Ubuntu

install on hp pavaliion dv9601au laptop giving error "bcm43xx: Error : microcode"

Asked by niraj

hi
i've got hp pavaliion dv9601au recently and wants to install ubuntu there, with pre installed vista (dual boot).
i downloaded live CD (ubuntu-7.10-desktop-i386.iso) from the site and have it on a dvd.

when i goto boot option and,

1) select first option "Start or install ubuntu"
   - it starts but after sometime it starts giving "bcm43xx: Error : microcode ...." error for a long time with some different error numbers.
   - i've tried "noapic" and other possible variants lot many times, no luck. same error.
   - i dont know what's the problem...

2) select second option "Start ubuntu in safe graphic mode"
   - Oh yes, It works like a charm...
   - i can use Ubuntu up and running.

so what's the problem? why i can't install it ?!!

any help will be highly appreciated.

thanks in advance.
Niraj.

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MY LAPTOP SPEC.

Processor:AMD Turion64 X2 Processor TL-58
Chipset:NVIDIA MCP67M
L2 Cache / FSB:1 MB Integrated L2 advanced transfer cache
Memory:1 GB DDR2
HDD:160 GB Serial ATA, 150 MB/ Sec @5400 RPM
Optical Drive 8X SuperMulti LightScribe Double Layer (8.5 GB) DVD +RW/ +R Writer
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce Go 7150M; Up to 287 MB TAG* memory (as allocated by Vista)
Display:17.0"WideScreen (WXGA) with BrightView Technology
OS:Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Home Edition
Bluetooth:Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 HP Module, IEEE 802.15 Standard
Wireless LAN:Integrated 802.11 a/b/g
Speakers:Altec Lansing Stereo Speakers
Digital Media Reader 5-In-1:Digital Media Reader (Secure Digital, SDIO, Multi-media card, Memory stick, Memory stick pro and xD picture card)
Modem:Integrated 56K Modem

Special Features:
Expansion port for HP xb3000, Two Headphone Jacks / Line Out, One Microphone In, Three USB 2.0 Ports, One IEEE 1394a Port (4 pins), One S-Video TV-Out, One RJ-11, One RJ-45, One DC Power In, One VGA Out, Kensington Lock Slot, HP QuickPlay, HP Mobile ExpressCard Remote Control, Integrated VGA Webcam, 2 omni-directional microphones, Capacitive Buttons - Backlit with touch technology, Next Gen Express Card/ 54 Slot/ Fingerprint Reader

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Revision history for this message
C de-Avillez (hggdh2) said : 		#1

It seems your wireless card is based on the Broadcom 43xx. Ubunutu starts, calls udev to find out what hardware you have, udev signals back a Broadcom 43xx is installed, and the bcm43xx module is loaded.

The module then looks for the bcm43xx firmware files, and cannot find them. This is what causes the "bcm43xx error microcode etc, etc".

This is not a showstopper. If you do not want wireless, you can blacklist the module.

If you do want to use wireless on this card, do as follows:

0. on a terminal run 'sudo apt-get install bcm43xx-fwcutter'

1. run 'lspci | grep Broadcom' -- you should see a line like

   0b:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g (rev 01)

The inportant item there is the model of the card. On the example above it is a BCM4312.

2. Now go to http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43/ and follow the instructions for your card there.

Revision history for this message
niraj (niraj-sikotara) said : 		#2

well, this is something strange that happened.

As i said earlier i was able to run the OS if i select second option, that's "Start ubuntu in safe graphic mode".
So i selected it and got OS up and running on my laptop,
please note that this time i was using, ubuntu-7.04-desktop-i386.iso, for a change. (infect i learned that 7.10 has some problem with HP laptops from forums)

There i selected Install from the one of the options available in the menu of the Ubuntu, and hurray... installer started. !!!
it was done in smooth fashion. and now i've Ubuntu 7.04 installed. ( i doubt that 7.10 could also be installed in the same way !!)

anyways, here is a lesson for setup and packaging team,

dear team,
1. i think there should be a check that if graphic system failes to load on some machine, it should automatically switch to SAFE GRAPHIC MODE.
or say, when it's a new installation, it should always run in the same mode ( i see lots of people complain X not starting...)
2. If some module does not load at install time, system should leave them and should not try to load them, as it ends up in an error and no body is that GURU in linux to solve it, try to follow the tectic that M$ does, just dont show any error at install at all !!

let them twick hardware/driver issues after they get OS up and running !!!

that's it.

thanks for listening to me.....

Revision history for this message
Abhijit (pishu89) said : 		#3

hey but there is even a problem with my safe loader tooo.i dont no whats wrong man...and where do we type this command lines man...

Revision history for this message
Abhijit (pishu89) said : 		#4

hey but there is even a problem with my safe loader tooo.i dont no whats wrong man...and where do we type this command lines man...