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I've run a live USB session on Ubuntu 14.10 before installing it. In software & Updates -> Additional Drivers I could directly select a Broadcom proprietary driver. After a click on Apply Changes, the wifi went on. Now I've installed Ubuntu for real (updating the packages during the installation process), I can still see the Broadcom driver displayed, but selecting it fails.

I've seen in other threads that people tried some complex solutions that eventually worked (BCM4352 Wireless network card issues with lubuntu 14.04 LTS).

Before trying this, do you have any idea why something would work on a live session and not a installed system ? I really wish there was a simple solution to my problem (I'm quite new with Linux). Thanks !

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Istopopoki
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2 Answers2

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  1. After you install Ubuntu to your hard drive, you can extract bcmwl-kernel-source and its dependency dkms from the install DVD or USB.

  2. Navigate to /pool/restricted/b/bcmwl and drag and drop the deb file to your desktop.

  3. Next, navigate to /pool/main/d/dkms drag and drop dkms to your desktop.

  4. Now install both with:

    sudo dpkg -i ~/Desktop/*.deb

  5. Load the driver:

    sudo modprobe wl

Your wireless should now be working.

David Foerster
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chili555
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2

I found a way to enable the wifi on my dell xps 15 (2015) on Ubuntu 14.10.

Here is my personal complete process:

  • Boot on a live disk.

  • Go to Software & Updates, Additional Drivers, select the Broadcom one and Apply Changes. Wifi should work on the live session.

  • Then launch an Install of Ubuntu from the live session (eventually erasing your previous install).

  • Allow third-party softwares to be installed, and check the "download updates" option.

  • Restart.

  • Now, in the freshly installed ubuntu, I couldn't select the broadcom driver anymore and wifi was down.

  • I downloaded the driver from here on another PC: http://packages.ubuntu.com/utopic/admin/bcmwl-kernel-source And put in on a USB stick.

  • On my dell I simply double-clicked on it and the ubuntu software center installed it. And I had the joy to see the wifi wake up :)

A.B.
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Istopopoki
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