Wireless Help

[Hasmarth]

Ok here's my story, i got ubuntu running on a laptop that was given to me by a friend. I always wanted to try linux, but didn't want to sacrifice my gaming rig for it. My problem is, ubuntu on the laptop won't recognize my wireless network.

The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 5100, with (i believe) a Broadcom BCM4306. I know how to run terminal and can supply copy paste/screenshot info from it. Any info would be awesome. I've been trying to troubleshoot through all of this but all the ubuntu info seems like an alien language to me. thanks for the help.

P.S. I think it might be a driver issue, but i have no idea how that works. Again, any help would be awesome.

[eeeumpc]

you will probably need to install ndiswrapper since ubuntu doesnt have native drivers for broadcom cards. ndiswrapper allows you to load windows drivers to make the card work under linux. next you will need to obtain the .inf and .sys files of the windows drivers.

[Hasmarth]

where can i find ndiswrapper and the drivers?

[superprash2003]

Hope this helps https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xx/Feisty_No-Fluff

[Kevbert]

You need to check what version of BCM4306 you're using by going to Accessories terminal and typing in
lspci the card will be listed towards the end.
Please check out this post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=766560).
If you have any questions please ask.

[Hasmarth]

ok well i read through the Fiesty no Fluff thing, and it looks like i didn't have ndiswrapper set as the module. So i followed https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/bcm43xx/Feisty_No-Fluff#Hardy%20Bug%20Fix that and this was the result:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/sockkid123/screenshotndiswrapper.png

Again, any help would be great. I don't think this is supposed to happen, and in lshw -C network, it still appears as "module=ssb"

[Kevbert]

b43 is a firmware driver that resides in /lib/firmware and possibly in its' own directory. In this directory you will find a number of files ending in .fw If you follow the guide in my previous post it will install and configure these.

[Hasmarth]

but what about the whole "ndiswrapper" thing? i don't think i even have that. I follow the guide to step three, and it says "sudo: ndiswrapper: command not found." Whats the deal with that?

[Kevbert]

You should have got ndiswrapper-utils in step 1.

[Hasmarth]

o geez, i feel like an idiot >.< i must have overlooked that. Really sorry about that
Hmmm, i doubt this is supposed to happen:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/sockkid123/Screenshot-taylortaylor-laptop.png

Also, thanks alot Kevbert, you've been a really great help.

[Kevbert]

You may need to edit your software sources. Go to System-Admin-Software Sources. Maker sure the 4 boxes are ticked under the Ubuntu Software tab and Important, Recommended and Unsupported boxes are ticked under the Updates tab. This should resolve the first error.
The second error is that you've left out the space between make directory and the home symbol so the line should read
mkdir ~/bcm43xx