Centuries old question:: ndiswrapper bcmwl5.inf fc6 32 not working.

knockout_artist · 02-01-2008, 11:14 AM

Good Day,

What I have is
Dell 1501 insrion.64 bit processor
FC6 32 bit unmae -m brings back i686.

What I did.
I built ndiswrapper.
tried different bcmwl5.inf and bcmwl6.inf files.
Downloaded from dell website(both 32-64 bit).

#ndiswrapper -l
drive installed hardware present.
#modprobe ndiswrapper

#iwconfig
no wireless extension.

No light come on when I do modprobe.
I have installed ndiswrapper many times in the past.

I distinctly remember last time(previous installation ) when I did
#ndiswrapper -l
driverinstalled hardware present (some address too like 000:890)

Any Ideas.

waelaltaqi · 02-01-2008, 11:30 AM

the -l switch doesn't install the driver. It will list installed drivers and in your case you don't have any drivers installed.
If you had a driver installed you would see something like this:

Code:

# ndiswrapper -l
     Installed ndis drivers:
     bcmwl5          driver present, hardware present

To install the driver do this:

Code:

ndiswrapper -i $PathToYourInfFile

after you do this test ndiswrapper -l again and see if you get the card listed.

then do:

Code:

# modprobe ndiswrapper 
# ndiswrapper -m

after that you should be able to use iwconfig and iwlist to get into wireless networks.

knockout_artist · 02-01-2008, 12:29 PM

Sorry I was trying to save my self some typing.

Yes I did use ndiswrapper -i /path/to/bcmwl5.inf to install driver.

I have tried 6 different bcmwl5/6 .inf files. Every single time
ndiswrapper -l comes back with
with
bcmwl5 driver installed hardware present.

I did
#ndiswrapper -m too.
Still no lights on wireless link.
#iwconfig
no wireless connection.

Thanks.

waelaltaqi · 02-01-2008, 12:45 PM

what about the output from ifconfig? try this also:

Code:

iwlist wlan0 scan

this is kind of a wireless monitor and it will show you available networks.

Note that ndiswrapper is not perfect and some cards don't work with it period. How about you try to install the native linux driver for the card? what model of a card you've got?

knockout_artist · 02-01-2008, 12:53 PM

#iwlist wlan0 scan

wlan0 interface doesn't support scanning.

waelaltaqi · 02-01-2008, 01:04 PM

what is the card you're trying to install? would you please post model and make?

knockout_artist · 02-01-2008, 01:09 PM

Broadcom Dell wireless 1390 Wlan mini-PCI (rev 01)

waelaltaqi · 02-01-2008, 01:33 PM

look here:
http://www.learnaboutlinux.net/wireless_1390.htm

it looks like they have drivers for it and explanation on how to install. Look at the The Bcm43xx Driver section

If that didn't work, try the instructions regarding NDISWRAPPER in the same link.