when i tried the command iwlist scan given by bret, here's the output:

lo interface doesnt support scanning
eth1 interface doesnt support scanning
wmaster0 interface doesnt support scanning
wlan0 failed to read scan data : network is down

i know how to type the pipe! yey! i'm learning a lot.thanks so much..i will perform the command given then post the result in few minutes..

cristie@dbw:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:04.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02)
01:04.2 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 01)
01:04.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
cristie@dbw:~$ lsmod |grep iwl
cristie@dbw:~$ ifconfig
eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:19:db:eb:1e:be
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:27 Base address:0xa000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:4 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:4 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:240 (240.0 B) TX bytes:240 (240.0 B)

cristie@dbw:~$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

eth1 no wireless extensions.

wmaster0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg ESSID:""
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Tx-Power=off
Retry long limit:7 RTS thrff Fragment thrff
Power Managementn
Link Quality:0 Signal level:0 Noise level:0
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

cristie@dbw:~$ lsmod|grep 3945
cristie@dbw:~$ dmesg|grep 3945
cristie@dbw:~$ find /lib -name "*3945*"
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-3945-1.ucode
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-3945-2.ucode
/lib/modules/2.6.27-15-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.31-15-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.28-16-generic/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945.ko

Ummmm---I think you are missing something. That command simply looks for access points in range. After you find one, then you connect. If you in fact have the driver installed, the scan should work.

so how will i install the driver? can i download the driver using another computer?then i'll transfer it to my laptop with ubuntu OS?

try
Then retry
or use the gui you use to connect (networkmanager, wicd...)

Remember that you said your iwconfig output was similar to mine---that means you alread have the driver!!

Did you run the "find" command that I suggested?

my iwconfig output was similar to yours..what "find" command?

In post #49, you said that you ran it---sorry I missed it.

I just re-read your earlier attempt with scan. (It said the network was down) Try this:

Also, did you try the modprobe suggestion?

AND---go the Intel website and look up the instructions for the 3945 wireless--there might be some other thing we are all missing.

Early in this thread, I asked if you had tried the Ubuntu network setup utility (in the menus). I don't remember if you answered. Also, someone suggested WICD (My personal favorite)

I have tried the modprobe suggestion but it says something like this:
FATAL: ERROR...(not permitted)

What is WICD?
what will i do with the network set-up utility?
Thanks.

Please try to give complete responses to our suggestions.....

As I suspected---I do not think modprobe is required in this situation. But how about the other two commands I asked you to run????

It is a network connection utility---you will find it in the Ubuntu repositories using the package manager (you'll need a connection first)
Short answer: Use it!! Seriously, you have to look at it and try it.

AND....Did you look at the Intel website as I suggested?

I looked at the Intel website and honestly, i'm kinda...lost. (..there were so many pro wireless adapters, etc.

I tried the two commands, the first one says ERROR 132 and the other one says can't scan, network down.

Where can i find that network set-up utility? iF its the same with network connection manager under preference, still not working..