Ubuntu
gnome-nettool package

No wireless on Ubuntu 9.1

Asked by Greg Young

I wonder if anyone can assist me. I have a Dell Inspiron 1300 laptop. I have installed a new hard drive, onto which I have installed Ubuntu 9.10. The laptop used to connect to my wireless network just fine with Win XP. Now it doesn't. I can connect to the internet using a broadband usb dongle, but not with wireless. My wireless router is the type that enables specific computers to connect by entering the MAC address of a laptop or PC into the security settings of the router. Now, I do not know about computers, still less Linux / Ubuntu. I am the sort of person who wants to switch on and connect. That's all. I have rarely had any cause to enter anything on an MS Dos screen. So I don't know about physical addresses, command prompts or how to detrmine what type of network card I have (why the hell would I ?). Every forum to do with Linux / Ubuntu seems to assume a masters degree in advanced programming, which I most certainly do not have. Or even want to.
So, very politely, can anyone describe, in English, how on earth I can get this machine to find a wireless network?
Many Thanks.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Can you give the output of:

sudo lshw -C network; sudo iwlist scan

Thanks

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watcheroftheskies (kramermj) said : 		#2

I installed LinuxMint 8 a few days ago (which of course IS ubuntu 9.10, with a twist). I never used my wireless router before, so a newbie at this myself. I have a Dell Inspiron 1545 (brand new) with a broadcom wireless adaptor. I went to preferences/configuration (wthatever itś called in your version) and checked the hardwaredrivers. This found two downloadable drivers for the wireless. I installed the proprietary version. After this I configured the networkconnections-tab wireless (wireless name /encriptiontype/ password, the simple stuff). Then disconnected the cable. At first it took some minutes for the machine to find my router. But after restarting the machine it just found my wireless at startup. Works like a charm. Hope it helps.

I don know if this has anything to do with anything, but I did a clean install with Ubunu/Mint as using the full disk (I won be a MS-slave no more, I will only allow it in my Virtualbox ;)

PS. I'm no tech either, I just want things to work, but I keep in mind that not all hardware drivers are native to my distro.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

LinuxMint isnt supported here, please post on:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/

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watcheroftheskies (kramermj) said : 		#4

I know this is the Ubuntu branch, but as every new Mint version is based the latest Ubuntu (Mint 7 Gloria on Jaunty; Mint 8 Helena on Karmic) I consider myself to be an Ubuntu user as well. So my experience (in this case setting up wireless) with Mint may well be of help to other Ubuntu users as well. I check Ubuntu forums for help myself as well. It's family...:)

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David Jones (dj) said : 		#5

   You got an answer please. http://forums.linuxmint.com/ you will find your answer here. thank you so very much but this is Ubuntu not Mint!

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

Many releases are based on Ubuntu but are equally not supported here, they include (but are not isolated to):
Ultimate
MoonOs
CrunchBang
Fluxbuntu
BackTrack

Please post on the mint forums or install an official release by Canonical.

Revision history for this message
Stephen Craig Evans (stephencraig-evans) said : 		#7

@watcheroftheskies:

Great advice - thanks. Worked perfect for me and saved me a lot of time (and I didn't have to jump through the ndiswrapper hoop!)

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