[jasonlee91]

Alright so ive looked online and searched a bunch of stuff but because im so new to linux i am having a hard time even understand some of the stuff.
i really want to get comfortable/fluent with linux and unix and what not.

so my outputs as posted in the instructions:


[email protected] ~ $ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY (rev 01)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications AR8132 Fast Ethernet (rev c0)


[email protected] ~ $ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 10f1:1a13
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub


[email protected] ~ $ lsmod
Module Size Used by
binfmt_misc 6599 1
parport_pc 26058 0
ppdev 5556 0
dm_crypt 11385 0
snd_hda_codec_idt 54887 1
snd_hda_intel 22107 2
snd_hda_codec 87552 2 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel
joydev 8735 0
snd_hwdep 5040 1 snd_hda_codec
arc4 1165 2
snd_pcm 71475 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 4588 0
b43 168681 0
snd_rawmidi 17783 1 snd_seq_midi
mac80211 231541 1 b43
snd_seq_midi_event 6047 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 47174 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 19067 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
hp_wmi 5191 0
snd_seq_device 5744 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
uvcvideo 55847 0
cfg80211 144470 2 b43,mac80211
videodev 43098 1 uvcvideo
snd 49006 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
psmouse 59033 0
lp 7342 0
v4l1_compat 13359 2 uvcvideo,videodev
serio_raw 4022 0
soundcore 880 1 snd
led_class 2633 1 b43
snd_page_alloc 7120 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
parport 31492 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
dm_raid45 81721 0
xor 15136 1 dm_raid45
btrfs 489451 0
zlib_deflate 19266 1 btrfs
crc32c 2531 1
libcrc32c 887 1 btrfs
i915 290938 3
drm_kms_helper 30200 1 i915
drm 168054 4 i915,drm_kms_helper
ahci 19013 0
i2c_algo_bit 5168 1 i915
libahci 21667 3 ahci
intel_agp 26360 2 i915
ssb 39288 1 b43
atl1c 29949 0
video 18712 1 i915
output 1883 1 video
agpgart 32011 2 drm,intel_agp


[email protected] ~ $ uname -r
2.6.35-22-generic


my netbook model is HP Compaq Mini 110
the distribution i am using is Linux Mint 10

when i first installed mint, it said that i needed non-free drivers?
any help is much appreciated!

 

[Bartender]

Getting comfortable with Linux takes time. Time and exposure and a willingness to keep plugging away at it even when you're fed up.

So what is it you're trying to do? If you can't go online wirelessly, it's probably because of that danged Broadcom wi-fi chip. Broadcom chips must be cheap for the manufacturers, because they sure show up a lot.

Intel wi-fi cards have the best support. They're also the most expensive, which is why you don't find them inside budget laptops. Atheros has gotten a lot better than it was a few years ago. I've replaced the poorly supported wi-fi cards in a few laptops with Intel cards. Button the laptop back up, turn it on, BANG you're online. I've found that to be easier than screwing around with software work-arounds.

Plugging into a wired connection should "just work". Find a wired connection, let Mint update itself. Let it get "non-free" updates too. I think "non-free" is in reference to proprietary software, not software you have to pay for.

You want to start a fight, get some Linux advocates together in a room and engage them in a conversation about proprietary vs. non-proprietary. It's an emotional issue. For you, for right now, don't worry about it. Just let Mint get the "non-free" stuff and you should be fine.

 

[jasonlee91]

so i did everyything you said and you were right
the ethernet cable instantly gave me connection and i was able to run updates
but the wifi still doesnt work
i think the updates only updated the free ones and not the non-free ones cause i dont remember ever specifying to download the non free ones
how do i manually specify to download all available updates?

 

[jasonlee91]

i also typed:
$ sudo gedit /var/lib/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.state

the output says:
[main]
NetworkingEnabled=true
WirelessEnabled=true
WWANEnabled=true

so i think maybe its just a configuration setting that i cant use the wifi drivers?

im also wondering maybe i should just install mint 9?
i hear its less buggy but i relaly dont know what to beleive cause there is so much info out there

 

[jasonlee91]

oh also when i right click on the little network sign on the bottom right corner, then it says "Wireless Networks device not read (firmware missing)" I dont know what is going on haha

 

[slyfth]

[ubuntu] How to install native broadcom drivers for BCM4311, BCM4312, BCM4321, and BCM4322 - Ubuntu Forums

This is what you need to do. But just before you go into the deep dark ocean of compiling source codes, maybe you want to try with installing the 'non-free' updates.

Okay, now I am not sure if it is the same for Mint but should be on the same lines. First, go into synaptics package manager and search for restricted. It should come up with quite a few packages. You need to look for the one which says ubuntu-restricted-package or something similar. Mark it for installation and apply. Then go into Update manager and click on 'properties' or 'software sources'. Then mark contrib and non-free (I think that's the one. I am not on my machine atm) and click apply. Then reload and see if any new updates need to be applied. Selecting contrib and non-free should update the same in /etc/apt/sources.list, I think. Just check it by running the following command:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list


And see if you have the 2 words added next to the repository.



If that doesn't work, follow instructions on the forums I mentioned. You can also try:

*OFFICIAL* Broadcom Linux driver BCM4312 | You’re Special, Just Like Everybody Else.




Hope that helps you!

 

[slyfth]

And yes, as per my understanding, firmware missing is a problem of driver missing. For my intel card, iwl sorted it out.