Loss of Broadcom Wireless NIC driver after kernel update in SLED 10

[Archie Ferrier]

I have recently done a kernel update on my Mininote 2133 and have lost the Wireless NIC driver. I need help to restore this driver.

[Brian Bettger]

Hello Archie,

You, me and apparently a host of others are miffed at this problem! I just got mine for Christmas and right off the bat I tried to setup the wlan, no go!

I've found some work arounds but it is a pain and not properly supported. I am hoping someone at HP has purchased one of the mini notes and will pressure their peers to get on this problem with Novell.

I wonder if it is just as simple as restoring the driver? I'm guessing not?

Try this link:

http://www.novell.com/support/viewContent.do?externalId=3558227

And there is another link I cannot backtrack to find that explains it a bit further. The heading reads:

"hp2133 mininote updated SLED SP1 to SP2 now wireless is broken".

Try that as a search at the top of the forum. I simply searched 2133 wireless and it was one of the top choices.

Good luck for all of us,
Brian

[Archie Ferrier]

Hi Brian

Thanks for your reply. I have investigated using ndiswrapper and posted on the Novel support forum to get more information but there are some problems with this. Check out the link: http://forums.novell.com/novell-product-support-forums/suse-linux-enterprise-desktop-sled/sled-networking/354869-hp-mini-2133-broadcom4310-wireless-problem.html#post1705964

I will post any information I get back here.

Cheers

Archie

[Brian Bettger]

Hello Archie,

Thanks for the link! As soon as we, who purchased the HP 2133 Mini-Note, start up the 2133 for the first time we go into the install process of SLED 10. As part of the install, toward the end, we are prompted to check for updates. I did, with the Ethernet connection.

So, I didn't even get the chance to have a working wireless connection, right from the get-go :-(.

It appears that the solution you provided Guy may work in my case, copying the old driver into the new kernel directory. Great find!!!

After reading the link at Novell Forums, I assume your wireless is working again now, right?

Thanks Archie,
Brian

[Brian Bettger]

Archie,

The Novell link didn't work as I only have the first directory on the 2133 /lib/modules/2.6.16.54-0.2.5-default/kernel/drivers/net. Another way of stating this is that there is only the one directory in /lib/modules and that one directory is 2.6.16.54-0.2.5-default.

Come on HP, your name will be hurt pretty badly when this eventually hits the fan. I don't know of anyone who would buy a mini-note and not care that the wireless function doesn't work. I am NOT interested in a XP or Vista version, I'd go to another mini if I do not get some sort of technical response that anyone can follow, particularly those who have recently purchased a 2133.

Archie,

Does you 'HP-toolbox' work? It doesn't on mine, I haave no idea if this could help or not?

Brian

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

I would back up to the previous version of the kernel, because the current may not work with the wireless device at all. This happens.

Depending on what driver/methodology you are using, you may need to get a new version of that driver matched to the kernel you plan to run. This may take time.

SEP

[Archie Ferrier]

Hi Brian

Yes I did manage to get mine working again and the original driver works fine with the updated kernel. I have to load the driver into the kernel manually every time I switch on but I am still working on a way of doing this automatically.

You have not done the kernel update then or you would have had the other directories. Is the driver wl.ko in your kernel net directory? If it is, you could still try using insmod to load the driver manually. To do this you have to become root, change to the net directory and issue the command insmod wl.ko. I have given more detailed instructions on the Novel site as you will have seen.

If you don't have the driver email me at archie.f@tiscali.co.uk and I will email it back to you.

By the way, the kernel update was issued for security reasons so it would be a good ideal to install it.

I also agree that this problem is not doing HP or the Linux cause any good at all. And people implying that this should be expected does nothing to help the situation.

Regards

Archie

[Brian Bettger]

Hello again Archie,

I am glad to hear you have your wireless LAN working now. Most people would stop updating their original post and leave people following the thread lost. Thank you for continuing onward on this thread!

I called HP yesterday to open a case, in spite of my knowledge from the forums, mostly to make known ONE more dissatisfied new owner of their product is having problems with the Broadcom driver issue and SUSE 10 SP1. Secondly, what does HP tech support offer as a resolution to this.

It started out basic, is the LED orange or blue? If I move the slider on the right side to the left momentarily does the color of the LED change from orange to blue? If I click on the network icon do I get an option to connect to a wireless LAN, etc.

I finally confessed to the tech that I had gone through the HP and Novell forums and discovered that it is an issue with the Broadconm hardware and Linux drivers...

He overnighted a CD/DVD restore disk, got it today, but I am at my office right now. He instructed me to reinstall the OS and the problem should go away. I will do so, just to see if he is right or washed up. What happens on the next update?

I read in another forum, I'll find the link to it and post it for you, where someone installed OpenSuSE 11.0 and the WLAN worked perfectly. Unfortunately HP only supports Suse 10 SP1 on the 2133, said the tech. Hmmm, heard that one before with Windows 98 vs Windows 98SE on HP equipment.
I think I might buy a second hard drive for the 2133 and play around. Mine is currently the 4GB solid state drive. Not much faster, in my estimation!

Does your HP Toolbox work? Is it for HP printers, or does it include some Linux tools specifically for this installation?

Thanks Archie, will update you as things progress.

Brian

PS
Steven (SEP)
I do not desire to be stuck with the current Kernel never to update as security needs exist. It is therefore a problem that must overcome updates, I'd think. Thanks for your input though :-)

[Brian Bettger]

Hey Archie,

Update:
Reinstalled the OS as Tech Support directed. Naturally it blew away the existing info on the drive, no big deal as it wasn't even being used yet.
I now have a BLUE led on the WLAN switch, front right of the 2133! I can connect to the access point, but the WLAN cannot obtain a DHCP address, ARGH!
Another call to HP Tech Support. This Tech was a bit lower level, although I have to hand it to him, he asked if the firewall was on, it was. I turned it off and set it to manual. No Go even after a reboot. It sees the access point, but no DHCP. The Tech said he'd have to contact the next level of support and call me back on 1/1/09, I am still waiting for the call...

Ceck this out:
http://forums.opensuse.org/network-internet/wireless/389062-wireless-not-working-opensuse-11-hp-2133-broadcom-wlan.html

I stumbled upon this forum and I think I'll have a go at it. OpenSuSE 11.0 seems to find and work with the Broadcom hardware. I think I'll purchase a new 2.5 SATA laptop drive and install it this weekend to find out. Better yet, I will download the live CD and see if it discovers the hardware first.

I am still hoping HP support will fix this problem on my original SLED 10 SP1.

Brian