Ubuntu on Vista computer is limited

Using a LiveCD of Ubuntu version 8.04.1 desktop i386,
I chose to install on a Toshiba Satellite A135-S4677 which came with Vista.
I chose the second option to install within Windows.

When that was complete and Ubuntu was up and running I tried exploring a bit as I am new to Linux's.
Firefox opened up to offer the welcome page but it was not connected to the Internet.
I read an alert about two drivers:
.)Atheros Hardware Access Layer(HAL)
.)Support for Atheros 802.11 wireless LAN cards
"Proprietary drivers are being used to make this computer work properly. Proprietary drivers do not have public source code that Ubuntu developers are free to modify. They represent a risk to you because they are only available on the types of computer chosen by the manufacturer, and security updates to them depend solely on the responsiveness of the manufacturer. Ubuntu cannot [?back to my notes] improve these drivers."

I am using the same Internet method now on the same computer within Windows vista, the wireless.

Is there a way to get the wireless Internet working on Ubuntu with this model?
What are some preliminary checks for this situation?

I'll check with an ethernet cable connection next.

If you don't mind spending some money, there are USB wireless and USB to cat5 adapters available as work arounds for the lack of drivers.

use madwifi for the wireless. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=75451

don..you like spending money too much
the wired connection should work fine if that's an option, but the above should work for the wireless

You might have a point there. I know I suggest buying things a lot. I had the same problem with a Lenovo laptop. I wiped Vista and installed FreeBSD. The NICs wouldn't work so I bought a USB to cat5 adapter and that was the end of it.

The book answer is what you said. It should work but the real life answer is, it doesn't.

If a problem can be solved with money and you have the money, then it's really not a problem.

A top criminal lawyer in Brooklyn told me that one.

hmh. itneresting idea.
although my buddy has the atheros wireless chipset in his laptop and he got it working in ubuntu with madwifi without buying anything >.<
so i guess, if buying something is the easier solution, go for it. but figuring out how to make what you have work will be more rewarding imo :-X

I think I gave myself about a day to make it work before I spent the money. It turned out that the OS didn't support my NIC anyway.

lolol sounds about right >.<
unsupported hardware ftl -_-

AnarchY SI, the link you provided(http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=75451) I have a question: if I follow these steps, something about a "recompile" concerns me as to whether this driver will work for both Vista and Ubuntu. When you recompile drivers, do they only apply the changes in the operating system in which they operate?

Recompiling in Ubuntu doesn't change the driver in Vista.