Всем доброго времени суток!
Сразу отмечу, что данная тема в google мною уже была исследована, НО ничего не решилось, отчаяние приближается

1) Имеется TP-Link TL-WN727N wireless USB adapter, линуксовые драйвера к которому были обнаружены лишь для: "Supporting Kernel:
linux kernel 2.4 and 2.6 series". Так отпала идея установки свежей ubuntu 14.10, посему предпочтение ubuntu 10.10.
2) Драйвер установлен, вроде, успешно по следующему рецепту:
http://wp.mindless.gr/2012/02/installing-tp-link-tl-wn727n-usb-wireless-n-150mbps-adapter-on-debian-squeeze/ПРОБЛЕМА: адаптер так и не ожил, индикатор не горит, в списках подключений "wireless is disabled".
Некоторые данные:
$lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:04.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02)
01:04.2 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
01:04.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
$ iwlist scan
lo Interface doesn't support scanning.
eth0 Interface doesn't support scanning.
wlan0 Failed to read scan data : Network is down
ra0 Interface doesn't support scanning.
$ find /lib -name '*iwlwifi*'
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-4965-2.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-6000-4.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-5000-2.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-3945-2.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-1000-3.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-6050-4.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-5150-2.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-5000-1.ucode
/lib/modules/2.6.35-22-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi
$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
eth0 no wireless extensions.
wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=off
Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:on
ra0 Ralink STA
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 invalid crypt:0 invalid misc:0