After installing (and booting) Linux 2.6.39 from sys-kernel/gentoo-sources-2.6.39 via "make modules_install firmware_install install" my wireless adapter stops to work and outputs the following in dmesg: --- r8712u: Loading firmware from "rtlwifi/rtl8712u.bin" r8712u: Unable to load firmware --- The requested firmware is present in sys-kernel/linux-firmware-20110429, which however file-conflicts with a lot of the in-kernel firmware.
New firmware will go into the linux-firmware tree instead of the kernel. linux-firmware is intended to replace the in-kernel firmware.
Yes, please install sys-kernel/linux-firmware.