Hey Folks,
I'm 1 day old in Linux! I'm trying to revive my Dell Inspiron E1505 after finding that it's just not up to the Windows 7 upgrade from XP (running real slow). Good news is I was able to create a boot up disc with this laptop and get Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS installed, but after I got it up and running it won't connect to the internet, it doesn't show my network or anything, even if I connect a LAN line it doesn't see it. I read some similar threads about hitting a network button, but that doesn't work or going into settings>hardware>drivers, but I don't even see any drivers under my Hardware menu. I've heard good stuff about Linux being quick, using less memory and not so many virus problems so I sure could use some help figuring out what's wrong if anyone has the time. Also, I've seen some answers mentioning Code, but I have no idea what that's about. Thanks for your help!

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

To help you with your wireless connection, we will need information on your specific adapters. If you would, please open a terminal and post the entire results of the commands listed below...

Simply copy and paste the commands into the terminal and then copy and paste the results onto a text file. You can probably use program "gedit" to do this. Since you have no internet connection, save the commands in a text file and then save the file onto a USB drive to transfer it to the Ubuntu system. Do the same in reverse for the results.

Regards...

if you are using Broadcom wifi hw then this is for you. I had an old dell netbook and when I was using Ubuntu I had to use these instructions to install the drivers for my Broadcom b43 wifi then it worked ...

Link to how to Ubuntu wifi

Page down to where you find this
"Installing b43/b43legacy firmware"

I have had the same problem with my laptop as well. Setting up a wifi connection requires very high knowledge on advanced wifi configuration. An easy solution is to just simply use an internet cable.

man has yet to develop a method to connect an internet cable to wifi then to the computer via internet cable,.

I used a phone connected to internet via wifi to read the instructions and my netbook w/Ubuntu on a usbStick to install the firmware and it fixed it for me.

Just saying

Wilbmanji,

I would recommend the steps shown by 'ardvark 71', at least it might go some way to explain why you don't get a wired connection which is rare.
Also, assuming that Ubuntu is the only installation on that drive, hold down the shift key whilst it is booting and you will get an option to repair the network connection, or you did on older versions.

Fred.

Well, first of all, thank you all for your help on this, an interesting twist has occurred. A coworker who knows computers way better than I do downloaded Ubuntu 15.10 and was able to see that it would support a LAN connection, but now it's in a download mode and won't come out of it, all I see are the 4 boxes that flash on and off and change colors with 2 dark blue bars underneath that won't take any text, they look like log in fields. So he is going to take it home for the weekend and try and figure it out. I will share the suggestions here with him and let you know hopefully on Monday what happened, thanks again!

Here's what my co-worker did to get Ubuntu working on WiFi, first he reinstalled with Lubuntu and then went to:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/27104...-e1505-bcm4311

On a clean install, connect an ethernet cable, open a terminal window, and run

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer b43-fwcutter

Then run echo b43 | sudo tee -a /etc/modules to make sure the module is autoloaded. Reboot, and if all goes well, the wireless should work.

As mentioned in above answers there were issues with Broadcom, but now it's resolved, the problem now is getting the printer to work properly. It's working, but not printing the correct size. I also had major problems with Libre Writer, it wouldn't close after creating a document, then it locked up, there were graphic issues, just some weird stuff so I finally rebooted to shut off the program. At this point I would say that Lubuntu is great for reviving old computers for surfing the net, Facebook, even Pandora, but there are serious setup issues with printing and at least Word applications. At least I have a laptop back so can't complain too much, maybe in time I'll get these other issues resolved. Thanks again for your comments and help. Happy Easter, He is Risen!

And to you as well, He is Risen indeed!

If you would, please mark this thread as "SOLVED" by clicking on "Thread Tools" directly above your initial post. If you would like help with your printer and other issues, please feel free to create threads for these issues. Thanks!

Regards...

Ardvark,
Thanks for your comments and willingness to help, I looked for "Thread Tools" above my post, but can't find them, can you do a screen shot of where it is? Thanks!

If you would, please mark this thread as "SOLVED" by clicking on "Thread Tools" directly above your initial post. If you would like help with your printer and other issues, please feel free to create threads for these issues. Thanks!

Just found it, I was on a different screen, not logged in I think, as soon as I logged in and opened the thread it showed up! Newbie...Yep!

Not a problem, glad you found it.

Regards...