Looking for a distro with broadcom as default?

kyr0 · 06-22-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamon

I've just read more of the readme and I don't stand a chance. Thanks everyone but I'm just gonna buy a new laptop, I was not meant to use linux.

Sorry to hear that! Linux is a great and open environment. If you ever change your mind, don't hesitate to ask!

kyr0

TobiSGD · 06-22-2011, 07:07 AM

You have kernel version 2.6.31, that means you are running Ubuntu 9.10. This version has reached its end of life, so you will get neither security updates nor bugfixes and you will run into troubles when you want to install software on that.
Install a more recent version of Ubuntu.

snowday · 06-22-2011, 09:17 AM

In the current Ubuntu 11.04 release, you just run the Restricted Drivers app and Activate the Broadcom STA driver. It couldn't be easier (and you don't even need a wired connection).

kamon · 06-25-2011, 03:31 PM

I have spent all evening upgrading and now have ubuntu 11.04 (me likes a lot) where do I find the restricted drivers app?

snowday · 06-25-2011, 03:36 PM

Hit the Windows key (also known as the "super key" in Linux) and type "hardware" or "drivers" (I forget which) and you should find it.

kamon · 06-25-2011, 03:43 PM

I've activated the broadcom STA driver but still no wireless? Is there something else I need to do?

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:06 PM

I found another site with someone that has had a similar problem and they said to go into synaptic package manager, remove bcm-kernal-source package and to install firmware-b43-installer and b43-fwcutter. I removed the bcm-kernal-source package and installed the b43-fwcutter but it won't install firmware-b43-installer. This is a copy and paste from the error box:
Setting up firmware-b43-installer (4.150.10.5-5) ...
Not supported low-power chip with PCI id 14e4:4315!
Aborting.
dpkg: error processing firmware-b43-installer (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Errors were encountered while processing:
firmware-b43-installer
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
Setting up firmware-b43-installer (4.150.10.5-5) ...
Not supported low-power chip with PCI id 14e4:4315!
Aborting.
dpkg: error processing firmware-b43-installer (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
firmware-b43-installer

snowday · 06-25-2011, 04:20 PM

No... don't jump around from solution to solution. Pick one solution and follow it through to the end. b43 and STA/wl are two separate drivers that conflict with each other. If your chipset requires STA/wl (as the restricted hardware driver seems to think) then installing b43 will break your wireless. b43 needs to be blacklisted in order for STA/wl to work.

More detailed instructions are here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...Driver/bcm43xx

Step 1 is the most important step; properly identify your card using:

Code:

lspci -vvnn | grep 14e4

Why don't you do that and then post back with the result.

To answer your first question, once you've properly installed the correct driver, you need to reboot and then use the Network Manager icon (near the top right of your screen) to make the connection to your wireless network.

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:23 PM

Ah, I'm a complete noob as you probably guessed.
0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:27 PM

http://askubuntu.com/questions/38327...ss-not-working
That's what I was trying to do (the method stolen from nm_geo on ubuntu forums)

snowday · 06-25-2011, 04:28 PM

Actually I can see from the error message above that your card is 14e4:4315

According to this excellent site:
linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43

...your card is "partially" supported by the STA/wl driver (and not at all by b43). For unsupported cards, they recommend ndiswrapper: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...er/Ndiswrapper

I have not used the ndiswrapper solution so I can't comment on it.

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:35 PM

Ok thanks I'll give it a go.

snowday · 06-25-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamon

http://askubuntu.com/questions/38327...ss-not-working
That's what I was trying to do (the method stolen from nm_geo on ubuntu forums)

That tutorial won't work as it's for a different chipset.

For what it's worth, I have the identical chipset to you and have successfully installed dozens of distros including Ubuntu 11.04. I'd recommend checking obvious things like that the wireless is enabled in your BIOS and the card is not physically loose/damaged.

Also be sure to blacklist the b43 driver (and associated ssb module) you erroneously installed with:

Code:

sudo rmmod b43
sudo echo "blacklist b43" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
sudo rmmod ssb
echo "blacklist ssb" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowpine

I'd recommend checking obvious things like that the wireless is enabled in your BIOS and the card is not physically loose/damaged.

I don't know what BIOS is and I don't have a clue where the card is.

kamon · 06-25-2011, 04:51 PM

Don't by any chance know how to use wine do you?