Linux Tara Ethernet but no WIFI connection after installation

[bodge99]

Hi,

The label on this wifi card is damaged.. all I could read was Broadcom BCM431?
On booting, I was able to identify the card as a BCM4313.

The card worked during installation and continues to work after a reboot.
This card uses different firmware, so no real help from this perspective.

I then looked to see if the Mint 19 version of "Firmware-b43-Installer" does actually provide 'ucode5.fw'.. It does.
It installs it to '/lib/firmware/b43'.
So if the OP does actually have this firmware file here then the kernel cannot use it (corrupt file or incompatible firmware build etc.).

Tara: FYI Filenames have to be typed **exactly**. They are case sensitive.

The response from the 'ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*' command implies that the original firmware install failed.
Simply repeat this with:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install --reinstall firmware-b43-installer

You will need internet access for this. This will reinstall if the package is present and fully install it if it isn't.
Reboot your computer after the installation has finished and retry your wifi.

Bodge99

[sleeper12]

My mistake, the command I gave was wrong. Do the one bodge99 gave & let's see if that gets wifi going. We can update the kernel later.

[bodge99]

Hi,

sleeper12: Welcome to my world..

Show me someone who says that they have never made a mistake and I'll show you a liar.

Bodge99.

[Tara]

Hello,
I was able to run the command "sudo apt install --reinstall firmware-b43-installer" and it installed something. I did not receive an error message.

Unfortunately, WIFI is still not working. Is there maybe something we should enter in the Network section. I am very sorry that it is so difficult.

[sleeper12]

Did you reboot?

[sleeper12]

If it still doesn't work, you might also need this:

Code: Select all

 sudo apt install b43-fwcutter 

Reboot

[bodge99]

Hi,

Yes, sleeper12 is correct. You need to reboot so that the Linux kernel can detect the wifi card and attempt to load firmware.

Can you repeat the list file and 'dmesg' tests please.

Code: Select all

ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*

Code: Select all

dmesg | grep b43 

This will show if the firmware file exists in it's proper location and if the kernel is actually loading it.

I strongly recommend that we take this one step at a time.

Bodge99

[Tara]

1) Please see result below

mint@mint:~$ sudo su
root@mint:/home/mint# sudo apt install b43-fwcutter

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
b43-fwcutter
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/23.7 kB of archives.
After this operation, 75.8 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 cdrom://Linux Mint 19 _Tara_ - Release i386 20180626 bionic/contrib i386 b43-fwcutter i386 1:019-3 [23.7 kB]
Preconfiguring packages ...
Selecting previously unselected package b43-fwcutter.
(Reading database ... 235866 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../b43-fwcutter_1%3a019-3_i386.deb ...
Unpacking b43-fwcutter (1:019-3) ...
Setting up b43-fwcutter (1:019-3) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2) ...
root@mint:/home/mint#

[Tara]

Just rebooted - still no wifi

[Tara]

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

mint@mint:~$ sudo su
root@mint:/home/mint# ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*
ls: cannot access '/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*': No such file or directory
root@mint:/home/mint#

[Tara]

mint@mint:~$ To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
mint@mint:~$ See "man sudo_root" for details.

Command 'See' not found, did you mean:

command 'tee' from deb coreutils
command 'ree' from deb ree
command 'pee' from deb moreutils
command 'see' from deb mime-support

Try: sudo apt install <deb name>

mint@mint:~$
mint@mint:~$ mint@mint:~$ sudo su
mint@mint:~$: command not found
mint@mint:~$ root@mint:/home/mint# ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*
bash: root@mint:/home/mint#: No such file or directory
mint@mint:~$ ls: cannot access '/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*': No such file or directory

Command 'ls:' not found, did you mean:

command 'ls' from deb coreutils
command 'lsw' from deb suckless-tools
command 'lsc' from deb livescript
command 'lsm' from deb lsm
command 'lsh' from deb lsh-client

Try: sudo apt install <deb name>

mint@mint:~$ root@mint:/home/mint# To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
mint@mint:~$ bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
> root@mint:/home/mint# See "man sudo_root" for details.
>
> Command 'See' not found, did you mean:
>
> command 'tee' from deb coreutils
> command 'pee' from deb moreutils
> command 'ree' from deb ree
> command 'see' from deb mime-support
>
> Try: apt install <deb name>
>
> root@mint:/home/mint#
> root@mint:/home/mint# mint@mint:~$ sudo su
> mint@mint:~$: command not found
> root@mint:/home/mint# root@mint:/home/mint# ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*
> bash: root@mint:/home/mint#: No such file or directory
> root@mint:/home/mint# ls: cannot access '/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*': No such file or directory
>
> Command 'ls:' not found, did you mean:
>
> command 'lsh' from deb lsh-client
> command 'lsm' from deb lsm
> command 'lsw' from deb suckless-tools
> command 'lsc' from deb livescript
> command 'ls' from deb coreutils
>
> Try: apt install <deb name>
>
> root@mint:/home/mint# root@mint:/home/mint#
> bash: root@mint:/home/mint#: No such file or directory
> root@mint:/home/mint#
> sudo su
>

[bodge99]

Hi.
EDIT: Your 9:54PM post: What **EXACTLY** are you entering to get this output??

Your last post indicates that the installation of 'firmware-b43-installer' did not succeed.

Code: Select all

sudo apt install --reinstall firmware-b43-installer

Code: Select all

sudo ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*

should return:

Code: Select all

/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5.fw

The install command either did not work or there is something screwy with your system.
Try this:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install tree
tree -d /lib/firmware > mytree.txt
tree  /lib/firmware/b43 >> mytree.txt
apt list --installed | grep firmware >> mytree.txt

This will create one text file.

Could you post this here. Can you use code blocks please... for ease of reading. The fifth icon from the left above the edit screen.
The pasted text goes between the two code /code blocks.

Bodge99

[Tara]

Hi,
[*]Hi, in my 9:54 message yesterday, I copied the command:

[dmesg | grep b43 ]

______________________________________________________________


Not sure if the code display works. Please see below the installation protocol .

[c

Code: Select all

ode]mint@mint:~$ sudo su

root@mint:/home/mint# sudo apt install --reinstall firmware-b43-installer
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
b43-fwcutter
The following NEW packages will be installed:
b43-fwcutter firmware-b43-installer
0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Need to get 3950 B/27.7 kB of archives.
After this operation, 103 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/multiverse i386 firmware-b43-installer all 1:019-3 [3950 B]
Get:2 cdrom://Linux Mint 19 _Tara_ - Release i386 20180626 bionic/contrib i386 b43-fwcutter i386 1:019-3 [23.7 kB]
Fetched 3950 B in 0s (14.9 kB/s)
Preconfiguring packages ...
Selecting previously unselected package b43-fwcutter.
(Reading database ... 235866 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../b43-fwcutter_1%3a019-3_i386.deb ...
Unpacking b43-fwcutter (1:019-3) ...
Selecting previously unselected package firmware-b43-installer.
Preparing to unpack .../firmware-b43-installer_1%3a019-3_all.deb ...
Unpacking firmware-b43-installer (1:019-3) ...
Setting up b43-fwcutter (1:019-3) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2) ...
Setting up firmware-b43-installer (1:019-3) ...
No chroot environment found. Starting normal installation
--2021-05-13 10:46:34-- http://www.lwfinger.com/b43-firmware/br ... 38.tar.bz2
Resolving www.lwfinger.com (www.lwfinger.com)... 173.254.30.178
Connecting to www.lwfinger.com (www.lwfinger.com)|173.254.30.178|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 13514651 (13M) [application/x-tar]
Saving to: ‘broadcom-wl-5.100.138.tar.bz2’

broadcom-wl-5.100.1 100%[===================>] 12.89M 4.62MB/s in 2.8s

2021-05-13 10:46:37 (4.62 MB/s) - ‘broadcom-wl-5.100.138.tar.bz2’ saved [13514651/13514651]

Deleting old extracted firmware...
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/linux/
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/linux/wl_apsta.o
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/linux/wl_ap.o
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/linux/wl_sta.o
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/README
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/wlconfig_lx_shared
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/wl.mk
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/wl_default
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/wl_hnd
broadcom-wl-5.100.138/config/wlconfig_nomimo
This file is recognised as:
filename : wl_apsta.o
version : 666.2
MD5 : e1b05e268bcdbfef3560c28fc161f30e
Extracting b43/lp0initvals14.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0bsinitvals25.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals25.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals17.fw
Extracting b43/ucode17_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/ucode16_lp.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn1initvals27.fw
Extracting b43/lp2bsinitvals19.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn3bsinitvals21.fw
Extracting b43/ucode16_sslpn.fw
ucode time: 01:15:07
Extracting b43/ucode25_lcn.fw
Extracting b43/ucode21_sslpn.fw
Extracting b43/lp0bsinitvals14.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0initvals9.fw
Extracting b43/ucode20_sslpn.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1bsinitvals9.fw
Extracting b43/lp1initvals20.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0bsinitvals13.fw
Extracting b43/lp2initvals19.fw
Extracting b43/n2bsinitvals19.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn4bsinitvals22.fw
Extracting b43/ucode16_sslpn_nobt.fw
ucode date: 2011-02-23
Extracting b43/n1bsinitvals20.fw
Extracting b43/n1initvals20.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0bsinitvals5.fw
Extracting b43/ucode22_sslpn.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0initvals13.fw
Extracting b43/ht0initvals26.fw
Extracting b43/ucode33_lcn40.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn1bsinitvals20.fw
Extracting b43/lcn400bsinitvals33.fw
Extracting b43/ucode14.fw
Extracting b43/a0g0initvals5.fw
Extracting b43/lp1bsinitvals22.fw
Extracting b43/n16initvals30.fw
Extracting b43/lp0bsinitvals16.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1bsinitvals25.fw
Extracting b43/lcn400initvals33.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals24.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2bsinitvals26.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1initvals26.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals22.fw
Extracting b43/n18initvals32.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2initvals26.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1bsinitvals5.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals11.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2initvals24.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0initvals26.fw
Extracting b43/n0absinitvals11.fw
Extracting b43/ucode21_sslpn_nobt.fw
ucode time: 01:15:07
Extracting b43/ucode26_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/n2initvals19.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn3initvals21.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1bsinitvals13.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn4initvals22.fw
Extracting b43/pcm5.fw
Extracting b43/ucode22_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/ucode9.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2initvals25.fw
Extracting b43/lp1initvals22.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn1bsinitvals27.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0initvals24.fw
Extracting b43/ucode32_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/a0g0bsinitvals9.fw
Extracting b43/n18bsinitvals32.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals24.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals25.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1initvals5.fw
Extracting b43/ucode24_lcn.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals17.fw
Extracting b43/n0bsinitvals16.fw
Extracting b43/lp0initvals15.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0initvals5.fw
Extracting b43/ucode20_sslpn_nobt.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1initvals24.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn0initvals16.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1initvals13.fw
Extracting b43/lp1bsinitvals20.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn2initvals19.fw
Extracting b43/a0g1initvals9.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1bsinitvals24.fw
Extracting b43/ucode5.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2bsinitvals24.fw
Extracting b43/lp0bsinitvals13.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals16.fw
Extracting b43/ucode19_sslpn_nobt.fw
Extracting b43/b0g0bsinitvals9.fw
Extracting b43/ucode11.fw
Extracting b43/lp0initvals16.fw
Extracting b43/ucode16_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0bsinitvals26.fw
Extracting b43/ht0initvals29.fw
Extracting b43/lcn2bsinitvals25.fw
Extracting b43/a0g0initvals9.fw
Extracting b43/ucode29_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0bsinitvals24.fw
Extracting b43/ucode19_sslpn.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1initvals25.fw
Extracting b43/ucode30_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/n16bsinitvals30.fw
Extracting b43/ucode25_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/ucode24_mimo.fw
Extracting b43/ucode27_sslpn.fw
Extracting b43/lp0initvals13.fw
Extracting b43/a0g0bsinitvals5.fw
Extracting b43/ht0bsinitvals26.fw
Extracting b43/ucode13.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn2bsinitvals19.fw
Extracting b43/ucode15.fw
Extracting b43/lp0bsinitvals15.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals11.fw
Extracting b43/lcn0initvals25.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn0bsinitvals16.fw
Extracting b43/sslpn1initvals20.fw
Extracting b43/lcn1bsinitvals26.fw
Extracting b43/n0initvals22.fw
Extracting b43/ht0bsinitvals29.fw
root@mint:/home/mint# ^C
root@mint:/home/mint#
[/code]

[Tara]

sudo ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5* returned:

Code: Select all

mint@mint:~$ sudo su
root@mint:/home/mint# sudo ls  /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*
/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5.fw
root@mint:/home/mint# 

[Tara]

Please see below:

Code: Select all

mint@mint:~$ sudo su
root@mint:/home/mint# sudo apt install tree
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  tree
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Need to get 42.5 kB of archives.
After this operation, 113 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/universe i386 tree i386 1.7.0-5 [42.5 kB]
Fetched 42.5 kB in 0s (127 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package tree.
(Reading database ... 235879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../archives/tree_1.7.0-5_i386.deb ...
Unpacking tree (1.7.0-5) ...
Setting up tree (1.7.0-5) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2) ...
root@mint:/home/mint# tree -d /lib/firmware > mytree.txt
root@mint:/home/mint# 

[Tara]

I rebooted but Internet is still not working. I know that you tried everything to make it work. Maybe my computer is just too old or screwed up. It is a dell Vostro 1500 and the OS is vista business. Please let me know when you think we should give up. Thank you so much for your patience.

[bodge99]

Hi,

The output that you have posted indicates that the firmware has been installed correctly.

If you now type the following into a terminal, this will prove that the required firmware file can be located in the correct place.

Code: Select all

ls /lib/firmware/b43/ucode5*

This should return:

Code: Select all

/lib/firmware/b43/ucode5.fw

Now that you have **proved** that this file is in the correct place, the system should now detect and use this file when you reboot.

Reboot now, and enter the following command into a terminal:

Code: Select all

sudo dmesg | grep b43

Could you post the result please.

I suggest that you copy the command from the screen and paste it into your terminal. Note: The '|' character is found between the left 'shift' key and the 'z' key on a UK keyboard ('shift backslash'). I don't know what your keyboard layout is, so I can't be more specific.
Your 9:54PM post indicated that some extra characters had been entered into the terminal.
If this sort of thing happens again, just press the 'up arrow' on your keyboard. This will show exactly what was entered.

Please don't be concerned about the time taken to sort this.. It can be more difficult to explain something online, via a web page then it would be "face to face". The good folk here who are trying to help you (and others) can automatically make assumptions regarding a person's technical ability.
I think that this is perfectly understandable and, to some degree, to be expected. We **are** trying to help you.. and **not** confuse you.

What I would say is this. Nobody was born knowing this stuff.. If you don't know or understand something then just ask.. There is no such thing as a silly question when learning how to do any of this.

I can guarantee that what is confusing you today will become perfectly clear soon. As I say.. Just ask.

TIP:
You can manually enter code tags as shown below. A code tag requires square brackets.
I'll demonstrate using curved brackets. This is because the forum software would otherwise display the example as a code block and you won't see the structure. When you have entered this, click on the 'Preview' button to see what things look like.

(code)
Hello world!
This is my text
I want this in a code block.
(/code)

Both tags are required. The first one marks the beginning of the block, the second one marks the end.

Bodge99

[Tara]

Hello bodge99,
Thank you for your nice words and for the explanations. I already fell so much more savvy thanks to your help.

Code: Select all

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

mint@mint:~$ sudo su
root@mint:/home/mint# sudo dmesg | grep b43
[   30.977346] b43-phy0: Broadcom 4311 WLAN found (core revision 10)
[   31.029928] b43-phy0: Found PHY: Analog 4, Type 2 (G), Revision 8
[   31.029947] b43-phy0: Found Radio: Manuf 0x17F, ID 0x2050, Revision 2, Version 0
[   31.047701] b43 ssb0:0: Direct firmware load for b43/ucode5.fw failed with error -2
[   31.047721] b43 ssb0:0: Direct firmware load for b43/ucode5.fw failed with error -2
[   31.047752] b43 ssb0:0: Direct firmware load for b43-open/ucode5.fw failed with error -2
[   31.047767] b43 ssb0:0: Direct firmware load for b43-open/ucode5.fw failed with error -2
[   31.047770] b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file "b43/ucode5.fw" not found
[   31.047774] b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file "b43-open/ucode5.fw" not found
[   31.047777] b43-phy0 ERROR: You must go to http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#devicefirmware and download the correct firmware for this driver version. Please carefully read all instructions on this website.
root@mint:/home/mint# 

[bodge99]

Hi,

The results of 'sudo dmesg | grep b43' indicate that there is still a problem with the firmware file.
The kernel cannot find it. It has failed to locate it in two standard locations (for this Broadcom firmware).
This is shown by:

Code: Select all

[   31.047770] b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file "b43/ucode5.fw" not found
[   31.047774] b43-phy0 ERROR: Firmware file "b43-open/ucode5.fw" not found

These two lines mean: at 31.xxx seconds after system start, the software responsible for initialising your wifi card failed to locate the firmware file named as 'ucode5.fw' at these locations: (the full directory path) '/lib/firmware/b43' and '/lib/firmware/b43-open'.
I'm quite happy that you have correctly installed the firmware package.. but something is significantly wrong here.
Can you please do this:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install tree

and

Code: Select all

tree /lib/firmware > myfirmware.txt

This will create a text file of about 200 lines in length. Please **DON'T** post this here..
If it's O.K. with you, I'll email you (via the forum) my email address. Could you email me this file as an attachment.
I would like to see exactly what is in your firmware directory. Note: These are just system files.. there is nothing personal here.

Bodge99.

[sleeper12]

Bodge99,

Might it help to update the kernel at this point? That 4.15.0-20 is quite old, but unsure if an update will help.