Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG not working in Ubuntu 12.04.1 on Thinkpad T43

[eestet75]

Hello all,

My wireless networking device does not work properly. Here is some information that might be of use to you, if you want to me:

My computer is a IBM Thinkpad T43 and I'm running the 32-bit version of Ubuntu.

johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ iwconfig && ifconfig
lo        no wireless extensions.

irda0     no wireless extensions.

eth0      no wireless extensions.

eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:16:41:12:e2:45  
          inet addr:192.168.1.160  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::216:41ff:fe12:e245/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:372111 errors:1 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:3
          TX packets:228464 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:512791476 (512.7 MB)  TX bytes:24959545 (24.9 MB)
          Interrupt:16 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:7500 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:7500 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:1152586 (1.1 MB)  TX bytes:1152586 (1.1 MB)

No wireless interface is up. Only eth0.
Modules:

johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ lsmod | grep ipw2200
ipw2200               146241  0 
libipw                 46701  1 ipw2200
cfg80211              178679  2 ipw2200,libipw
lib80211               14040  2 ipw2200,libipw

And here is the real error - in kernel boot.

johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ dmesg | grep ipw2200
[   28.076130] ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, 1.2.2kmprq
[   28.076134] ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
[   28.076255] ipw2200 0000:04:02.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 21
[   28.076284] ipw2200: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
[   29.505031] ipw2200: ipw2200-bss.fw request_firmware failed: Reason -2
[   29.505037] ipw2200: Unable to load firmware: -2
[   29.505043] ipw2200: failed to register network device
[   29.505086] ipw2200 0000:04:02.0: PCI INT A disabled
[   29.505131] ipw2200: probe of 0000:04:02.0 failed with error -5

Network configuration:
PCI (sysfs)

It worked fine before I upgraded Ubuntu,

Any ideas of what the problem might be?

[chili555]

ipw2200-bss.fw request_firmware failed: Reason -2

Does the firmware exist?

ls -al /lib/firmware/ipw2200-bss.fw

May we also see:

dmesg | grep -e 80211 -e ipw
rfkill list all

[eestet75]

Does the firmware exist?

ls -al /lib/firmware/ipw2200-bss.fw

May we also see:

dmesg | grep -e 80211 -e ipw
rfkill list all

ls -al /lib/firmware/ipw2200-bss.fw

Doesn't exist; no such file or catalog

johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ dmesg | grep -e 80211 -e ipw
[   28.052249] lib80211: common routines for IEEE802.11 drivers
[   28.052253] lib80211_crypt: registered algorithm 'NULL'
[   28.055646] cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
[   28.068727] libipw: 802.11 data/management/control stack, git-1.1.13
[   28.068731] libipw: Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Intel Corporation <jketreno@linux.intel.com>
[   28.076130] ipw2200: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200/2915 Network Driver, 1.2.2kmprq
[   28.076134] ipw2200: Copyright(c) 2003-2006 Intel Corporation
[   28.076255] ipw2200 0000:04:02.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 21 (level, low) -> IRQ 21
[   28.076284] ipw2200: Detected Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
[   29.502976] cfg80211: World regulatory domain updated:
[   29.502980] cfg80211:     (start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
[   29.502984] cfg80211:     (2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[   29.502987] cfg80211:     (2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[   29.502991] cfg80211:     (2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[   29.502994] cfg80211:     (5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[   29.502998] cfg80211:     (5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (300 mBi, 2000 mBm)
[   29.505031] ipw2200: ipw2200-bss.fw request_firmware failed: Reason -2
[   29.505037] ipw2200: Unable to load firmware: -2
[   29.505043] ipw2200: failed to register network device
[   29.505086] ipw2200 0000:04:02.0: PCI INT A disabled
[   29.505131] ipw2200: probe of 0000:04:02.0 failed with error -5
[15838.860285] Modules linked in: pcmcia joydev snd_intel8x0 snd_ac97_codec ac97_bus thinkpad_acpi snd_pcm snd_seq_midi snd_rawmidi snd_seq_midi_event snd_seq snd_timer snd_seq_device i915 psmouse yenta_socket snd pcmcia_rsrc nsc_ircc serio_raw soundcore pcmcia_core snd_page_alloc irda nvram bnep ppdev rfcomm bluetooth drm_kms_helper binfmt_misc parport_pc drm crc_ccitt mac_hid i2c_algo_bit video ipw2200 libipw cfg80211 lib80211 lp parport tg3 floppy
[15844.520071] Modules linked in: pcmcia joydev snd_intel8x0 snd_ac97_codec ac97_bus thinkpad_acpi snd_pcm snd_seq_midi snd_rawmidi snd_seq_midi_event snd_seq snd_timer snd_seq_device i915 psmouse yenta_socket snd pcmcia_rsrc nsc_ircc serio_raw soundcore pcmcia_core snd_page_alloc irda nvram bnep ppdev rfcomm bluetooth drm_kms_helper binfmt_misc parport_pc drm crc_ccitt mac_hid i2c_algo_bit video ipw2200 libipw cfg80211 lib80211 lp parport tg3 floppy

Could it be that I'm missing the ipw2200-bss.fw file?

[chili555]

Could it be that I'm missing the ipw2200-bss.fw file?

I reckon so. Please hook up the ethernet and do:

sudo apt-get install linux-firmware
sudo modprobe -r ipw2200
sudo modprobe ipw2200

Now is it working?

[eestet75]

I reckon so. Please hook up the ethernet and do:

sudo apt-get install linux-firmware
sudo modprobe -r ipw2200
sudo modprobe ipw2200

Now is it working?

johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ sudo apt-get install linux-firmware
Password: 
Indlæser pakkelisterne... Færdig
Opbygger afhængighedstræ        
Læser tilstandsoplysninger... Færdig
linux-firmware er i forvejen den nyeste version.
0 opgraderes, 0 nyinstalleres, 0 afinstalleres og 0 opgraderes ikke.
johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ sudo modprobe -r ipw2200
johan@johan-ThinkPad-T43:~$ sudo modprobe ipw2200

It does nothing and just tells me that linux-firmware is already the newest version.
Should I try to reinstall linux-firmware?
Tried that, didn't work.

What now?

[chili555]

Please download the attached file to your desktop. Right-click it and select 'Extract Here.' Then, in a terminal, do:

sudo cp Desktop/2200/* /lib/firmware

Now reboot with the ethernet detached and tell us if it's working. If not, please post:

dmesg | grep ipw

'Desktop' may be named differently in your language. Substitute as necessary.

[eestet75]

Please download the attached file to your desktop. Right-click it and select 'Extract Here.' Then, in a terminal, do:

sudo cp Desktop/2200/* /lib/firmware

Now reboot with the ethernet detached and tell us if it's working. If not, please post:

dmesg | grep ipw

'Desktop' may be named differently in your language. Substitute as necessary.

Yes, that seems to have worked. Thanks!
-----------------------------------------------------------
FYI I'm an experienced Linux user. I've been using it for about 3 years, though without any driver problems.

[chili555]

Please use thread tools at the top and mark Solved. The searchers will appreciate it.

Glad it's working!

[krakenchaos]

Just want to say Thanks! It helped me. You rocks chili555!

[bweinel]

I'm having the same issue with an Intel 2200 BG wireless adapter in Kubuntu 13.04. lshw reports the card is there and being seen by the system but is 'unclaimed'. dmesg reports the kernel is unable to load the ipw2200 firmware (error -5). I have tried all the above suggested steps to remedy the issue, but still no luck.