Fire up the synaptic package manager.
when it’s open, select Settings >Repositories
on the first tab, select whateveer’s written next to:-
Download from:
and set it to
Main Server
Or, select “Other”
then select he first server under the United Kingdom section.
Then check if:
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
is still empty
tried to open synaptic but got this:
E: Type ‘http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian’ is not known on line 1 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialogue to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.
maybe i should reinstal? - i dont want to waste your time
What’s the contents of:
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list
Index of /debian squeeze main contrib non-free
Is this Mint Debian edition ?
What’s the output from:
cat /etc/*release*
DISTRIB_ID=LinuxMint
DISTRIB_RELEASE=15
DISTRIB_CODENAME=olivia
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION=“Linux Mint 15 Olivia”
NAME=“Ubuntu”
VERSION=“13.04, Raring Ringtail”
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME=“Ubuntu 13.04”
VERSION_ID=“13.04”
HOME_URL=“http://www.ubuntu.com/”
SUPPORT_URL=“http://help.ubuntu.com/”
BUG_REPORT_URL=“Bugs : Ubuntu”
was this an Upgrade from an earlier version of Mint ?
No its a first instal from official CD ISO from mint site.
I thought I would delete that odd debian line from the additional source list folder using root privilege…and the Synaptic is now back and running!
Im going to go back and retrace your posts…will report back 
OK
OK
ive now dowloaded sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic build-essential - All ok
lsmod | grep rt2 now gives:
rt2800usb 22366 0
rt2x00usb 19979 1 rt2800usb
rt2800lib 60947 1 rt2800usb
rt2x00lib 48522 3 rt2x00usb,rt2800lib,rt2800usb
mac80211 526519 3 rt2x00lib,rt2x00usb,rt2800lib
cfg80211 436177 2 mac80211,rt2x00lib
crc_ccitt 12627 1 rt2800lib
ready to roll…
Now what’s the output from:
iwconfig
?
same im afraid…
iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
OK, now you have linux-headers-generic and build-essential installed (which are needed to compile the drivers), run these commands in sequence:
mkdir ~/wireless-drivers
then
cd ~/wireless-drivers
then
wget https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11876059/DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022.tar.gz
then
tar -xvf DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022.tar.gz
then
cd ~/wireless-drivers/DPO_RT5572_LinuxSTA_2.6.1.3_20121022
then
sudo su
then
make
then
make install
then
exit
then
sudo modprobe -r rt2800usb
then
sudo modprobe rt5572sta
Now has wireless sprung to life ?
YOU MY FRIEND ARE A STAR! Wireless up and running…so far so good…will I have to do this again each time or will it start auto on startup?
Dunno yet … reboot and let let me know … if it doesn’t it’s an easy fix.
YEP
works fine after restart. Thank you so much for your time and expertise !
Learned a lot as well.
All the best
You’re most welcome …
Sorry but now i have another prob!
It wont connect to my Plusnet router? just stays on " connecting then disconnects and connects to “BT wifi” :-\
what’s the output from:
sudo iwlist scanning
sudo iwlist scanning
[sudo] password for pete: (MY NETWORK IS ESSID:“PlusnetWireless9BBB7F”)
ra0 Scan completed :
Cell 01 - Address: 4C:17:EB:92:80:7B
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“SKY2807A”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=52/100 Signal level=-69 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:144 Mb/s
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD0E0050F204104A0001101044000102
Cell 02 - Address: 00:1E:2A:F2:8D:DE
Protocol:802.11b/g
ESSID:“jbaldwin”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=60/100 Signal level=-66 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:54 Mb/s
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
Cell 03 - Address: A4:B1:E9:97:FA:FC
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“PlusnetWireless97FAFC”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Quality=44/100 Signal level=-72 dBm Noise level=-67 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:130 Mb/s
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD0E0050F204104A0001101044000102
Cell 04 - Address: 5C:7D:5E:00:94:85
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“BTHub3-H7XX”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality=89/100 Signal level=-55 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:144 Mb/s
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD0E0050F204104A0001101044000102
Cell 05 - Address: 42:7D:5E:00:94:86
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“BTWiFi”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality=86/100 Signal level=-56 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:off
Bit Rates:144 Mb/s
Cell 06 - Address: 42:7D:5E:00:94:87
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“BTWiFi-with-FON”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
Quality=89/100 Signal level=-55 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:off
Bit Rates:144 Mb/s
Cell 07 - Address: 58:98:35:9B:BB:7F
Protocol:802.11b/g/n
ESSID:“PlusnetWireless9BBB7F”
Mode:Managed
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Quality=100/100 Signal level=-35 dBm Noise level=-92 dBm
Encryption key:on
Bit Rates:130 Mb/s
IE: WPA Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
Group Cipher : TKIP
Pairwise Ciphers (1) : CCMP
Authentication Suites (1) : PSK
IE: Unknown: DD0E0050F204104A0001101044000102
lo Interface doesn’t support scanning.
eth0 Interface doesn’t support scanning.