What does bcm 43xx: Error: Microcode "bcm 43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load failed What does that mean ? and what can i do ? It does this in live cd boot and install.
Thanks ahead

At a guess I'd say that it means your computer has a Broadcom 43xx wireless chipset, and in order to use it Ubuntu needs the firmware for it, which it can't find for whatever reason.

My knowledge of setting up wireless cards is very limited, so I'll just ask this: are you aware that Gutsy Gibbon (the version of Ubuntu after Feisty Fawn) was released last month, and have you tried installing that instead? It's possible they may have fixed the problem you're having, and has the added advantage that other programs will be more up to date and supported for longer.

well the gusty did fully open the live disk , but has the same error , any suggests? I'm going to keep reading , with luck i'll find something. Thanks again

After a little bit of hunting, it looks as though the card is supported, but needs firmware. I found this page which has some instructions about sorting that out, see section 1.3. The guide is slightly out of date, as it was written for Edgy, but I'm guessing the procedure is similar.

Let us know how it goes!

Unbuntu is detecting a Broadcom wireless card. You might be able to download the firmware and get it working, but I have personally never been able to get the Broadcom card to run properly with the native drivers.

I suggest that you blacklist the module and investigate ndiswrapper, which allows you to use the Windows wireless driver under Linux. With ndiswrapper, I have been able to get wireless running well on several Compaq/HP and Dell laptops that have the hated Broadcom wireless card.

There is a LOT of info on the web on how to get ndiswrapper installed and configured.

Good luck!

Bob

Thanks to both of you for the help ,,I spent 4 hours last night reading and searching. And came up with a couple tries for this evening with the ndiswrapper ,,,and was lucky enough to find info for 7.04 and 7.10 spefically for this pain in the backside dell. i'll post my outcome. fingers crossed here it goes.