How to install wifi driver Ralink RT3290

Since Ralink does not patch the driver and the current version does not work, I provided a patched file that you can download and install following this steps

1. download the patched file from my private Google Drive directory.

2. open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+t) and cd into the folder where the file is downloaded, e.g. cd ~/Downloads.

3. type

   sudo tar -xvf rt3290sta-2.6.0.0.dkms.tar -C /usr/src
   

   to untar the content in a system directory

4. you should now get a password prompt where you type the sudo password and press Enter.

5. once the files are all extracted type

   sudo dkms install -m rt3290sta -v 2.6.0.0 --force
   

   to install the driver with dkms

6. enter sudo password again and ensure that install is completed successfully (it will take some time).

7. reboot.

8. Enjoy Wi-Fi with your RT3290 :D

The patch will work up to kernel version v4.14, it breaks on v4.15 onwards due to the change in the kernel timer implementations.

NOTE: The links referred to here may no longer operate. They are left in here for historical purposes only.

• Download the source code of the driver:

  wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11876059/DPO_RT3290_LinuxSTA_V2600_20120508.tar.gz
  

• then extract the file from tar file

  tar -xvf DPO_RT3290_LinuxSTA_V2600_20120508.tar.gz
  

• after that enter to this dir

  cd ~/DPO_RT3290_LinuxSTA_V2600_20120508
  make    
  # compile the make file
  sudo make install
  # install the make file
  

• After that activate the wireless driver

  sudo modprobe rt3290sta