Kernel updates keep removing wireless.

[Sheff]

Hi, I'm running Ubuntu 8.10 on an acer aspire one, recently I used the automatic updater which installed a kernel update which then proceeded to remove the wireless driver I was using and install the standard driver that doesn't work with the wireless card.

I'm getting used to linux now and was able to reinstall the correct driver through terminal, my question is, short of not updating the kernel, is there a way of avoiding this situation?

Cheers.

 

[BigglesPiP]

I'm not yet 100% on the kernel and it's working, but AFAIK this is because you need to load a kernel module for your WiFi, which isn't part of these kernels. Possibly because it's not open source.

Debian in particular won't put binary in the kernel if the source isn't available.

 

[yashiro]

If your acer is working I'd not bother with kernel updates unless totally necessary anyway.
There's more chance of stuff to stop working than you gaining a mythical performance boost.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

Manual kernel builds. It's a lot easier, and a lot less scary than it might appear.

Just remember to keep a copy of your previously working kernel (and entry on grub for ease of access) and you'll always have a fallback.

 

[Sheff]

Thanks for the replies, I am keen to learn more about ubuntu and linux so will definitely try the manual install.