internet/wifi/program installs/segmentation fault

[terry22]

I have just installed xubuntu 14 on a Dell 1300 series. I am totally new to ubuntu so am fumbling around trying to learn and understand. I'll start at the beginning as my fix for original problem may be causing what i have happening now. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. Thanks.
When I installed xubuntu I could access the internet via ethernet only. "enable WIFI" did not show on the network menu. After some research I found a solution that works. I downloaded b43 file and in terminal entered "sudo mv b43 /lib/firmware" then "sudo modprobe b43" and it then worked until I shut down computer.
I found a source that said to do the following:


$ sudo apt-get remove --purge bcmwl-kernel-source
$ sudo apt-get install linux-firmware-nonfree
$ sudo modprobe b43
$ sudo su
echo "b43" >> /etc/modules

I did that and I thought everything was working well until I tried to install gparted through the ubuntu software centre. After
entering my password gparted started installing but after a few moments the install froze and internet disconnected. I tried with wifi
and ethernet with the same result. If using WIFI, wifi would actually disappear off of the network menu.When I restart to get internet
back, ubuntu freezes on xubuntu screen and i have to force shutdown with power key.
My next move was to try to install via terminal with the following results:


barbie@barbie-ME051:~$ sudo apt-get install gparted
[sudo] password for barbie:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

So, I now run the command:

barbie@barbie-ME051:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu2) ...
Removing old bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: bcmwl
Version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
Kernel: 3.13.0-34-generic (i686)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

wl.ko:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.13.0-34-generic/updates/dkms/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod.......

DKMS: uninstall completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
First Installation: checking all kernels...
Building only for 3.13.0-34-generic
Building for architecture i686
Building initial module for 3.13.0-34-generic
Done.

wl:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/3.13.0-34-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod....

DKMS: install completed.
Segmentation fault

At this point internet disconnects and WIFI disappears from network menu. I have to force ubuntu to shut down. I have tried installing other software with the same result...telling me to run "dpkg" etc....same reuslts. Somewhere I found the suggestion to run the command below which ends with the same "segmentation fault" and loss of internet.


barbie@barbie-ME051:~$ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for barbie:
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty InRelease
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates InRelease
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports InRelease
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty InRelease
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security Release.gpg
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security Release
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty Release
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports Release
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main Sources
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en_CA
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en_CA
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse Sources
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en_CA
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/main Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty-backports/universe Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en_CA
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

barbie@barbie-ME051:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.30.223.141+bdcom-0ubuntu2) ...
Removing old bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: bcmwl
Version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
Kernel: 3.13.0-34-generic (i686)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

wl.ko:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.13.0-34-generic/updates/dkms/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod.......

DKMS: uninstall completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 6.30.223.141+bdcom
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Loading new bcmwl-6.30.223.141+bdcom DKMS files...
First Installation: checking all kernels...
Building only for 3.13.0-34-generic
Building for architecture i686
Building initial module for 3.13.0-34-generic
Done.

wl:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/3.13.0-34-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod....

DKMS: install completed.
Segmentation fault

[varunendra]

Welcome to the forums terry22!

Firstly, if your card is supported by b43, you don't need to add it to /etc/modules. So remove that entry with the following command -

sudo sed -i '/b43/ d' /etc/modules
Next, purge the incorrect 'wl' module package -

sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source
If it returns error and asks you to run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a', please do so after a reboot. Then repeat the command above. Any improvement or are we still stuck in the dpkg loop?

PS:
Terminal commands & outputs should always be posted within 'Code' tags to preserve their formatting and make the post compact and more readable. To see a quick 'HowTo' with screenshots, please follow the "Use Code Tags" link in my signature.

[slickymaster]

Moved to the Networking & Wireless sub-forum.

[Elfy]

Please use code tags - if you are using New Reply button - highlight text and use the # button in the text box header.

If using Quick Reply then
at the beginning and at the end.

[terry22]

Thanks for your quick reply. "sudo sed -i '/b43/ d' /etc/modules" seemed to run ok. "sudo apt-get purge bcmwl-kernel-source" resulted in the same request to run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' which resulted in the failure as before. The only change is that wifi is no longer listed on the network menu so I am back to no wifi. Thanks for the tip re code tag too. I still cannot install any programs. Same results....when in software centre the ethernet disconnects after maybe a minute after putting in password to install. Further suggestions?

[terry22]

Attached (I think) is the text file output from running the wireless script. I'm not sure if the 2 problems may be related? As I am in VERY early learning stage. I will follow your suggestions so that I don't add to problems by messing with stuff.

[varunendra]

Please try -

sudo dpkg -P bcmwl-kernel-source
..and reboot.

Does it succeed to get rid of the offending package?

[terry22]

THANKYOU varunendra. All is working now. I have wifi and can install programs. Being totally uneducated in these commands, would you be able to give me a short explanation of what I just did and what might have caused the problem?...something I did? I'm not even sure what the 'package' you refer to means. I have lots of reading and learning to do. From what I've seen so far, I love ubuntu...make this old laptop useable again. thankyou again.

[varunendra]

You're welcome! :)

I'm just a learner like you (those bean counts NEVER mean one is expert in anything) and will try to explain what I have understood so far -

The 'apt-get' command works at a higher level, and needs the package dependency tree to be all good and consistent to work properly.
The 'dpkg' command works at a more basic level and can deal with individual packages, regardless of possible inconsistencies in the package dependency tree.

The "dpkg -P bcmwl-kernel-source" command just 'purged' (means removed the package, as well as its configuration settings) the "bcmwl-kernel-source" package that was causing troubles (and that's what I called "offending package"). Once it got out of the system, the rest became consistent and working again.

I'm not sure about what might have caused the problem, but my best guess is that the 'b43' driver was loaded and had claimed the wireless card while you did the update. You must have either selected the "bcmwl-kernel-source" package manually, or it was installed prior to the update (following some guide/tutorial or by accepting the "Additional Drivers" offer). It is a software package that installs the alternative proprietary driver "wl" for the same wireless card that was already claimed by the native "b43" driver.

During installation, the package configuration routine tries to load the "wl" driver to make the wifi work, but the card was already in use by "b43" driver and that caused a conflict between "b43" and "wl" drivers, resulting in a system freeze (this is a common problem when both these drivers are loaded simultaneously for the same card). As such, the configuration stage did not reach its final stage, and you got stuck in a broken package dependency loop.

My earlier suggestion was based on the guess that the configuration of the "bcmwl-kernel-source" package should have blacklisted the "b43" driver to prevent it from loading and conflicting with "wl", and it was still loading only because you had also added it to /etc/modules, thus overriding the blacklist. I'm not sure what caused the "dpkg configure -a" failure even after removing that entry from /etc/modules (maybe you tried it without rebooting?). But the last command - "dpkg -P bcmwl-kernel-source" got rid of the offending package anyhow, and got you a stable, consistent system again.

Take-Home lesson - Don't even try the "wl" driver (package name - "bcmwl-kernel-source") again. The "Additional Drivers" program offers the same one, just don't accept its offer since the native "b43" is better for your card.

[terry22]

thanks....lots of reading in my future i see