My new computer wont install ubuntu

What are the specs of the computer you are installing on what are you installing from (i.e. what version of Ubuntu)?

The error refers to your wireless adapter or at least to the driver. The bcm43xx refers to wifi cards with broadcom chips. Broadcom chips are not well supported and people who have them often have to jump though a lot of hoops to get things working. However, it's odd that you would have trouble installing. I've installed on computers with broadcom and the install goes fine, the wifi just doesn't work.

In your case, I think the answer might be to get the installer to skip the broadcom driver and fix it after the install is finished. However, I'm not sure how to do that. I'll do some looking or maybe someone else has an idea. In the meantime, let us know more about the hardware. Also, if you can boot the live CD (i.e. you get a desktop with a live session) open a terminal (apps - accessories) and type

lspci

That first letter is a small L. Look for any lines with network or wireless and paste the info here. It would be good to know if you actually have a broadcom card.

Hello Jim and thank you for replying - answers below

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Hutchinson" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #29155]: My new computer wont install ubuntu

Your question #29155 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/29155

    Status: Open => Needs information

Jim Hutchinson requested for more information:
What are the specs of the computer you are installing on what are you
installing from (i.e. what version of Ubuntu)?

I have ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon. These are the specs

                                                                                                                1 x 500 GB SATA HDD UDMA 300 7200 16MB

     1 x INTEL CORE 2 DUO E8400 (2 x 3.0 GHZ) 1333FSB - 6 MB
     1 x ASUS DVD±RW 20x S-ATA DRW-2014L1T SILVER LIGHTSCRIBE (SATA)

     1 x ASUS 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT PCI-E 2xDVI RET COMPANY OF HEROES
     1 x ASUS SKT-775 P5K-E WIFI-AP S/L 1333FSB
     1 x ThermalTake CL-P0323 775/K8/AM2 SONIC TOWER R2 RET
     1 x ANTEC MIDI CASE P180 SILVER
     1 x Internal Card Reader 50-in-1
     1 x HIPER POWER 580W LOW NOISE/SLI READY
     1 x 2GB DDR2 PC-6400 800 MHZ (2 x 1 GB 800)
     1 x Samsung 16x DVD-ROM Black (IDE)
     1 x 10 X USB 2.0 Ports

     1 x 500 GB SATA HDD UDMA 300 7200 16MB
     1 x ASUS Wireless LAN 54Mbps PCI

The error refers to your wireless adapter or at least to the driver. The
bcm43xx refers to wifi cards with broadcom chips. Broadcom chips are not
well supported and people who have them often have to jump though a lot
of hoops to get things working. However, it's odd that you would have
trouble installing. I've installed on computers with broadcom and the
install goes fine, the wifi just doesn't work.

In your case, I think the answer might be to get the installer to skip
the broadcom driver and fix it after the install is finished. However,
I'm not sure how to do that. I'll do some looking or maybe someone else
has an idea. In the meantime, let us know more about the hardware. Also,
if you can boot the live CD (i.e. you get a desktop with a live session)
open a terminal (apps - accessories) and type

lspci

That first letter is a small L. Look for any lines with network or
wireless and paste the info here. It would be good to know if you
actually have a broadcom card.

I will see if I can do this.
--
To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
this email or enter your reply at the following page:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/29155

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Thanks again
Anne

I had put my previous answers in blue, but I see they haven't come out as such so I hope you could pick them out easy enough.
I managed to get the live session and type 'lspci' in the terminal this is what came up
 - 05:01.0 Network controller: broadcom corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02) -
So I do have a broadcom card. I don't even know if I need this card, I asked the computer company whether it was necessary or not as I realised after ordering that there was wifi in the motherboard. I can't seem to get my head round this wireless and wifi business. All I want is for my children, when they come to stay, to be able to connect up to my computer with their lap tops without the need for plugs and wires. The sales assistant wasn't able to enlighten me he just said that I had all that was necessary. I have had a trying time buying this computer and all I can say is it's a bit 'russian roulette' out there in the market place for those of us who don't know much but are trying to find out.

Anyway sorry to ramble on, so now do you think it is possible to 'fix' my broadcom card?

Thanks
Anne

Everything I can find deals with fixing broadcom issues after install. I'm not sure how to prevent it during install. I've not seen that issue before. I'll keep looking but you might just try installing again and see if there is a way to let it continue even with the failure. A simple driver issue should not cause the whole install to fail.

If it's removable then you might try taking it out, but from what I can find on the motherboard is that it's built in. It does say it can act as an access point so your children should be able to connect to it just as they would a wireless router (wifi and wireless are basically the same thing - just different ways to say it). What I don't know is how easy that will be to set up. To be honest, I would have gone for a wireless router so you don't have to leave the computer on all the time. Of course, I don't know much about your setup so hard to advise.

In my experience, talking to the sales people is frustrating as they never give a straight answer. I always do lots of research before buying anything moderately expensive.

If I can find anything about disabling the broadcom driver during install I'll let you know. Maybe someone else knows.

hello Anne Dowden,

Checking your PC spec it appears that beside the wireless conn'n there is also a wired conn'n present that uses the Marvell chip set.

now, pls rerun

lspci

command again after live CD is up and see if there is Marvell listed. if that's the case (I'm pretty sure/convinced it is), the things should work. there is however another question that has to be answered first,

pls tell us whether you have an internet service provider, ISP for short, and that there is a broadband modem present at your place (in most cases the ISP's provide the modem for customer conn'n to their network). if you DO HAVE a modem already there, in place, please connect the PC to the modem -you'll need a so called patch cable with RJ45 w/connectors- any computer store has them if you don't already have it. (the WIRED interface is located at the back of the PC and it looks like a phone connection jack but female; that's anaother way of checking that your PC has a wired conn'n present).

after all above done, (the PC connected to the modem as described) please insert again the live CD and follow the prompts. the only thing I'm not sure is whether the live CD will give you the option to pick the WIRED or the WIRELESS interface to configure (I always use THE ALTERNATE CD that gives me full control of the install process);

if it does offer you these options please pick the wired one - the installer will try to configure the interface and it may succeed or not; if it does it will tell you that, the install will continue; if it DOES NOT it will offer you some further options --> please pick DO NOT CONFIGURE at this time option; the installer should continue.

please tell us how things develop; we'll go on from there.

peter b

Anne, checking further your PC, please disconnect the wireless antenna from the PC connection PC PRIOR TO inserting/installing live CD for the new install.

peter b

Thank you very much for your time.
Firstly - yes I do have an ISP with broadband (ADSL) router, (which I think has a wireless facility, it's a while since I set it up and have only used wires/ethernet) I disconnected the antenna and connected my new computer to the router via ethernet cable. (running lspci I got - 02:00.0 Ethernet Controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev12) - )

Putting in the disc and choosing the first option 'Start, install ubuntu' still comes up with - bcm43xx:error: Microcode "bcm43xx_microcode5.fw" not available or load failed - but choosing the next option 'run in safe graphics mode' (which is how I used the live disc before) ubuntu opens and on the desktop is an icon for 'install'. So I installed, it all went automatically, there were no configuring options. When finished there was an icon for 'Restricted Drivers' I clikced on it and got the window - Restricted Drivers 'No proprietary drivers are in use on this system' Componant: Firmware - Firmware for Broadcom 43xx chipset family = disabled - status = not in use -- So hopefully this means that all is sorted as far as the wifi on the motherboard is concerned and my children should be able to connect to the internet directly with the router if as I believe it has a wireless facility. I am worried 'though that I have been too hasty and should not have installed in 'safe graphics mode' whatever that means. Also what about the - ASUS Wireless LAN 54Mbps PCI card - will my children be able to connect to my computer via this card in order to use my printers? I feel a bit cheeky asking this as it's not to do with ubuntu so I will understand if you don't have the time to answer.

Thank you again Peter and Jim

Anne

Anne,

    - things look ok so far --> you managed to get ubuntu installed to HD which is the subject of this ticket.

however, there are some issues that must be tackled/tweaked further AFTER the successful install of the os. the first one that comes to mind is

 - pls tell me if you can connect to internet via the wired connection; the second one is
 - the video card driver and the third one is
 - the driver installation and configuration of the wireless interface ie in your case the Broadcom wifi

in order to get these issues solved pls rerun

lspci

command again (note -this time after the pc booted off the HD) and post the ENTIRE output here (just copy and paste); this will tell me what video card/adapter is installed on your PC.

then pls run

uname -a

command and post the output here too. this will tell me what 'flavour'/distribution of ubuntu you're using.

as far as the connection to internet via the WIRED interface is concerned, this, hopefully, works without any further configuration. just open firefox browser and see if a connection can be established to a web site/url.

I just ask you to provide answers to above so that you know exactly what additional action/s must be taken to get a fully configured and functional ubuntu on your PC.

glad to hear that you've got ubuntu installed. the next actions are determined by the answers you provide --> I'll let you know what they are within this ticket topic.

peter b

Peter

Yes I have a wired connection to the internet. I am using my new computer to type this and copy/paste.

Below is how the Terminal answers your questions.

1. ---
anne@anne-desktop:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express DRAM Controller (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 02)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 6 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 92)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801IR (ICH9R) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Unknown device 0611 (rev a2)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 12)
03:00.0 SATA controller: JMicron Technologies, Inc. JMicron 20360/20363 AHCI Controller (rev 03)
03:00.1 IDE interface: JMicron Technologies, Inc. JMicron 20360/20363 AHCI Controller (rev 03)
05:01.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
05:02.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 61)
05:02.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 61)
05:02.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 63)
05:03.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW323 (rev 70)
anne@anne-desktop:~$

2. ---
anne@anne-desktop:~$ uname -a
Linux anne-desktop 2.6.22-14-generic #1 SMP Sun Oct 14 23:05:12 GMT 2007 i686 GNU/Linux
anne@anne-desktop:~$

Thank you so much Peter

Anne

This is just wonderful. Thank you so much Peter. I am really grateful.

Kind regards
Anne