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Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ --- SOLVED!

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    Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ --- SOLVED!

    Hello All:

    I am new at Linux. I have made the live CD of Kunbuntu 7.10 and installed it on the Dell Inspiron 1300 notebook with Dell 1470 wireless card.

    The wireless network cannot be activated. So, I have read around and tried installing ndiswrapper and Windows driver from Dell using the wrapper. I have
    also disabled the WPA key for the wireless network at the router. It is still hidden though. I blacklisted the bcm4311 as well. Still does not work. Obviously I am doing wrong things.

    If someone can lead me through steps i would appreciate very much. I don't mind reinstalling a fresh copy from the CD. I would also like to understand the big picture.

    Do I need ndiswrapper at all?

    Thank you.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SOLUTION
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Here is the sanitized version of what I did.

    If you run
    lspci | grep Broadcom

    in Konsole and get this exact output
    Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 [AirForce 54g] 802.11a/b/g PCI Express Transceiver (rev 02)

    you have a good chance of success with this how to.

    Pre-requisites:
    Get your ethernet connection working and ensure access to the web with a browser (Konqueror). It will make your life much much easier later.

    Even though you cannot enable the wireless card, you can see it on
    K menu> System Settings > Network Settings

    The Procedure:
    Basically, I followed these up to step 3.
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=185174

    I have also listed the details below as I did it second time. Ndiswrapper is not necessary.

    Ensure you have access to the universe repositories.
    K>System>Adept Manager>Manage Repositories>Software Sources>
    Ensure all is checked under Kubuntu Software and cd-rom is unchecked under Third-Party Software

    Get bcm4311 driver.
    Create and go a folder for the driver and run
    sudo apt-get install cabextract
    wget ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34001-34500/sp34152.exe
    cabextract sp34152.exe

    Install bcm43xx-fwcutter. Run
    sudo apt-get install bcm43xx-fwcutter

    Set WEP key
    K>System Settings>Network & Connectivity>Network Settings
    You should now see the check mark for the wireless card.
    Select Administrator mode and configure the interface with the network name and WEP key. Use dhcp protocol and automatic IP. Hidden network is fine.

    If the key does not stick in GUI, add it in the /etc/network/interfaces
    It looks like this

    iface eth1 inet dhcp
    wireless-essid YOURNETWORKNAME
    wireless-key YOURKEY

    auto eth1

    #2
    Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

    First, is the wireless connection even detected, and second, if yes, is it enabled?

    K Menu | System Settings | Network Settings | Network Interfaces tab

    Do you see any Available Internet Interfaces? The wireless should be identified as ath0. If it is listed, is it enabled? There will be a green check mark in the State column and a Remark of Enabled Wireless Network Device. If the wireless interface is listed, but not enabled, click on the Administrator Mode button at the bottom-right of the screen, enter your password, and then click to highlight the wireless interface entry and click the Enable Interface button.
    Windows no longer obstructs my view.
    Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
    "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

      Thanks for trying to help.

      I have tried that and didn't work. The wireless is eth1 on mine. It had a "X" mark or disabled. So I tried to enable it in administrator mode. It thought about it for a while and refused to enable it.

      BTW, eth0 is the normal network card and it has a checked mark and enabled.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

        I am back from a trip and trying to put this thing to bed. Can somebody please help me.

        I have checked again. I see the following for my Network Settings:

        Interface Protocol Status
        eth0 Enabled ethernet network
        eth1 dhcp Disabled wireless network

        I have tried to enable eth1 with administrator mode and did not work.

        Can someone please tell me what to do.

        I am fairly comfortable with typing in text commands in a shell.

        Thank you.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

          I don't know where Snowhog got the Atheros reference. If the Dell 1470 is an Atheros based card, ignore this post. It appears to me that this is a broadcom based card. If so, I suggest that you take a look at these instructions. They were written for Feisty, but should work fine for Gutsy. DO NOT COMPILE NDISWRAPPER, if the instructions don't work, compiling ndiswrapper won't fix it and will make it more difficult to maintain your system.

          https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...eisty_No-Fluff

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

            lingenfr - Thank you for pointing out the Atheros reference. I just have to plead ignorance on that. My reference to ath0 in my post was purely the result of what my wireless network interface is identified as. I've been on wireless for less than two days now.
            Windows no longer obstructs my view.
            Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
            "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

              Hey, I don't have one, so I only know what I find on the Internet. ath0 would be an Atheros based card. I have a couple of those too They tend to be less fiddly than the broadcom based cards. Unfortunately, most folks have been finding (as I have) that the broadcom based cards are setting up as eth0/eth1. Very annoying. In a post yesterday, kubicle told how to fix that and it was most helpful. I am copying it here with quotes:

              Originally posted by kubicle
              You should be able to set the device name in /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules, but it should make no difference in knetworkmanager, but it doesn't hurt to try.
              I leave my ath0's alone, but from now on I will fix the eth's that should be wlan's. I would be nice if we could get a standard, particularly between wlan and wifi. I rant more on that another day. Cheers.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                It is a Broadcom card. When I did
                lspci | grep Broadcom
                I got
                Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 [AirForce 54g] 802.11a/b/g PCI Express Transceiver (rev 02)

                I read the instructions on the link and tried 2a. Unfortunately, not working yet.

                I would like to ask a few questions here to understand what the instructions are telling me to do.

                Step 1.
                Is it mainly to disable the default Broadcom driver?

                Step 2.
                I actually could not install cabextract. I got "the package not found" or a similar error msg. So, I found bcmw15.inf and .sys files from the dell support CD and used them with ndiswrapper. Does that make a difference? Do I have to extract that sp34152.exe downloaded from that particular link to get the correct bcmw15.inf for this card?

                On a related topic, how do I include or add Universe packages on kunbuntu?

                Step 3.
                On that link, many people reported success without using ndiswrapper. Does that mean they skip Step 3 and reboot after Step 2?

                Sorry for dumb questions... I would like to know what I am punching in.

                Thank you.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                  Originally posted by skipperx
                  On a related topic, how do I include or add Universe packages on kunbuntu?
                  K Menu | System | Adept Manger
                  Enter your password. Click on Adept | Manager Repositories
                  On the Kubuntu Software tab you should have all the items checked. If you aren't going to be downloading 'source code' for compling, you don't need the last entry checked (it is probably 'gray' checked - that's fine).

                  While on this page, click on the Third-Party Software tab. Ensure that you don't have, or it is unchecked, the cd-rom entry.
                  Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                  Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                  "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                    Originally posted by skipperx
                    Step 1.
                    Is it mainly to disable the default Broadcom driver?
                    Yes, you are removing the kernel module and preventing it from loading in the future. You are also installing ndiswrapper which is the software that allows you to use a windows driver in linux.

                    Originally posted by skipperx
                    Step 2.
                    I actually could not install cabextract. I got "the package not found" or a similar error msg. So, I found bcmw15.inf and .sys files from the dell support CD and used them with ndiswrapper. Does that make a difference? Do I have to extract that sp34152.exe downloaded from that particular link to get the correct bcmw15.inf for this card?

                    On a related topic, how do I include or add Universe packages on kunbuntu?
                    Yes, it does make a difference. Follow the instructions. This seems to be a fiddly card. You can try what you want, but I will only stick with you if you follow the lead of someone who has done it.

                    Originally posted by skipperx
                    Step 3.
                    On that link, many people reported success without using ndiswrapper. Does that mean they skip Step 3 and reboot after Step 2?
                    No, this whole set of instructions is about using ndiswrapper. If you want to use the kernel modules instead, follow these instructions.

                    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...%28broadcom%29

                    You would need to undo the steps you have taken so far. You are welcome to do that, but I haven't used the kernel drivers and don't have this card, so I will drop off this thread.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                      Thank you for the explanations.

                      I will stick to ndiswrapper which I may already have working.

                      I am starting again from Step 1. I have checked the adept repository manager and checked all but "source code" in Kunbuntu software and unchecked "cd-rom" in third party software tabs.

                      However, when I try
                      sudo apt-get install cabextract
                      I am still getting
                      E: Could not find package cabextract

                      Anything I need to check?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                        From the console, type:
                        Code:
                        sudo apt-get update
                        After it has finished updating the cache, then run:
                        Code:
                        sudo apt-get cabextract
                        Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                        Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                        "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                          Just did that and now I've got cabextract installed and working. I have also run cabextract on sp34152.exe and got the .inf file.

                          When I tried to install the bcmwl5.inf file, I got
                          driver bcmwl5 is already installed

                          I think it is seeing the old driver that I incorrectly installed. How do I over=write or uninstall the old one?

                          Thanks

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                            Sorry, can't help you on that, other than to say, re-read the instructions you were following. Do they contain steps for removing existing files? If not, hold for the reply from lingenfr.
                            Windows no longer obstructs my view.
                            Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
                            "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Wireless problem with Dell 1470 card and Kunbuntu 7.10 -- Help PLZ

                              I found out that

                              sudo ndiswrapper -r bcmwl5
                              removes the current driver.

                              I checked with
                              ndiswrapper -l
                              and saw nothing.

                              Then I installed the new driver with -i
                              It installed it and showed when I checked with -l.

                              I think I am getting closer.....

                              Comment

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