Can't connect to WiFi on Linux

G-Money · 20-05-2011 05:48PM #1

I've just installed Ubuntu 11.04 and like Linux Mint, I cannot get it to connect to my WiFi. It's not giving me any error messages, it simply doesn't even seem to be trying to connect.

When I look at the Hardware and Drivers setting it says my Proprietary drivers are being used to make the computer work and that the driver is enabled and active.

So why is it when I go to Network Connections, click the Wireless tab, add in my SSID and password and set that up that it does nothing?

bnt · 20-05-2011 10:55PM

You shouldn't need to enter the SSID manually, the driver should pick it up automatically and show it when you click on the wireless icon. Unless your router is explictly configured to hide the SSID, in which case you might want to temporarily enable SSID broadcasts while working on this problem.

Also, try the following command, which should list the SSIDs visible to the system and their details:
sudo iwlist wlan0 scanning

G-Money · 21-05-2011 07:58AM

bnt wrote: »

You shouldn't need to enter the SSID manually, the driver should pick it up automatically and show it when you click on the wireless icon. Unless your router is explictly configured to hide the SSID, in which case you might want to temporarily enable SSID broadcasts while working on this problem.

Also, try the following command, which should list the SSIDs visible to the system and their details:
sudo iwlist wlan0 scanning

I tried that and it says:

Interface doesn't support scanning

I agree in that I shouldn't have to specify the SSID in the Network Settings box. It should already be discoverable as I have my Windows 7 laptop and iPhone that can see the Wireless network

BopNiblets · 21-05-2011 02:17PM

Wifi turned on I assume? :pac:

croo · 21-05-2011 04:58PM

I'm like bnt... I've never had to specify a SSID!
In ubuntu I click on the network icon in the top right and simply select the network from a list of those available ... when the popup appears enter the wireless password when prompted.

Did you remove the manually configured network connection before you tried what bnt suggested?

G-Money · 21-05-2011 07:28PM

It's like that for my old laptop too but nothing comes up once I disconnect the network cable. Yes, the wireless is on.

Dun · 22-05-2011 08:32PM

Any idea what the network card is? Not a Broadcom by any chance?

croo · 22-05-2011 08:51PM

a couple of commands that might help understand the issue;
lspci -will list the pci devices and shoudl indicate the name of the wifi card. As Dun hinted at Broadcom cards can involve installing additional drivers to function though like nVidia graphics cards I though ubuntu noticed this and prompted to install these drivers.

the second command is
ifconfig -a
This will list all the network devices found. You should see an entry for "wlan0" here (and one named "lo" and usually the cable based "eth0").

What do you see when you enter these commands?

G-Money · 26-05-2011 02:36PM

Not at the computer in question now, but the wireless card is an Intel one I think. The wired network card is a broadcom.

Will check those commands when I get the chance.

Richard Cranium · 28-05-2011 05:34PM

I can't connect to my wireless through (wubi) Ubuntu 11.04 either. My wireless card is a Dell Wireless 1397 Mini-Card, which I'm told is the same thing as a Broadcom.

I'm completely new to Linux and not the most computer literate sort, so this may seem like a stupid question, but is there a way I could download and install the required drivers through Windows (the only way I can get onto the internet) and then make them work, or have them there to use or whatever, when I run Ubuntu again? I haven't got an ethernet cable so that option is closed off to me.

Stuxnet · 28-05-2011 09:37PM

Richard Cranium wrote: »

I can't connect to my wireless through (wubi) Ubuntu 11.04 either. My wireless card is a Dell Wireless 1397 Mini-Card, which I'm told is the same thing as a Broadcom.

I'm completely new to Linux and not the most computer literate sort, so this may seem like a stupid question, but is there a way I could download and install the required drivers through Windows (the only way I can get onto the internet) and then make them work, or have them there to use or whatever, when I run Ubuntu again? I haven't got an ethernet cable so that option is closed off to me.

ideally if at all you can get ethernet cable, u just hook up to internet and go to additional drivers in ubuntu admin menu, this will install your wireless/graphics driver

but you have no access you say, another option is if you can find an app called ndiswrapper if you can get the .deb version of it online somewhere, find it on windows and transfer it to ubuntu, this is like a .exe for windows, just double click to install, and with it, you can actually use your windows wireless driver in ubuntu

Richard Cranium · 28-05-2011 09:55PM

I probably should have been clearer and said that I actually do have an ethernet cable, it's just that I won't be able to access it until next week. Thanks for that though, I'll give that a go in the morning if my impatience gets the better of me. Plugging in a cable does seem like the much more straightforward option alright!

HTB · 28-05-2011 10:59PM

I have had issues as well with Ubuntu 11.4 and wireless.
I was running 10.1 and was tempted to update, this I did and no way could I get the wireless to work. It was working with 10.1.
I reinstalled 10.1, working perfect again.

Today I loaded Zorin OS onto a spare HDD for my better half to try out. Same issue, couldnt get wireless working.

Install Ubuntu 10.1 and bobs your aunt.

Mike:)

Stuxnet · 29-05-2011 08:16AM

HTB wrote: »

I have had issues as well with Ubuntu 11.4 and wireless.
I was running 10.1 and was tempted to update, this I did and no way could I get the wireless to work. It was working with 10.1.
I reinstalled 10.1, working perfect again.

Today I loaded Zorin OS onto a spare HDD for my better half to try out. Same issue, couldnt get wireless working.

Install Ubuntu 10.1 and bobs your aunt.

Mike:)

no disrespect but thats hardly a proper solution, your downgrading ubuntu versions, so you moving backwards, I know linux is a pain in the hole when stuff doesnt work out of the box, but thats all down to proprietary licenses and kernel stuff !! but its not too hard to get set up and running with a bit of google, and forum hunting

theres no reason why you cant get your wireless working on latest version as it worked before with a bit of tinkering,

and eta fyi its 10.04 & 10.10 ubuntu goes on a bi-annual release cycle, with releases every april and october year/month = version 11.04 ...2011 april :-)

HTB · 29-05-2011 08:24AM

iPwnage wrote: »

no disrespect but thats hardly a proper solution, your downgrading ubuntu versions, so you moving backwards, I know linux is a pain in the hole when stuff doesnt work out of the box, but thats all down to proprietary licenses and kernel stuff !! but its not too hard to get set up and running with a bit of google, and forum hunting

theres no reason why you cant get your wireless working on latest version as it worked before with a bit of tinkering,

and eta fyi its 10.04 & 10.10 ubuntu goes on a bi-annual release cycle, with releases every april and october year/month = version 11.04 ...2011 april :-)

I actually didnt like the new ubuntu interface, so I wasnt upset at having to take a step back.

I spent most of saturday evening googling and such to try an fix the problem but to no avail. There is a Fn+F2 keystroke to turn on the wireless and I couldnt get that to work.
When your other half then starts giving you the evil eye cause she hasnt been on the bookface for a few hours - its time to install Ubuntu 10 and run

:D

If you have a few pointers or a few solutions, Im all ears

brianthomas · 29-05-2011 08:36AM

I originally installed ubuntu 10.1 from xp and when I upgraded to 11.4 I lost all connection to the router. This is because 10.1 was using the previous drivers from xp to find the router and the upgrade took them out. So. . . I reinstalled a copy of xp back in and when that compleated I ran 10.1 inside it and wallla. Connected back to the wireless router. Lesson learned there.

HTB · 29-05-2011 08:48AM

Thing is it shouldnt be this hard or complex. Maybe this is what scares people away from Linux.

I done a clean install of Zorin (nice looking gui) just to see if wifey liked it. Her laptop was running Vista (god love her).

Without wireless it was no use to her. When Installed Ubuntu 10 it asked me to download a broadcom driver which i did and all was well.

Brian, what type of software is wallla ?, I have googled it but cant get any info on it

:D:D:D:D:D:D;)

digme · 29-05-2011 08:52AM

right click

HTB · 29-05-2011 08:59AM

digme wrote: »

right click

To be totally and truthfully honest ...................... I have no idea what you mean by that

Stuxnet · 29-05-2011 05:46PM

HTB wrote: »

I actually didnt like the new ubuntu interface, so I wasnt upset at having to take a step back.

but sure all you had to do was log out, and re-login and instead of unity desktop (which is the default desktop), pick classic ubuntu desktop from the drop down box menu

HTB · 30-05-2011 08:59AM

But I had no wireless in the new version ...........................

Stuxnet · 30-05-2011 10:25AM

but sure its easy enable/install it....what ever !
suit yourself :rolleyes:

HTB · 30-05-2011 06:15PM

iPwnage wrote: »

but sure its easy enable/install it....what ever !
suit yourself :rolleyes:

iPwnage
I can see that you have over 2,500 posts and you obviously know quite a bit about Linux. Either that or your a good bluffer. If you are knowledgeable about all things Linux I envy you. I am not an expert on Linux but like many people I am willing to explore and give it a try. I did use unix on a network system a long time ago but that is irrelevant to todays environment.

I cannot understand your comment to me saying Im taking a backward step. How many thousands of people have ditched Vista in favor of XP. Some have ditched 7 in favor of XP.
Just because it is new doesn't mean its better.
I like Ubuntu 10.whatever. I did not like Ubuntu 11.whatever and I could not get the wireless to work. I googled for a solution and found the Linux forums littered with people having the same problem. Obviously they dont have access to your own vast stores of knowledge but they are not members of boards.ie and do not have the pleasure of your condescending tone and be derided on a public forum.

A forum like this should be a portal to access assistance from fellow users, it should not be an area where your lack of knowledge is used to make fun of you. This is probably one of the reasons people will not take on Linux in more numbers. They are afraid that if they ask a stupid question they will be laughed at for being stupid. The same reason people feel intimidated when trying to learn anything computer related.

I really think you dont like me as you have not said one thing that might help me get a solution or are we all just bothering you.

Stuxnet · 30-05-2011 07:24PM

Sorry if I came across condesending or whatever, it wasn't my intention see the smilie in post!

Eta: have you tried latest version of Linux mint, it's built on ubuntu, and has ndiswrapper installed, this app let's you use your windows wireless driver on Linux, it might be an easy solution to help you out, you dont need to install mint to get it, but mint is a superb ubuntu based distro for those new to the game,

& not that it matters, but I don't have over 2500 posts

I'm here 6+ years with an average of less then one post a day

Richard Cranium · 31-05-2011 09:09PM

iPwnage wrote: »

ideally if at all you can get ethernet cable, u just hook up to internet and go to additional drivers in ubuntu admin menu, this will install your wireless/graphics driver

Thanks again for the help. I just thought I'd drop by and wirelessly say hello on Ubuntu

Can't connect to WiFi on Linux

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