Re: at76c503a crashes on 2.6.21.3

Pavel Roskin wrote:
> Quoting [email protected]:
>
>   
>> I'm using this device on another machine (Windows) as well.
>> If I install the above firmware, what will be the consequences?
>>     
>
> >From what I see in the code, the firmware is only loaded into the device if it's
> not already present or the present version is too old.  So, the possibilities
> would be:
>
> 1) The firmware is not present at startup.  This means that the firmware is
> volatile and would disappear when the device is reconnected to the Windows
> machine, leaving the card in the same state as it was before connecting to the
> Linux machine.
>
> 2) The firmware is old and gets replaced by the driver.  The code for loading
> the firmware is the same as for the case when there is no firmware, so the
> firmware is not likely to be flashed permanently.
>
> 3) The firmware is present at startup and is new enough.  In this case, the
> driver is asking for the firmware unnecessarily.  No firmware will be loaded by
> the Linux driver.
>
> Neither case should affect operation on a separate Windows machine.  But it's
> just my speculation.  I cannot guarantee anything.  If you cannot afford any
> risks, please use a separate card.
>   
IMHO the firmware is stored in volatile memory unless you use one of the
_very_ rare devices equipped with external flash.
So unplugging the device will remove any firmware previously loaded.
Some guys had problems with dual-boot machines (Linux and Windows) after
switching the OS
without power-cycling  the Atmel USB WLAN device, thereby keeping the
previously loaded firmware.