Comprehensive ndiswrapper troubleshooting guide

[sagesparrow]

I'm using a dell laptop with broadcom 4318.

I've followed the instructions but still get the "bcmwl5 invalid driver" message when i use "ndiswrapper -l".

in /etc/ndiswrapper there is a folder for bcmwl5, but nothing is in it.

the bcmwl5 inf and sys files are in the same folder.

where to go from here?

[pytheas22]

sagesparrow,

What is the PCI ID of your card? If you're not sure, please post the output of the command:

lspci -nn

(or if it's a USB card, post 'lsusb'). With that information I'll give you specific instructions on how to get the card working.

Please also let me know whether you currently have any way to get your Ubuntu system online (i.e. whether you have an ethernet connection available or not).

[sagesparrow]

I believe you mean this:
14e4:4318

yes, I have a wired connection.

thanks

[pytheas22]

sparrow: please try this (this assumes that your kernel is 32-bit; if that's not the case, let me know and I'll give you instructions for 64-bit):

sudo apt-get remove --purge ndiswrapper*
sudo apt-get install cabextract
wget ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp34001-34500/sp34152.exe
cabextract sp34152.exe
sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
ndiswrapper -l
sudo depmod -a
sudo modprobe ndiswrapper
sudo cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/interfaces.orig
echo -e 'auto lo\niface lo inet loopback\n' | sudo tee /etc/network/interfaces
sudo ndiswrapper -m
echo 'ndiswrapper' | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
echo 'ENABLED=0' | sudo tee -a /etc/default/wpasupplicant

Then reboot, and please let me know if the card works. If not, please post the output of:

lsmod | grep ndis
dmesg | grep -e ndis -e wlan
ndiswrapper -l
uname -m
lshw -C Network

[sagesparrow]

got as far as the following:
Extracting cabinet: sp34152.exe
extracting bcm1xsup.dll
extracting bcm43xx.cat
extracting bcm43xx64.cat
extracting Bcmnpf64.sys
extracting bcmwl5.inf
extracting bcmwl5.sys
extracting bcmwl564.sys
extracting bcmwliss.dll
extracting bcmwlnpf.sys
extracting bcmwlpkt.dll
extracting bcmwls.ini
extracting bcmwls32.exe
extracting bcmwls64.exe
extracting bcmwlu00.exe
extracting data1.cab
extracting data1.hdr
extracting data2.cab
extracting ikernel.ex_
extracting is.exe
extracting launcher.ini
extracting layout.bin
extracting setup.exe
extracting Setup.ini
extracting setup.inx
extracting setup.iss
extracting sp34152.cva

All done, no errors.
jk@jk-dell:~$ sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
sudo: ndiswrapper: command not found

command not found? what could be the issue here?

[sagesparrow]

seems ndiswrapper is not installed.
i'll wait for a reply before reinstalling it.

[pytheas22]

Yes, sorry, my fault: the commands I gave you had you remove ndiswrapper without installing it again. Just type:

sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper*

to install it. Then continue with the 'sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf' command, and the ones that follow.

Sorry about that oversight.

[sagesparrow]

no problem

here's the next sticking place:

jk@jk-dell:~$ sudo ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf
driver bcmwl5 is already installed
jk@jk-dell:~$ ndiswrapper -l
bcmwl5 : invalid driver!

[pytheas22]

hmmmm, so you weren't kidding about getting this message despite all of the files being there

I just downloaded that driver and installed it without a problem, so I'm not sure what's up with you. Perhaps it would help to compile ndiswrapper from source--maybe there's a bug in the package you installed. You can install from source by running:

sudo apt-get remove --purge ndiswrapper*
sudo apt-get install build-essential
wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-1.53.tar.gz?modtime=1211931005&big_mirror=0
tar -xzvf ndiswrapper*
cd ndiswrapper*
make
sudo make install

After that, try installing the driver again (make sure you are cd'd into the directory containing the driver files). Do you have any better luck?

[sagesparrow]

i'll give this a try now. when installing ndiswrapper i'm asked to load the ubuntu cd (gutsy) while it loads. could this be the source of the problem, maybe something not kosher on the original disk?

(I hate to give you an easy out on this, but it's a thought.)