Wireless network not working, dell laptop, Ubuntu

[The Ra]

Whenever I try to connect it, it just doesn't work. It says in the network settings that it's not active. When I activate it it changes to active, but I can't surf.

Thanks.

[antidrugue]

Could you give more details ?

Which wireless network card is it ?
Which version of Ubuntu ?
Which application are you using to connect ? NetworkManager ?

[raqball]

This might sound real simple, but try hard booting your modem. I have simular issues with 6.06 everytime I install Ubuntu 6.06 back on my laptop ( i change linux OS's quite often to play) and have to do a hard reboot of the modem, then all is good... If not, post answers posted by above GURU

[flipjargendy]

Make sure DHCP is selected and that everything is auto dected. i didn't notice that the first time i installed it was not setup that way for some reason. i could have played around before and set it up wrong though. Also a search on "Configuring /etc/network/interfaces" on Google. It might bring up something helpful.

[The Ra]

I tried all the suggestions and nothing works. it's the dell built in network card, linksys wireless a+g router. I'm using network settings to manage my connections and the version of ubuntu is dapper drake.

[antidrugue]

it's the dell built in network card,

You have yet to mention your wireless card and laptop model.

Please post the output of :

lspci | grep -i network

[The Ra]

0000:02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4309 802.11a/b/g (rev 02)

XPS Gen 1

[antidrugue]

0000:02:03.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4309 802.11a/b/g (rev 02)

You have to use NDISWRAPPER to make this card work in Ubuntu.

First disable the BCM43XX driver, which won't work with this card :

echo 'blacklist bcm43xx' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist

Then go on with ndiswrapper.

First install it :

sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper-utils

Then insert your Windows driver :

sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver_INF_file

Verify that it worked :

sudo ndiswrapper -l

Then configure ndiswrapper :

sudo ndiswrapper -m

Verify everything went well :

dmesg | tail

Post back if you want more help.

[The Ra]

ra@Amun:~$ sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver_INF_file
Installing windows_driver_inf_file
couldn't copy windows_driver_INF_file at /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper line 135.


That is the error that I am getting when I try to insert the windows driver.

[antidrugue]

ra@Amun:~$ sudo ndiswrapper -i windows_driver_INF_file
Installing windows_driver_inf_file
couldn't copy windows_driver_INF_file at /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper line 135.

Did you download the windows driver for your card from Dell's site ? That's the driver you must use with NDISWRAPPER. "windows_driver_INF_file" refers to that.