Dell Inspiron 1545

Dell Inspiron 1545

• Chipset: BCM4312 802.11b/g (Rev. 01), Intel Processor, T3400, 2.16, 1MB, Core Penryn, 2C, M0
• pciid: 14e4:4315
• Driver: driver=wl2, driverversion=5.10.91.9, ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp33001-33500/sp33008.exe

Info

1) Started with fresh install of Ubuntu 9.04 desktop editionburned onto CD-R.

2) The provided Hardware Drivers utility auto-sensed the WLAN interface, and the WLAN worked through the NetworkManager Applet 0.7.0.100 gui interface at the upper-right hand side.

3) Performed a full update via Update Manager.

4) Downloaded and installed Virtualbox 3.0.4.deb file. Just double-clicked .deb and clicked through prompts. Did not go through Add/Remove Programs.

5) Installed into a VBox virtual machine Windows Vista Business 32x from OEM disk (HP Compaq 6715b). With the Ubuntu host connected wirelessly and Vista VM in NAT mode, performed full updates in Vista but skipped IE8. Downloaded and installed newest iTunes in Vista. Opened iTunes post-install and began downloading 3 podcasts.

6) After a few minutes the host wireless connection became disconnected. The NetworkManager showed no wireless network SSIDs despite being in range of multiple wireless access points.

7) Tried deactivating and reactivating driver in Hardware Drivers utility, restarting OS, and reinstalling Ubuntu 9.04 desktop edition but Network Manager still did not show SSIDs. Looked in Ubuntu Help Center under Wireless Troubleshooting with it stating: "Check to see if there is a hardware switch, some devices can be switched off from Windows and may need to be turned back on from Windows."

8) Backed up and performed native install of Vista Business 32x via above mentioned OEM disk. Looked around in Device Manager and the Ethernet Controller and WLAN did not have drivers installed for them. Did nothing else.

9) Subsequently, immediately performed steps 1-3. The WLAN was auto-sensed and began working. Installed Virtualbox OSE via Add/Remove Programs. Started Vista Business 32x VM made in VBox 3.0.4 and began downloading iTunes podcasts and WLAN stopped working again. Performed 7-8, then 1-3. Also tried disabling bluetooth in BIOS. Booted into Ubuntu OS, WLAN was auto-sensed again but Network Manager did not show SSIDs despite being within multiple WAPs.

10) Followed ndiswrapperwebsite steps in following order: 1, 2, 2b, 3, and lastly the box immediately after "Trying It Temporarily" and stopped there. At first, the wireless card did not function. Set BIOS to factory defaults, booted into Ubuntu, toggled activate button in "Hardware Drivers" utility via System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers for the Broadcom STA wireless driver. After toggling the utility did not activate the driver but the upper right hand side where the wireless signal icon is shifts a little, then wireless SSIDs are displayed.

11) Started VBox VM Vista and downloaded podcasts while watching iTunes video podcast with no problems, no host wireless disconnection.

12) After restarting OS, SSIDs did not populate despite being within distance of WAPs. Tried toggling ndiswrapper but wireless icon did not recover. Opened hardware Drivers utility and toggled the driver, which again caused the wireless signal icon to shift, then SSIDs populated.

It seems that toggling Hardware Drivers activate button, despite the Hardware Drivers GUI stating the Broadcom STA wireless driver is not activated, causes the wireless card to function appropriately despite ndiswrapper being enabled. Another possibility is that it takes a little while (minute+) for ndiswrapper to work.