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Installing software/drivers without using the Ubuntu Software Centre

Asked by Paul Evans

I'm a total beginner using Ubuntu12.4.1

I've purchased a wi-fi dongle that I want to install it. Surely, if you;ve downloaded a zip file that purports to have all of the relevant drivers, there is a standard way of unzipping the file and running an install script from within it isn't there? (I ask this as a total newbie).

Or do you have a stark choice;

1. only install software that is in the Software Centre
2. learn some basic skills with the command line (i.e. how to work out the path that files can be found in - is it c:\home\desktop\filename.zip for instance if you want to instruct the command-line to unzip a folder?) and then follow instructions from documentation?

Or is there a more simple third way where you unzip a zip drive and open a file that automatically installs the drivers?

Thanks

PE

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

What WiFi chip is in the USB stick?
What is the output of:

lsb_release -a; uname -a; lsusb

Thanks

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Paul Evans (sq2d3bipy0t2ouq92ei4f-paul) said : 		#2

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
Linux martin 3.2.0-35-generic-pae #55-Ubuntu SMP Wed Dec 5 18:04:39 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
martin@martin:~$

I've not got the dongle in the machine at the moment. I will reboot and do that now if you like?

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Paul Evans (sq2d3bipy0t2ouq92ei4f-paul) said : 		#3

Here it is with the dongle in:

martin@martin:~$ lsb_release -a; uname -a; lsusb
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
Linux martin 3.2.0-35-generic-pae #55-Ubuntu SMP Wed Dec 5 18:04:39 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:8176 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188CUS 802.11n WLAN
martin@martin:~$

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

askubuntu.com/questions/123937/rtl8188cus-wireless-usb-dongle-doesnt-work-unless-i-disable-wireless-security

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Paul Evans (sq2d3bipy0t2ouq92ei4f-paul) said : 		#5

This is what solved it for me (via the Ubuntuforums)

http://thatguruguy.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/working-rtl8188cus-in-ubuntu-12-04/

Thanks for chipping in actionparsnip - I've not checked your link yet because the problem is solved - though the title suggest there's a better solution than that behind the link I've got here.