Unable to access WiFi in Linux Mint Cinnamon 17.1 on Dell Inspiron 1501

CrazyGrannie · 08-18-2015, 03:33 PM

I disabled my Broadcom wireless LAN utility in Windows XP because I didn't want to be subject to malicious stuff from the internet after Microsoft stopped supporting XP. I forgot to re-enable it before I formatted the hard drive and installed Linux Mint Cinnamon 17.1. I can access the internet via Ethernet cable only. I went into the terminal window and the ethernet0 connection is enabled, but I can't get on WiFi. How can I enable the LAN utility?

Thanks in advance!

tredegar · 08-18-2015, 04:19 PM

Broadcom needs firmware to be installed to your wireless chipset for it to work.

Linux distros cannot usually distribute this because....

Try this post for a HOWTO:
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/796

Read the post and the comments, as first (as of today) is relevant to Mint17

CrazyGrannie · 08-18-2015, 04:42 PM

Thank you for the info, Tredegar!

tredegar · 08-18-2015, 04:55 PM

Please let us know how you get on.

Solved yet?

CrazyGrannie · 08-18-2015, 05:43 PM

Tredegar, I followed the steps in the link you provided, but since I'm not on the internet, the driver download failed. I connected via Ethernet, but cannot get online. I tried to add an Ethernet connection in Network Connections, but I need the MAC address. I tried "ifconfig", "ifconfig -a" to get the MAC address, but the only address it is showing is the loopback address. I've tried other commands, but for some reason, the OS cannot see the Ethernet connection. Any ideas?

Thanks!

ardvark71 · 08-18-2015, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyGrannie

Any ideas?

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

If you would, please post the ouput of this command...

Code:

lspci -nnk | grep -i net -A2

This should tell us more about your adapters.

Thanks!

CrazyGrannie · 08-19-2015, 12:25 PM

Hi, Ardvark71. I've attached a pdf of the output.

CrazyGrannie · 08-19-2015, 12:37 PM

In addition, a couple of weeks ago I was able to connect via Ethernet cable, but not now. I've been looking at other forums, and see that other Mint users have had issues with the ethernet card not being automatically enabled on start since the last update to 17.2

ardvark71 · 08-19-2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyGrannie

In addition, a couple of weeks ago I was able to connect via Ethernet cable, but not now. I've been looking at other forums, and see that other Mint users have had issues with the ethernet card not being automatically enabled on start since the last update to 17.2

So, you just upgraded Mint to 17.2 and this is when this happened? I'm not seeing a module loaded for your ethernet adapter from your screenshot. Just to make sure, would you also include the output for lsmod....

Code:

lsmod

EDIT: Take a look at the post with the green check mark here. What does your /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf file say, if you have it?

Regards...

CrazyGrannie · 08-20-2015, 01:16 PM

Hi, Ardvark71. Lo and behold, my eth0 connection is showing with the ifconfig command today. However, when I entered the command you provided (/etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf), I get this output: No such file or directory. Then I tried it with sudo in front of the command, and I got 'command not found'.

tredegar · 08-20-2015, 01:50 PM

You seem to be making progress. Good.

Quote:

However, when I entered the command you provided (/etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf), I get this output: No such file or directory.

There's probably a misunderstanding. I think Ardvark71 is asking you to post the contents of that file.
The command you need is

Code:

cat /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf

Then copy / paste the output & post it here.
If you enclose the paste within CODE tags (Click "Go advanced" then the "#" icon) it'll be easier to read, as I did above for the box labelled as "Code:"
Persevere. Your diligence, patience and enthusiasm will be rewarded.

CrazyGrannie · 08-20-2015, 02:12 PM

[CODE cat /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf
cat: /etc/modprobe.d/broadcom-sta-common.conf: No such file or directory]

CrazyGrannie · 08-20-2015, 04:04 PM

I went to Driver Manager and it said my Broadcom device was not working, so I clicked on apply changes, and now it shows that I am using an alternate driver. So, it looks like the driver successfully downloaded. Now, how do I get on wifi? I have two wifi connections in network connections, but I don't know how to connect to them.

fatmac · 08-20-2015, 06:02 PM

Network Manager, wicd, or ceni will help you to connect.

ardvark71 · 08-20-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyGrannie

I went to Driver Manager and it said my Broadcom device was not working, so I clicked on apply changes, and now it shows that I am using an alternate driver. So, it looks like the driver successfully downloaded.

Hi...

So did doing this activate both devices?

Regards...