'Hardware   didn't respond as expected' (HAL status 3)
Jul  2 09:43:21 aceraspire kernel: ACPI: PCI interrupt for device 0000:03:00.0 disabled

So trying ndiswrapper instead of trying cvs and stuff.

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Using the ndiswrapper installation instructions:

lspci gave
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5006EG 802.11 b/g Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)

lspci -n gave
03:00.0 0200: 168c:001c (rev 01)

Next to check out the windows drivers and use them.

c:\windows\system32\drivers\ar5211.sys

C:\Program Files\Atheros\Wireless\Driver\net5211.inf

With the ndsiwrapper 1.21 which was included in Mandriva 2007.1, /var/log/messages gave

Jul  3 13:29:48 aceraspire kernel: ndiswrapper version 1.21 loaded (preempt=no,smp=yes)
Jul  3 13:29:48 aceraspire loadndisdriver: loadndisdriver: load_driver(361): couldn't load driver net5211
Jul  3 13:29:48 aceraspire kernel: ndiswrapper (import:241): unknown symbol: ntoskrnl.exe:'ZwDeleteKey'
Jul  3 13:29:48 aceraspire kernel: ndiswrapper (load_sys_files:215): couldn't prepare driver 'net5211'
Jul  3 13:29:48 aceraspire kernel: ndiswrapper (load_wrap_driver:113): loadndiswrapper failed (65280); check system log for messages from 'loadndisdriver'

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Finally installed latest stable ver 1.47 from ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net, installed wireless tools, now all ok.