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Old Zorin Forum archive → Help and Support

Another Broadcom issue

anarkrist

Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:07:06 pm

Having issues with Broadcom driver on my Aspire One 522 which is kind of odd. Used to run Mint 13 just fine until I upgraded RAM and harddrive a few days ago, then it started to freeze every time i tried to connect to wireless (and some times at random, which may have been attempts to autoconnect). Jumped ship to Zorin and the same thing started happening, only difference is I actually managed to install Zorin. Made it to the point where I can use the computer just fine with wired connection, but any attempt to go wireless freezes the computer.

Right now I assume my drivers are kind of weird since I lost track of everything I've tried. Tried different workarounds from across the net, tried compiling my own drivers from Broadcom homepage, messed around with blacklisting, but nothing seems to work. Even the driver listed under additional drivers crashes the machine.

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ lspci | grep Network
07:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller (rev 01)

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ sudo lshw -c network
[sudo] password for anarkrist:
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet
vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:06:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: c1
serial: b8:70:f4:98:b7:ae
size: 100Mbit/s
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=atl1c driverversion=1.0.1.0-NAPI duplex=full firmware=N/A ip=192.168.0.168 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100Mbit/s
resources: irq:42 memory:90200000-9023ffff ioport:2000(size=128)
*-network DISABLED
description: Wireless interface
product: BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
logical name: eth1
version: 01
serial: cc:af:78:69:bb:0e
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=wl0 driverversion=5.100.82.38 latency=0 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
resources: irq:19 memory:90100000-90103fff

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ sudo rfkill list all
0: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
1: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no

Blocked for the sake of system stability. Also ssb and b43 are blacklisted atm.
Anyone up for the task?

Wolfman

Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:19:06 pm

Hi,

start by updating your system fully per this guide, use "dpkg" in recovery mode first, see the section about broken files:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2247

I am sure MV will get around to helping you further with Wifi.

Regards Wolfman :D

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:53:02 am

Hi. Try the following:

First of all open terminal and run
Code:
sudo rfkill list unblock all

to unblock the wifi.

1) Install ubuntu tweak (if not already installed in Zorin).
Code:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak


2) Then open additional drivers
Code:
jockey-gtk

and remove the recomended STA driver

3) Open ubuntu tweak, go to the last tab named "janitor" and then "packages config".
You delete all the packages proposed and especially the package named "bcmwl-kernel-source".

4) Restart and let me know if it worked.
If not, please post the result of
Code:
lspci -nn

I want to see the ID of your card.

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:06:42 am

Still not working, and running dpkg seems to have introduced another problem which I suspect has to do with GPU drivers and will hopefully have resolved once I get wireless up and running.

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ lspci -nn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 14h Processor Root Complex [1022:1510]
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Wrestler [Radeon HD 6250] [1002:9804]
00:01.1 Audio device [0403]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Wrestler HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 6250/6310] [1002:1314]
00:11.0 SATA controller [0106]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [AHCI mode] [1002:4391]
00:12.0 USB controller [0c03]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller [1002:4397]
00:12.2 USB controller [0c03]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller [1002:4396]
00:13.0 USB controller [0c03]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller [1002:4397]
00:13.2 USB controller [0c03]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller [1002:4396]
00:14.0 SMBus [0c05]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 SMBus Controller [1002:4385] (rev 42)
00:14.2 Audio device [0403]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) [1002:4383] (rev 40)
00:14.3 ISA bridge [0601]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller [1002:439d] (rev 40)
00:14.4 PCI bridge [0604]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge [1002:4384] (rev 40)
00:15.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 0) [1002:43a0]
00:15.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 2) [1002:43a2]
00:15.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 3) [1002:43a3]
00:18.0 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 0 [1022:1700] (rev 43)
00:18.1 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 1 [1022:1701]
00:18.2 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 2 [1022:1702]
00:18.3 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 3 [1022:1703]
00:18.4 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 4 [1022:1704]
00:18.5 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 6 [1022:1718]
00:18.6 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 5 [1022:1716]
00:18.7 Host bridge [0600]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 12h/14h Processor Function 7 [1022:1719]
06:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet [1969:2062] (rev c1)
07:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4727] (rev 01)

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:39:35 am

Ok.
Do a
Code:
sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source

and then a
Code:
sudo modprobe wl


An let me know if you get wireless working.

Then post again the results of
Code:
sudo lshw -c network
sudo rfkill list all

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:18:46 pm

If the above does not work, do the following:
Code:
sudo apt-get remove bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree

Reboot and let me know if it worked.

If not, post again the results of
Code:
sudo lshw -c network
sudo rfkill list all

and
Code:
lsmod

and
Code:
sudo modprobe -l

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:52:21 pm

Ok, so the first one seemed to do something. Got the wireless working, but as I was writing your praises computer froze again.

Second one seems to have deactivated wireless altogether.

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ sudo lshw -c network
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: AR8152 v2.0 Fast Ethernet
vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:06:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: c1
serial: b8:70:f4:98:b7:ae
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=atl1c driverversion=1.0.1.0-NAPI firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
resources: irq:42 memory:90200000-9023ffff ioport:2000(size=128)
*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Network controller
product: BCM4313 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:90100000-90103fff

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ sudo rfkill list all
0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:19:35 pm

Ok as it stands now, open terminal and do a
Code:
sudo modprobe brcmsmac


Do you get internet?

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:33:01 pm

If you can read this I guess it's working. Great job man, but i'll keep pestering you if it keeps crashing.

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:39:02 pm

Reboot and see if it's still working after the restart.

Only if not, do the following:

open terminal and write:
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modules

A file will open. At the end of the file, on a new separate line add the word
Code:
brcmsmac

Save, exit, reboot and see if it works after the restart.

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:07:12 pm

Well, it was working, even downloaded and installed Catalyst drivers. But when I restarted it froze again, restarted again and edited modules, restarted again and it froze again.

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:13:04 pm

Pleas post the result of
Code:
lsmod | grep "b43\|ssb\|bcma\|wl"

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:43:54 pm

Nothing...

madvinegar

Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:01:22 pm

Ok, then just give
Code:
lsmod

anarkrist

Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:36:04 pm

anarkrist@Aspire-One-522:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
joydev 17693 0
acer_wmi 28418 0
sparse_keymap 13890 1 acer_wmi
snd_hda_codec_conexant 62358 1
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 32474 1
snd_hda_intel 33773 5
dm_multipath 23230 0
snd_hda_codec 127706 3 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13668 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 97188 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 13324 0
snd_rawmidi 30748 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 61896 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
psmouse 97443 0
snd_timer 29990 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 14540 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
uvcvideo 72627 0
serio_raw 13211 0
videodev 98259 1 uvcvideo
k10temp 13166 0
sp5100_tco 13791 0
fglrx 4718069 140
snd 78855 20 snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
v4l2_compat_ioctl32 17128 1 videodev
i2c_piix4 13301 0
bnep 18281 2
rfcomm 47604 0
parport_pc 32866 0
soundcore 15091 1 snd
bluetooth 180104 10 bnep,rfcomm
ppdev 17113 0
snd_page_alloc 18529 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
binfmt_misc 17540 1
arc4 12529 2
mac_hid 13253 0
brcmsmac 570874 0
mac80211 506816 1 brcmsmac
brcmutil 15139 1 brcmsmac
cfg80211 205544 2 brcmsmac,mac80211
crc8 12893 1 brcmsmac
cordic 12535 1 brcmsmac
lp 17799 0
parport 46562 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
dm_raid45 78155 0
xor 12894 1 dm_raid45
dm_mirror 22203 0
dm_region_hash 20918 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 18564 3 dm_raid45,dm_mirror,dm_region_hash
btrfs 652957 0
zlib_deflate 27139 1 btrfs
libcrc32c 12644 1 btrfs
vesafb 13844 1
atl1c 41718 0
video 19596 0
wmi 19256 1 acer_wmi
zram 18642 1

madvinegar

Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:24:20 am

All I can think is that there must be a conflict between bcma or brcmsmac and wl modules.
We need to choose one of them and blacklist the others so as there is no conflict.

I have read that the best way is to keep wl and blacklist the other.
First of all we need to get out of the modules the brcmsmac modules that we loaded before.
Open terminal and write:
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modules

A file will open. Delete the line at the end of the file that says:
Code:
brcmsmac

Save, exit.


Then open terminal and write
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

At the end of the file add the following lines:
Code:
blacklist bcma
blacklist brmcsmac
blacklist b43

Save, exit.

Then again in terminal
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local.conf

And put a # in front of the "blacklist wl" line, so it becomes likes this:
Code:
# blacklist wl

Save, exit and reboot.

After the reboot, in terminal run
Code:
sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo modprobe wl

And tell me if it worked.

Otherwise, we will try to blacklist wl and use another driver.

anarkrist

Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:08:30 pm

No go on wl.

Just wondering, should I blacklist the other drivers in the local file too?

madvinegar

Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:12:19 pm

When you say "no go", you mean that you could not get wifi connected at all or that you got wifi connected but the laptop froze?

Before doing anything else, please post again the result of
Code:
lsmod

madvinegar

Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:31:10 pm

Ok. I think I found the problem and solution. There is an issue with some acer laptops having the BCM4313 wireless card.
We will restore everything to what it was i.e.:

1) Remove the wl module.
Code:
sudo apt-get remove bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source


2) Delete the blakclists we made, i.e.
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and delete the entries:
Code:
blacklist bcma
blacklist brmcsmac
blacklist b43

BUT you will add the entry
Code:
blacklist acer_wmi

save, exit.

3) Remove the # infront of wl
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local.conf

and amend the line to
Code:
blacklist wl

Save, exit.

4) Reboot, and see if the wifi is working. If not run in terminal
Code:
sudo modprobe brcmsmac


5) Restore your Bios settings to default. (optional)

I will be waiting for your (hopefully good) news.

anarkrist

Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:42:28 pm

Still not working. I even tried restoring BIOS settings (even though the only remotely useful options in there are boot order and date/clock).

madvinegar

Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:29:34 am

Blacklist also bcma
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

and at the end of the file add the line
Code:
blacklist bcma

(So there are two entries now - blacklist bcma and blacklist acer_wmi)
Reboot and see if you get connected.
You may need to run
Code:
sudo modprobe brcmsmac