Here's how I got it all working:

  1. Install Fedora Core 4 x86_64 version
  2. Edit /etc/grub.conf. Look for the line referring to your current kernel. It will say something like:
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-1.1398_FC4 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb
    Append the following two options: vga=771 no_timer_check:
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-1.1398_FC4 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb vga=771 no_timer_check
  3. Configure the livna.org yum repository: http://rpm.livna.org/configuration.html
  4. Install the following packages from the livna.org yum repository:
    • kernel-module-fglrx
    • kernel-module-ndiswrapper
    • ndiswrapper
  5. Run the command 'lspci' and note which one is your wireless card.
    eg, 05:02.0 Network controller: Broadcom corporation: unknown device 4318 (rev 02)
  6. Run 'lspci -ns 05:02' and note the vendor device number
    eg, 05:02.0 Class 0280: 14e4:4318 (rev 02)
  7. Look up and download the appropriate driver for your device at
    http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/List
    by doing a search for your pciid (14e4:4318 in the example)
  8. Follow the instructions under the Install Windows driver section
  9. Run 'kmix' to turn on the external amplifier
  10. Happily chug along, enjoying your now-working Fedora Core 4 AMD Turion64 laptop.
Linux On Laptops