IPW2200 FW Load Error (-2)

PROBLEM: dmesg shows "ipw2200: Unable to load firmware: 0xFFFFFFFE". This occurred (for me) in both MDK10.2 and Mandriva2006, due to FW Load Error #-2.

MY RESOLUTION (w/ MDK10.2, using Linux-2.6.12-12mdk from Mandriva 2006 Kernel):

1) Download Ver2.3 from http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php

2) Move/Copy Ver2.3 .fw files into /lib/hotplug/firmware

3) Create a (directory) link /lib/firmware to /lib/hotplug/firmware (may not be necessary)

4) rmmod ipw2200 (if necessary)

5) insmod ipw2200

6) Check 'lsmod' and '/var/log/syslog' to see if ipw220 properly loaded.

7) If successful, then using ControlCenter/Network&Internet/NewConnection', can create a new wireless connection.

REFERENCE:

http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/INSTALL

http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php

NOTES:

A) I left the previous ipw2200*.fw files in /lib/hotplug/firmware

B) I had problems with both MDK10.2 & MDV2006 w/ ipw2200. I have not tested this with MDV2006.

C) My first attempt was to create a link to existing ipw2200_boot.rw, but then another firmware load error occurred, indicating wanting version 2.3 of ipw2200 firmware.

D) Part of my problems might be MDK10.2 using 2.6.12-12mdk & configurations, but it seems to be working......

I hope that this helps someone - I spent a lot of time getting the ipw2200 to work on my Dell D810.