Dell/Linux laptop wireless problems

alexalexalex

Hi all, I have been given a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop and am having a few problems with it, hopefully someone will be able to help me out.
I was given the laptop because its always crashing and locking up. Surfing on the net is impossible for more than a couple of minutes without crashing and it just generally runs pretty slowly overall.

I thought running a version of Linux would be ideal as the laptop would run nice and quick and hopefully stop crashing all over the place (was previously running XP pro).

So I downloaded a few different live cd's to try before installing anything permanently and sure enough the system as a whole seems quicker and more stable but I can't get on the net using the wireless connection any more – it's as though the wireless card isn't even there. I've tried reading up on the net to try and solve the problem but no luck so far though I have seen several comments about Linux and Broadcom wireless cards (which I've got) not getting along very well.

According to the device manager I've got a “dell wireless 1390 WLAN mini-card” and basically I want to know will I be able to get it working with any distro of Linux without buying any new hardware or is it doomed to run slow and buggy on windows forever?

Baldur

The final post on the following thread may (or may not) help - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/1173129.html

The link given in the post refers to Ubuntu 8.10 - the 9.04 equivalent is http://linux.dell.com/files/ubuntu/jaunty/iso-images/

posted_2

Restore it to factory settings using the restore partition, and it will probably run like a dream

S0litaire

If the Image above does not work, Their is another way to get the drivers to work if you are using Ubuntu.

Connect the laptop with a Network cable..
Go to the terminal and type in:

sudo apt-get install ndisgtk

That will install a program that will use "Windows" drivers to make Wireless cards work in linux.

Download the Windows Drivers to your Desktop:
http://ftp.us.dell.com/network/R140747.EXE

Right click on the .Exe and you should be able to "Extract" the Driver files.

Then go you "System / Administration / Windows Wireless Drivers"
Enter in your password when asked.

Click "Install New Driver"
Click on "Location"
Browse till you find the location of the Extracted files from the R140747.exe. Find the INF file in that folder and select it.
Then click "Install".

Give it a few seconds or so and then it should tell you everything is OK.

You should now be able to use the Wireless card.
But best to reboot to make sure everything is working.

alexalexalex

I tried downloading the windows drivers S0olitaire but after following the instructions it says "unable to see if harware is present" when i look at wireless network drives. I installed the drivers and bcmwl5 icon is displayed in the box on the left, and says hardware present:yes under it but its still not finding the wireless card and if i click on "configure network" i get a popup saying "could not find a network configuration tool"

As i mentioned before i am running this off the live cd as i'm a bit hesitant to install anyhing, even a dual boot, if i am not going to be able to connect to the internet as that's what i will mainly be using the laptop for but will this affect me trying any of the things suggested so far?

S0litaire

You might have to install it to get things working ( The Live CD has the "Restricted" Repository off by default I think)

try this:
when you are on the LiveCD
Go to System / Administration / Software Sources
Select all the boxes on the first tab (Ubuntu Software).
Select all the boxes on the Third Tab (Updates)
Then click Close
It will tell you that the information of available software is out of date.
Click Reload.
once that's done go to System / Administration / Update manager
Install all the updates (This will take a while...)
It may ask you to reboot !!!DO NOT REBOOT!!!
You will loose all the updates...

One thats done see if the wireless is found.


But your best bet IS to install it as a dual boot.
With the Live CD any changes you make are lost every time you shut down.

If you install it as a dual boot it is easier to get things working.

alexalexalex

S0litaire wrote: »

You might have to install it to get things working ( The Live CD has the "Restricted" Repository off by default I think)

try this:
when you are on the LiveCD
Go to System / Administration / Software Sources
Select all the boxes on the first tab (Ubuntu Software).
Select all the boxes on the Third Tab (Updates)
Then click Close
It will tell you that the information of available software is out of date.
Click Reload.
once that's done go to System / Administration / Update manager
Install all the updates (This will take a while...)
It may ask you to reboot !!!DO NOT REBOOT!!!
You will loose all the updates...

One thats done see if the wireless is found.


But your best bet IS to install it as a dual boot.
With the Live CD any changes you make are lost every time you shut down.

If you install it as a dual boot it is easier to get things working.

Cant do the update, it's tellng me there's a lack of memory.
I had a feeling i would end up having to install properly but does anyone know for sure if i'l be able to get wireless working?

posted_2

Why not use the os it came with, it's probably sat there on the recovery partition.

alexalexalex

posted wrote: »

Why not use the os it came with, it's probably sat there on the recovery partition.

I may well use restore sometime soon to see if that helps but the laptop used to belong to my mum and was for her work but obviously its not ideal for doing important things on if its going to crash and freeze every 5 minutes.
She is going to get a replacement which is why she has donated this one to me but it still has documents etc on here that she will need to copy over to the new one which is why i dont want to do anything too drastic just yet and why i thought trying out a few live cd's would be best to see if everything was going to be ok

posted_2

OK, thought you were on the verge of installing linux, which would wipe the data anyway. It's highly unlikely to be a hardware fault, so a factory restore should cure it, it takes about 20 mins from a restore partition.

S0litaire

I'd go with a Dual boot.

First run the Restore to get XP back to factory default.
then using the Live CD Shrink the XP partition to 50% of the drive
Then use the free space to install Ubuntu.
At worst you'll have 2 OS's
At best you'll have a working Laptop No matter what