WiCD network work but there is no WiFi

[Andrew Lohmann]

My computer is old it runs Debian 9.3 XFCE well but I can't get LXDE to run (which I prefer as it may be faster).

The PC in a HP nx6125 Laptop and it is 10 -12 years old, 64 bit, 1.5GB DDR1.
To resolve missing driver's issue I needed driver's for Broadcom 4318 and another driver. They were;
firmware-b43-installer_19-3_all.deb
b43-fwcutter_19-1_amd64.deb // note I do not think I needed this.
firmware-ipw2x00_0.43_all.deb
TG3_TSO5 firmware-Linux-nonfree_0.43_all.deb

The wireless button does not turn on WiFi and is not illuminated when pressed.

[arochester]

Can you connect TEMPORARILY by cable?

[Andrew Lohmann]

I can connect by Ethernet cable. I have carried out update using synaptic used that to install gdebi and have other applications installed and running.

[bigrigdriver]

There is information here that might help. Scroll down to #2. WiCD

https://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse#Wicd

[Andrew Lohmann]

There is information here that might help. Scroll down to #2. WiCD

https://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse#Wicd

Thanks I had looked at that but thought that it was not relevant because WiCD was already installed as part of Debian 9.3 LXDE installation is complete. Although I did try re-installing WiCD after I had installed the missing drivers. I shall return to that page and go through it step by step.

[Andrew Lohmann]

Thanks but I came up with the same problem I had before I posted this question which is.

Wicd step 1. mentions aptitude but that root terminal command fails. This is copied from root terminal.

root@debian:/home/andrew# su
root@debian:/home/andrew# aptitude update
bash: aptitude: command not found

I don't know what this means?

[Andrew Lohmann]

Assuming I do not need to follow step 1 because Wicd is already installed. Step 2 also fails see below;

root@debian:/home/andrew# auto lo
bash: auto: command not found

root@debian:/home/andrew# iface lo inet loopback
bash: iface: command not found

Also the file; /etc/network/interfaces does not mention networkmanager (which is correct I read)

I think the distribution does not have all the things necessary to run Wicd or there is something I need to configure somewhere eg in Wicd. I am not getting an indication as to what is necessary?

[sunrat]

root@debian:/home/andrew# auto lo
bash: auto: command not found

root@debian:/home/andrew# iface lo inet loopback
bash: iface: command not found

Also the file; /etc/network/interfaces does not mention networkmanager (which is correct I read)

They are not commands but default entries in /etc/network/interfaces. NetworkManager doesn't use /etc/network/interfaces.
Did you remove NM as the wiki says you must to use Wicd?
Sounds like your driver is not installed properly. Post the contents of /etc/network/interfaces, and the output of these commands:

Code: Select all

lspci |grep -i wireless
lsmod |grep b43

Broadcom chips can be tricky to get working. Have you read these? -
https://wiki.debian.org/bcm43xx
https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/use ... ed_devices

[Bulkley]

It is a long time since I used WiCD but I remember that one has to enter wlan0 in a box for it all to work. Run ifconfig to learn if you need wlan0, wlan1 or whichever. Until the correct one is entered Wicd will be useless. Just saying.

Other than that, do what sunrat says; he knows what he is talking about.

[bigrigdriver]

root@debian:/home/andrew# su
root@debian:/home/andrew# aptitude update
bash: aptitude: command not found

This could mean one of two things.
1) Aptitude is not installed.
2) The aptitude executable in not in the root user's path.

[Andrew Lohmann]

Okay I am working through your replies thank you;

I opened "/etc/network/interfaces." See text below;
"
# This file describes the network interfaces available on your system
# and how to activate them. For more information, see interfaces(5).

source /etc/network/interfaces.d/*


# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface
allow-hotplug enp2s1
iface enp2s1 inet dhcp
"

andrew@debian:~$ lspci |grep -i wireless
02:02.0 Network controller: Broadcom Limited BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller (rev 02)
andrew@debian:~$

andrew@debian:~$ lsmod |grep b43
b43 409600 0
bcma 53248 1 b43
mac80211 671744 1 b43
cfg80211 589824 2 b43,mac80211
rng_core 16384 1 b43
ssb 69632 1 b43
mmc_core 147456 4 b43,sdhci,ssb,sdhci_pci
andrew@debian:~$


Network Manager was not installed but I installed it then uninstalled it using Synaptic.

[bw123]

If you were not online when you installed
firmware-b43-installer_19-3_all.deb

then it didn't download the firmware and extract it with
b43-fwcutter_19-1_amd64.deb // note I do not think I needed this.

Yeah, you do need the fwcutter. You can check if it worked by looking in /lib/firmware/b43 and see if the files are in there.

On my system it always installs as 750 permission so look as root...
and check dmesg to see if it's loading the firmware.

[Andrew Lohmann]

Okay so I have removed NM and gone back and completely removed RM (I had installed and removed it yesterday)

I have repeated the installation of the drivers first; (as before and as before with the network cable connected)
b43-fwcutter_19-1_amd64.deb
firmware-b43-installer_19-3_all.deb
firmware-ipw2x00_0.43_all.deb

Restarted Linux and note there are no missing drivers listed during start up.

I have run through the tests with iwconfig and the most significant message is that the TX and other things are all powered off but power management is ON. This is confirmed by the blue light not being illuminated.

/lib/firmware/b43 contains many files.

[oswaldkelso]

The wireless button does not turn on WiFi and is not illuminated when pressed.

Code: Select all

sudo rfkill list

[Andrew Lohmann]

This is the response - I don't know how this helps though?


root@debian:/home/andrew# sudo rfkill list
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
2: hp-bluetooth: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
root@debian:/home/andrew#

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Code: Select all

# rfkill unblock all

[Andrew Lohmann]

I have abandoned Debian 9 LXDE and I am using Debian 8.10 XFCE

The Broadcom driver set up in XFCE was easy once again and straightforward.

I had reinstalled LXDE and also installed to 8.10 LXDE without success with WiFi I think there is something incomplete about the distro with the LXDE desktop?

I have the installation on a memory stick, so I can answer questions if you would like me to report a bug?