Xubuntu 11.04 drivers installed but no wireless on Acer Extensa 5220 laptop

[Rytron]

Hi.

I installed Xubuntu 11.04 today on my Acer Extensa 5220 laptop. The drivers are installed but I cannot get wireless with the built in wireless card. I could get wireless with my D-Link USB dongle though (I need that for my desktop).

This is odd as I've not had a wireless problem with that laptop with Ubuntu based distros for a very long time.

In 'Additional Drivers' window it says "This driver is activated and currently in use"

[chili555]

Please open a terminal and run and post:
rfkill list all
lsmod | grep -e acer -e b43 -e wl
Thanks.

[Rytron]

Please open a terminal and run and post:
rfkill list all
lsmod | grep -e acer -e b43 -e wl
Thanks.

Hi chili555. Here is the output [image attached].

[chili555]

The wireless is not blocked and the module wl is loaded and no other conflicting drivers are loaded. So far, so good! Let's be certain that wl is correct for your device:
lspci -nn | grep 0280
dmesg | grep -e wl -e eth1Thanks.

[Rytron]

The wireless is not blocked and the module wl is loaded and no other conflicting drivers are loaded. So far, so good! Let's be certain that wl is correct for your device:
lspci -nn | grep 0280
dmesg | grep -e wl -e eth1Thanks.

Output:

:~$ lspci -nn | grep 0280
04:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN [14e4:4311] (rev 01)
rytron@AcerE:~$ dmesg | grep -e wl -e eth1
[ 23.529111] wl: module license 'MIXED/Proprietary' taints kernel.
[ 24.001746] wl 0000:04:00.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 17 (level, low) -> IRQ 17
[ 24.001756] wl 0000:04:00.0: setting latency timer to 64

[chili555]

I believe the driver b43 and its associate ssb are correct for your device, not wl.
Broadcom Corporation BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN [14e4:4311] (rev 01)As a temporary measure, please do:
sudo rmmod -f wl
sudo modprobe b43If your wireless springs to life, we'll tweak a couple of files and you'll be all set.

If not, please post:
ls /lib/firmware/b43Thanks.

[Rytron]

After I ran

sudo rmmod -f wl
sudo modprobe b43
I clicked on network icon and next to wireless it said "Wireless Networks device not ready (firmware missing)"
So I went back to look at 'Additional Drivers' window and it now says "This driver is activated but not currently in use"


ls /lib/firmware/b43
gave this

ls: cannot access /lib/firmware/b43: No such file or directory

[chili555]

Do you have an available ethernet connection? Please do:
sudo apt-get install b43-fwcutterThen try again:
sudo rmmod -f b43
sudo rmmod -f wl
sudo modprobe b43

[Rytron]

I installed b43-fwcutter.

No error from other commands except sudo rmmod -f wl gave this

ERROR: Removing 'wl': No such file or directory

ls /lib/firmware/b43 still gives

ls: cannot access /lib/firmware/b43: No such file or directory

:confused:

[chili555]

Another try before I turn in my scalpels:
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
sudo rmmod -f b43
sudo modprobe b43If it works, we will still need a small tweak to make it persistent.

[Rytron]

Another try before I turn in my scalpels:
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
sudo rmmod -f b43
sudo modprobe b43If it works, we will still need a small tweak to make it persistent.

You did it! Fair play to you. :)

This line gave the following output:

sudo rmmod -f b43
ERROR: Removing 'b43': No such file or directory

The internal wireless card works now though.

What is the final step?

[chili555]

The final step is that the installation of the other driver wl blacklists b43 and ssb. Let's fix that so the correct driver b43 loads on boot with no terminal commands. Please do:
sudo apt-get remove --purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.confLook in the file we are editing and make sure there is no sign of blacklists for b43 or ssb. If there are, remove them, proofread, save and close gedit. Next do:
sudo gedit /etc/modulesAt the end, add one line:
b43Proofread, save and close gedit. You should be all set.

Finally, use thread tools at the top to Mark Solved.

[Rytron]

Thank you very much chili555.

Just a few side notes: for sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf I got this reply

rm: cannot remove `/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf': No such file or directory

and for sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf instead of removing I just added a # in front of references to b43 and ssb.

You are a star. :popcorn:

[chili555]

Just a few side notes: for sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf I got this reply
Code:

rm: cannot remove `/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-bcm43.conf': No such file or directoryExcellent. That just means --purge did its job. It does no harm to double-check. I'm glad it's sorted now.

[ssuuddoo]

thnx, excellent help. works.
ubu 11.10, 32-bit, ACER Extensa 5220

[cartisdm]

thnx, excellent help. works.
ubu 11.10, 32-bit, ACER Extensa 5220

There's nothing like an old thread that still fixes problems. Just revived my old Acer as well!

[robhills]

Worked for me too! :guitar:

Obvious, but needs a restart at the end.