Missing firmware
 

Environment
===========
HW Platform: DELL Inspiron 5100
Intel Pentium4 2.4GHz
1000 MB memory
O/S: ubunto 12.04 LTS
Network Card: Broadcom 4306 802.11b/g Wireless LAN Controller

Issue
=====
No network connectivity. Missing firmware.

Approach
========
Install patch utility and b43-fwcutter on O/S in order to access internet.

Problem
=======
Employing the "no internet access" procedure for resolving this issue
I arrive at the point where I click on "b43-fwcutter_015-9_i386.deb"
or "patch_2.6.1-3_i386.deb". At this point a screen captioned
"Ubunto Software Center" is displayed with a caveat concerning the
trustfulness of the file plus a control button captioned "Install".

GREAT - except for the fact that the button is grayed out - inoperative.
I suspect I require internet access in order to proceed, even though
this is supposed to be the model to use with NO connection.

I would really like to install without a connection. I am not sure I can
direct connect this unit.

Suggestions? Advice.

Here are two links you may want to see.

The first is a article in the ArchLinux Wiki about getting Broadcom wireless working, and which driver supports which hardware.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Broadcom_wireless

The second is from the Ubuntu Community Documentation, which gives directions and commands for installing the correct driver.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...Driver/bcm43xx

I think you will find getting it installed via the commandline will be easier that using the software center.

Should be simple as that, IIRC, just put in your Ubuntu CD, open the Additional Drivers program and activate the driver.

You should be able to download the b43-fwcutter_015-9_i386.deb package from any Ubuntu mirror (obviously this will be done from another computer with internet access). Then copy the .deb to a usb stick or whatever and transfer it to the Dell. Then use the GDebi package installer to install the firmware: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...stall_packages

The installation is from a memory stick created via Ubunto download, I do not have
a CD distribution but I assume It makes no difference if the media is CD or memory stick.
I can find no "Additional Drivers" directory on the installation media nor in any
directory on the PC.

Each time I attempt to execute a deb file it initiates the "Ubunto Software Center"
which requires an internet connection which is not present on that platform. Therefore
I cannot complete a download.

I require a method of downloading b43-fwcutter which does not invoke the intervention
of the Ubunto Software Center and does not require a network connection. I would prefer
to use a different computer with internet connectivity to access the required file then
install on the Ubunto machine. I have read all of the link reference in the previous
responses. They all result in invoking the USC.

Have you tried using dpkg on the command line, as described in the link provided by tommcd?

This is probably what you need: http://www.omattos.com/node/6

Regards

The posting and link supplied by ukiuki resolved this issue.
Thanks for the effort on the part of all of the respondents.

Gladly it worked for you!

Regards