[SOLVED] Broadcom Wifi Driver fail

About every two years I say to myself "lets try linux". So did my research and downloaded 6 distros. Zorin 8.1, 6 and 8.1 edu. Also 3 flavors of Fedora and lubuntu.

This time my project was to replace win XP on laptops for older relatives who were facing windows XP end of support but had decent hardware for their purposes. They are all retired and primarily really only use the web browser on their computers. I wanted something that would represent the least adoption curve for them without spending $100+ on Win7.

First computer was 7 year old Dell laptop. Single core AMD 1GB memory.

Zorin 8.1. Both ran live and installed without issue except no wireless. Computer has the Broadcom chip (Dell 1390 pic wifi). Beautiful interface and the closest I have seen windows in the Linux stable so I believed this would work well for the older user.

Then I tried to get the wireless to work. Probably spent about 12 hours overall.
Installed Zorin 8.1 on hard drive as fresh install. It recognized everything except wifi. Wireless mouse worked, usb ports all worked. Great Ethernet wired connection.

Did my internet research.

Bios up to date. Wifi active in bios. Hotkey disabled.

1st went to ubuntu software repository and loaded Broadcom wifi driver package for the 4311 chip which I have. This did not enable wireless but did break the Ethernet connection. Only recourse was to reload the entire OS.
2nd used the windows driver install tool. Did not work because it said that ndiswrapper not installed. I was installed and only option was to remove it. I removed it and then it would not reinstall.
3d used terminal commands to remove existing drives and load drivers from Ubuntu repository. Still no wireless.

Repeated above with Zorin 6 and Zorin 8.1 edu. Same results. You can see where the 12 hours came in.

Then loaded a couple versions of Fedora 20. It recognized wifi but not wireless mouse or ethernet connection. I realized the fedora GUI would not work for the end users.

Loaded Lubuntu 13.1. It recognized wifi device but would not connect and OS froze requiring reboot.

How can this wonderful project come so close and still miss! I really want to like Linux but if it cannot address a problem as chronic (just do a web search of this issue) as this Broadcom chip issue widespread adoption will not occur. The end of support for XP represents an opportunity for linux to come to the desk top and the users migrating from XP may only have older (but still capable) hardware.

I guess an alternative choice would be to identify a USB wifi adapter that would clearly be supported by current ubuntu core and make that information widely known. They certainly are cheap enough. Any suggestions for a small usb wifi adapter that will work out of the box with Zorin (kind of like my generic wireless mouse worked).

Thanks
Howard

Hi. broadcom is well supported by linux.
Can you please post back the following terminal commands so asI can see what is the ID of your network card and what driver needs to be loaded?

lspci -nn | grep 0280
lsusb
sudo lshw -c network
sudo rfkill list all

The only problem is that I do not know what has been messed up when you tried to load drivers that probably were not correct for your system. But we can worry about that only if we get into a problem.

@madvinegar

Thanks for your prompt reply. When I get to the Zorin computer I will post the info you requested.

In the meantime I reloaded 8.1. Using wired connection I googled the problem again. Came across a ubuntu.org site with discussion of the problem. Decided to try cut and paste some terminal commands. They addressed two issues. Removing/Loading firmware for the 4311 chip-set (I am assuming that firmware means the same in the Linux universe as in Windows and what I did was burn new firmware to the Broadcom chip-set). Then running several lines of script to remove/load/activate B43 drivers. During this second step the terminal (entire OS actually froze) at the last command but when I cold rebooted voila I had both wired and wireless connections.

Then only problem is that I was just flailing around as a last ditch effort before abandoning the project and did not document the lines of script I cut and pasted from the sources and don't even remember the web page for the ubuntu source.

Thus I cannot accurately write down the steps that finally worked. For the sake of others with the problem I wish I could.

The current setup will work for the recipient and I will send some monetary support to Zorin for their great work on bringing Linux to those raised on Windows and with only minimal computer skills.

Any Idea why 8.1 says ndiswrapper not installed when it is installed? If that had worked my installation would have been painless.

The other suggestion I would have on these older laptops is for the user to disable power management in both BIOS and in Zorin since on wake up some of the USB ports do not recover and only become usable after reboot or physical R and R the device. Not a problem for me but would be for the people I am upgrading these laptops for.

I will post the info you requested when I get back to the laptop.

Thanks again to all of you on this great Linux distro

Howard

I will be waiting for the results of the commans I gave you. It might be very simple.

here you go

nancy@nancy-Vostro-1000:~$ lspci -nn | grep 0280
05:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN [14e4:4311] (rev 01)
nancy@nancy-Vostro-1000:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1bcf:0535 Sunplus Innovation Technology Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
nancy@nancy-Vostro-1000:~$ sudo lshw -c network
[sudo] password for nancy:
*-network
description: Network controller
product: BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:05:00.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=b43-pci-bridge latency=0
resources: irq:18 memory:c0200000-c0203fff
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:08:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 02
serial: 00:1d:09:b7:a7:b1
size: 100Mbit/s
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=b44 driverversion=2.0 duplex=full latency=64 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100Mbit/s
resources: irq:21 memory:c0300000-c0301fff
*-network
description: Wireless interface
physical id: 2
logical name: wlan1
serial: 00:1f:3a:07:a9:d8
capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=b43 driverversion=3.11.0-17-generic firmware=666.2 ip=192.168.1.66 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bg
nancy@nancy-Vostro-1000:~$ sudo rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
nancy@nancy-Vostro-1000:~$

Plug an ethernet cable to get internet.
Open terminal and give the following commands one after the other.

sudo apt-get remove --purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt-get install b43-fwcutter
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
sudo modprobe -r b43
sudo modprobe b43

Hopefully, after the last command your wireless will spring to life. A reboot may be required.

Thanks

As I said I somehow got it working but will keep your script in case I run into the same problem as I install Zorin on the other two Dell Laptops from the same era.

Howard

The other laptops are identical to the one you use now?
If not, then they will probably have different wireless cards and need different wireless drivers.

The commands I gave you are not a script. They are a set of commands. I can make it a script if you like.

120 blue jewels for madvinegar!

Thanks again madvinegar

I understand that is not a one size fits all set of commands. Would use only if same wifi card. Other laptops are not the same (insperons rather than vostro. I understand the command sequence now and hopefully can customize it for other cards if off the shelf techniques do not work
Howard

In case you need any help with the other laptops, just post back here the results of the commands I gave you on the 2nd post.

As this is a 'Dell' thread stranger still for older kit:

Code:

sudo ifconfig -a

will reveal all your network devices and mac codes - if you come across 'eth1' it is 'wlan0' in disguise which means you enter that MAC address in wireless settings for 'device mac address'

Your card is:

5108696 wrote:
05:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)

Plug an ethernet cable to get internet, open terminal and run the following commands.

Code:

sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo modprobe -r wl
sudo morprobe wl


Wait 10 seconds and then check if you can see wireless networks and connect to them. A restart may be required.

MIne is slightly different. I unstalled Zorin 7.1 in a Dell 14R laptop. All good, fine wireless connectivity.

Then I deleted it and did a clean install of Zorin 8.1 on the same laptop. All good EXCEPT wifi connectivity, it "sees" wireless network but will not connect to it.

Any thoughts? I can reinstall 7.1 and wait for 9.1....

So, it was working ΟΚ an out of the box with 7.1 but not working OK with 8.1...?

Could you please post back the results of:

lspci -nn | grep 0280
lsusb
sudo lshw -c network
sudo rfkill list all

Will take a day or two. I removed 8.1 and reinstalled 7.1, since it worked fine out of the box. Could you tell me what settings I am supposed to have on those queries, and (if not too long) what I should run to create the proper settings? I have dabbled in Linux for a decade, but worked with computers since 1971, and do not mind getting my hands dirty, as it were!

See also:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiD ... er/bcm43xx

docbrosk wrote:Will take a day or two. I removed 8.1 and reinstalled 7.1, since it worked fine out of the box. Could you tell me what settings I am supposed to have on those queries, and (if not too long) what I should run to create the proper settings? I have dabbled in Linux for a decade, but worked with computers since 1971, and do not mind getting my hands dirty, as it were!

Hi docbrosk, madvinegar is asking you to open a terminal (Ctrl+ Alt+ T) and then enter each of those commands, one at a time, and press enter after each one - then post back your results here and he will guide you to wireless heaven/nirvana!

If you have still problems with Broadcom wifi drivers so there is an other driver pagage to install that solved my problems wit Zorin 8 Ultimate, Core and Lite distros. I have a Broadcom BCM 4312 802.11 b/g LP-PHY .

Type to terminal :

sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree

reboot and it should start the internal wifi

FYI:
Bug #707210 for Kernel 3.11.0-17 indicates that this kernel, used with Zorin OS 8.1, does not accomodate cfg 80211. Still searching for a workaround.

Hi,

Hi,

try running this terminal (Ctrl + Alt + t) command using a "NETWORK CABLE" to see if it helps things:

Code:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -f

Restart after doing updates!.

Check your software sources settings per the update guide:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2247

Hope it helps.

Help, I am using HP Pavilion zv6000 and cant get the wireless card to work, tried following the commands in the post and no joy. Please help.
Below are the response to the commands requested.

lenore@lenore-Pavilion-ZV6100-EK844EA-ABU:~$ lspci -nn | grep 0280
03:02.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4318] (rev 02)
lenore@lenore-Pavilion-ZV6100-EK844EA-ABU:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
lenore@lenore-Pavilion-ZV6100-EK844EA-ABU:~$ sudo lshw -c network
[sudo] password for lenore:
*-network:0
description: Network controller
product: BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:03:02.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master
configuration: driver=wl latency=64
resources: irq:9 memory:b0204000-b0205fff
*-network:1
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 6
bus info: pci@0000:03:06.0
logical name: eth0
version: 10
serial: 00:0f:b0:bb:45:96
size: 100Mbit/s
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=8139too driverversion=0.9.28 duplex=full ip=192.168.0.158 latency=128 link=yes maxlatency=64 mingnt=32 multicast=yes port=MII speed=100Mbit/s
resources: irq:22 ioport:a000(size=256) memory:b020a400-b020a4ff
lenore@lenore-Pavilion-ZV6100-EK844EA-ABU:~$ sudo rfkill list all
lenore@lenore-Pavilion-ZV6100-EK844EA-ABU:~$

Hi,

please start a new thread!.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7393

Hi, have marked this thread as [SOLVED] - please let us know if different!

Just used this fix and it works just fine with a Dell 600M. Wireless came to life on the last enter.

Hi Howard,

as the original poster in this thread, I need to ask you if this is indeed solved for you as there are a few other posters and I am confused as to who did what to whom!.