After reinstalling Ubuntu 9.10 on my laptop my wireless won't work..
 

I dual boot with windows xp and ubuntu 9.10. When using windows my wireless works fine but when using ubuntu my wireless does not work. The first time ubuntu was loaded the wireless was working and then while I was trying to figure out how to load a program I messed up a grub file. As I couldn't fix it I just reinstalled Ubuntu and since then my wireless is inoperable in Ubuntu only. I am very new to Ubuntu and apparently know nothing about linux except that I like the way it runs. I don't know the jargon yet but I am willing and able to learn.

Please post the output of the command: "sudo lspci -v".
That will provide us with information about which device you have. From that we can learn which kernel module is needed to control your wireless device. Some devices require you to cut out firmware from a driver written for windows.

If this is a USB wireless device, post the output of "sudo lsusb".

outout from sudo lspci -v
 

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/PM/GMS/910GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information <?>
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
Kernel modules: intel-agp

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at dff00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
I/O ports at eff8 [size=8]
Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at dfec0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Memory at dff80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at dfebc000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel <?>
Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link <?>
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=0b, subordinate=0b, sec-latency=0
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable+
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Gammagraphx, Inc. (or missing ID) Device 0000
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel <?>
Capabilities: [180] Root Complex Link <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=0c, subordinate=0d, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff
Memory behind bridge: dfc00000-dfdfffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000d0000000-00000000d01fffff
Capabilities: [40] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [80] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable+
Capabilities: [90] Subsystem: Gammagraphx, Inc. (or missing ID) Device 0000
Capabilities: [a0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel <?>
Capabilities: [180] Root Complex Link <?>
Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at bf80 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
I/O ports at bf60 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
I/O ports at bf40 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at bf20 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 20)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at b0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [58] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00a0
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev d3) (prog-if 01)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=32
Memory behind bridge: dfb00000-dfbfffff
Capabilities: [50] Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801FBM (ICH6M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt, intel-rng

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) IDE Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
I/O ports at bfa0 [size=16]
Kernel driver in use: ata_piix

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device 01c9
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 18
Memory at dfbfc000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2
Kernel driver in use: b44
Kernel modules: b44

02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0005
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 64, IRQ 17
Memory at dfbfe000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Kernel driver in use: b43-pci-bridge
Kernel modules: ssb

I don't see how a GRUB file can affect your wireless connection. So I think it must be something else. Have you tried installing the driver for your wireless lan card using the package manager? Try to figure out what wlan driver you need. I'm not very familiar with finding the right wlan drivers, so I can't help you much here. But I would start by figuring out what wlan card you have (brand and version) and then search for the corresponding linux driver.

It's been a while since I used a broadcom wireless device. I have read a couple posts that b43 & ssb have been causing problems.
I think that the most recent Ubuntu is supposed to use the "wl" driver.
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However, I think you should check if you have a b43-fwcutter package available. This package cuts some binary blobs from a driver written for windows.
The package may also contain firmware for legacy devices.
I think that you don't have the b43 module loaded, or you don't have firmware.

run "lsmod". Do you see a b43 module?
run "sudo /sbin/ifconfig". Do you see a wireless device? It my be wlan0 or eth1.

If there is a device present run "sudo /usr/sbin/iwlist <wireless device> scan". If you see APs listed, your device itself is working.

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openSuSE's version of the b42-fwcutter package contains a script to download and install the firmware. I used it successfully when I installed Fedora on my old laptop.

I attached this script as a text file. In the very least, the url for the file to download may prove useful if you want to use the b43 device.

LoL! About 4 years ago on my first Linux installation (Fedora) I had the exact same card. It's been awhile since I remember how to get it working, BUT I do remember that the solution involved b43-fwcutter, NOT ndiswrapper.

I'm experiencing similar difficulties, a Broadcomm BCM4318 that works just fine in XP SP3, but I can't get it to configure in Ubuntu 9.10. The B43-fwcutter issue may be recognized if you perform a "sudo dmesg" or a "sudo dmesg|tail" and look for the B4x to show any errors. I was able to get the firmware driver installed with little difficulty once I followed the link given in this message that I found in 'dmesg':
What I am having the most trouble with is the terminology. Can someone please tell me where I can find, or just tell us all here, what is being asked for in 'Network Connections'-> 'Wireless' when it wants SSID, BSSID & MAC address? I have MACs for all of the PC/Laptops and for the wireless router, and also have the names of them, but not sure what to enter. I've figured out that I have the WEP 40/128-bit key, as the MAC of the router contains the key.