WHY? is it so hard to get Linux to work?

[#1]

Quote from: MisterW

Usb modeswitch has done it's job fine, we now need to get the driver to recognise it.

No it hasn't, not quite, since usb_modeswitch is also supposed to take care of adding the device IDs to the "option" kernel module if necessary. What the usb_modeswitch script should be doing is:
/sbin/modprobe option
/bin/echo 12d1 1506 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id
I got those lines more or less from /lib/udev/usb_modeswitch. Those IDs are already listed in the option driver in linux 3.0.0.

[#2]

@ejs,
Sorry , I Didn't realise that modeswitch did that as well. I just thought it handled the device reset and switch to modem mode.

[#3]

Quote from: MisterW

@shutter,Plug the device in, wait for the CDROM to disappear and then check using lsusb that the device now appears as Quote ID 12d1 :1506 Huawei Technologies co., Ltd. Now try running sudo modprobe option vendor=0x12d1 product=0x1506 ( from a terminal window ) and see if newtork manager now 'sees' the device. You could also perhaps post the output of dmesg ( the last 20 lines or so ) following the sudo modprobe command

OK....... did the lsusb bit and confirmed as bus001 Device 004 ID 12d1 1506 HUAWEI Technologies Ltd
then typed in the sudo bit....
got this in reply.....

FATAL: Error inserting option (/lib/modules/2.6.38 - 10 generic/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/option.ko): Unkonwn symbol in modul, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)  {{{{ which I have not done yet}}}}

[#4]

Sorry to hear you are having all this trouble with mint 11. I installed it from a disk included with one of the linux magazines and not had a bit of bother with it except the icon disappearing for my Cruzer Blade (which may be nothing to do with mint)
My knowledge of Linux is Nil but thought it worth posting in case anyone is put off trying Linux.

[#5]

@shutter - try these commands instead:
sudo /sbin/modprobe option
sudo /bin/echo 12d1 1506 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id

[#6]

did the first line, but nothing appears

second line...
bash: /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/optional/new_id: Permission denied

[#7]

@gleneagles.... thanks for the kind words of encouragement   

[#8]

Quote from: shutter

did the first line, but nothing appears second line... bash: /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/optional/new_id: Permission denied

My mistake probably, since I don't use sudo, instead just have one terminal window with a root shell open. Try adding some quotes:
sudo "/bin/echo 12d1 1506 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id"
If it succeeds, there will be no output, so check dmesg so see if it worked.

[#9]

reply to that
[sudo] password for gerry : flashing black cursor....... typed in my password , but could not see it...... and after a while got
Sorry, try again,

so I did.... 3 times and same result... so zilch from that ! ! ! ..

[#10]

Open a new terminal window, type "su" and press enter. Enter the root password, then only use that window for things needing to be done as root, and close it when you won't need to use it for a while. Then you don't need to sudo everything, and this will work:
/bin/echo 12d1 1506 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id

[#11]

bash> /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id: No such file or directory

[#12]

I don't know why the "new_id" file doesn't exist. The fallback is to not use the option driver, and just use the usbserial driver:
/sbin/modprobe -r option
/sbin/modprobe usbserial vendor=0x12D1 product=0x1506

[#13]

first line.  nothing.
second line reply
bash: /sbin/modprobe/usbserial/vendor=12d1: Not a directory
(also same using capital D in 12d1)
.

[#14]

I would have another go with the "option" driver, I think the only way "new_id" could not exist is if you mis-typed something. It's "option1", the word "option" followed by the digit "1" (one), not "optional". Perhaps this would be easier:
/sbin/modprobe option
cd /
cd sys
cd bus
cd usb-serial
cd drivers
cd option1
echo 12d1 1506 > new_id

[#15]

yes I follow the "option1" error possibility, however, I am pretty good at copytyping, and double checked it .... I also copied back ( I am running two laptops side by side so I can copy type what is on the Linux screen).
will start on the list above... .....  .... standby....
ok... here is the result
/sbin/modprobe/option    (nothing)
cd /
changed my name to  / #
cd sys
changed the above to
sys #
cd bus
bus #
cd usb-serial
usb-serial #
cd drivers
drivers #
cd option1
option1 #
echo 12d1 1506 > new_id
option1 # (flashing cursor)

all responses were in blue (as is my name at the start position)