Linux drivers on Dell laptops

hanamilani · 07-18-2012, 06:23 AM

Is there any driver available in Dell website for linux? I have searched the website but I just found sth for wireless cards?!?!

jkirchner · 07-18-2012, 06:27 AM

In short, no. I have a Dell laptop as well and have wireless running. Do you know which card you have (lots of Dell's have Broadcom cards)? Also, which distribution of Linux are you running?

piyush.sharma · 07-18-2012, 07:26 AM

I also have dell laptop and use pinguyOS in my laptop. There is tool name Install missing hardware, i always find it when I install pinguyOS on any laptop, It installed wireless for me on my laptop. which Linux you are using now ?

snowday · 07-18-2012, 07:37 AM

Linux is not Windows. Most hardware support you need is built into the Linux kernel. If you are having a specific hardware problem (wireless, graphics card, etc.) then the first step is to gather information using the terminal command lspci.

jefro · 07-18-2012, 11:41 AM

You use your service code number to identify the correct model. Then you see if Dell offers a linux driver. You don't go searching at all.

If Dell doesn't offer it then there are many ways to get it working.

One is the driver may already be in the kernel and all you have to do is configure settings or make a blacklist edit.

Two is finding a driver and adding it back to the OS.

Three is to go back to Dell and get the windows driver to use under ndiswrapper.

frankbell · 07-18-2012, 09:17 PM

If it's a Dell, it's likely a Broadcom chip.

This site will help you identify the chip, if it's Broadcom. http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43

You can find the drivers you need on Slackbuilds.org.

I have a long thread documenting my attempts to get my Broadcom chip working on my Dell 1545n. The answers I got may help you. http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...urrent-926077/