Thinkpads Forum

I am impressed that Ubuntu 10.10 auto installed the correct wireless driver for my Thinkpad Edge (mid-2010 model) and when I boot, my wireless is
ready to go.

I know I can click the icon at the top right and click " enable wireless" to toggle off. Is there a way to keep "enable wireless" unchecked until I want
to use it? It's a minor nuisance having to disable it each time I boot, but it would be nice to have it default the other way, where I have to "enable
wireless" when I want it.

--Bruised

I had the opposite problem when I had 10.10 on one of my media servers. It never connected automatically like I wanted. I had to click the wireless icon and have it connect to the desired network. I fixed by going into the cards properties and checking the connect automatically. Perhaps you could un-check it.

Solution Found. I solved the wifi issue by going into BIOs and shutting down auto startup of wifi.
You would think there would be a simple way to shut it off in Ubuntu. Linux users in the Ubuntu
Linuxquestions and other Linux forums suggestion a lot of Terminal input code. I am somewhat
surprised that Linux distros do not have a simple on\of Desktop way to turn Wlan and Wifi
radios on and off. Also, doing it by BIOs leaves no choice but either\or. Either you have both
wifi and Wlan off or you have both on.

I suppose you could have your wireless set to NOT auto connect when it detects your network.

ParatoOptimal wrote:I suppose you could have your wireless set to NOT auto connect when it detects your network.

I think the OP is interested in actually disabling the wireless driver/hardware altogether rather than leaving it on but not connected.