Gave up on Kubuntu, and here's how to fix a Linksys WUSB600N adapter

[scythe944]

My kubuntu 10.04 desktop changed to a low-quality ubuntu interface after a reboot one day.

That's right, out of the blue I rebooted my "media server" kubuntu desktop and was greated with horrible graphics and a gnome desktop.  I didn't install the ubuntu packages, so why it happened, I'm still not sure.

However, over the years I've grown more and more frustrated with the lack of information about kubuntu.  It seems like there's always something about Ubuntu, but kubuntu users were passed by in the forums, news, and seemingly everything else.  I love the Kubuntu interface, it seems like it's way more advanced than it's Ubuntu cousin (or sibling?), but it's just a pain in the ass when you're trying to relearn linux or learn for the first time.

Anyway, I went with the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach and nuked my kubuntu 10.04 install and went with Ubuntu 10.10.  I wanted to be able to use my Linksys WUSB600N adapter that I got for an insanely low price when Circuit City was going out of business, and in the beginning I, thought ti did work.

After using it for about 45 seconds though, I realized that it wasn't working properly.  It would connect to my network (a WPA2 secured B/G/N tri-band signal) and allow me to browse, but then it would slow down and eventually stop working.  The lights would go out, and nobody was home.  I could disable the wireless or the network connections altogether in the NetworkManager applet, then re-enable, but it would only get me going for a few more seconds.

Now, on google, all they have is problems about the V2 model of the WUSB600N, but seemingly everyone else had no problems with the V1.  Eventually though, I stumbled through a thread that actually had a fix for the V1 for 10.04, and I can say that it works for 10.10 as well.

Enough of the jibber-jabber, here's the link (it actually has easily followed instructions too!) http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9534492&postcount=34

Thanks to Dev0 on the Ubuntu forums, I'm currently posting this from my 10.10 ubuntu box, with my totally wireless network connection via my WUSB600N v1!

Here's to forward progress...   

[boxtop]

Ubuntu's wireless issues was a big reason why I bailed on it.   I am glad to see you got yours working.

[scythe944]

Thanks bud!

It did stop working for a few seconds after I applied the fix, but it came back again on it's own.

If that's all it does, I'll be quite happy.

[scythe944]

Just an update.  I do occasionally have to reset the connection through the network manager (disable networking / enable networking) after a few hours or days, but it's nothing compared to what it was doing when I first installed Ubuntu.

I've kept instructions on how to re-apply the fix, and even though I've been installing updates to the system as often as I can, so far nothing has changed.  Which is good.  If it were to permanently fix the adapter, it would be great too, but it's just fine the way that it is for now.

I also have my Ethernet card set up as a bridge to the wireless, so now my aging XP box is able to get internet too, without me having to dig my switch out and string the network cable from the linen closet in the hallway over to my bedroom, which as you can probably tell, is very nice.

The only problem I have with that is the Linux box gives my XP box a strange IP address on a different subnet, so my router port-forwards for my file-sharing programs and such don't work.  I rarely use them anymore though, so no big deal.