Wifi not working after installing Broadcom driver

Didimidi

I installed Solus 4 on my old notebook. I did it using wireless connection, now I don't have any possibility to use ethernet connection. I wanted to install Broadcom proprietary driver (through Wifi). I did it and it looks like the Internet is gone. Moreover, the system does not see any Wifi adapter nor other wireless networks. I uninstalled the driver but it didn't help. I tried installation/unistallation a few more times and it still doesn't help. What's wrong? Did I have to install Broadcom drivers through ethernet connection to have it working properly?

EDIT:
It looks like I actually did not uninstall Broadcom driver properly, it could be done only via terminal, not GUI manager. I tried to install it again and try

echo "install wl /sbin/modprobe cfg80211; /sbin/insmod /lib/modules/\$(/bin/uname -r)/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/wl.ko" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/hackboot.conf
echo "wl" | sudo tee /etc/modules-load.d/wl.conf

which I found in another post but it stopped working again. I completely removed Broadcom proprietary driver(s) and it works using open source drivers. Am I missing something not using proprietary driver?

henkesteen

Didimidi
I've had the same issue for years on my MacBook Pro, so I just use the open source drivers and it works pretty OK.

kyrios

So basically you have a working wifi and to solve an ethernet problem you randomly install proprietary wifi drives and you wonder why your wifi doesn't work anymore? 🤯

Didimidi

kyrios The only ethernet problem I have is just not having an ethernet cable at the moment. I asked about Wifi. I've been using Broadcom proprietary drivers all my life because they are apparently better than those from Linux kernel. On Solus I can't get them working and I don't know if I'm missing something. That's why I created this thread.

henkesteen thanks, good to know. Do you have any problems with the open source drivers, e.g. random disconnections from time to time?

henkesteen

Didimidi
No disconnection issues, and no other issues either

adevlunix

My laptop using broadcom wifi, if you used Hardware Driver try to install linux-current-headers via terminal.

minh

I got it works with this command after installed driver from Hardware Drivers:

depmod -a

then reboot.

Didimidi

minh I tried it before creating this thread but it didn't help. I don't actually know if this command even started - nothing was happening after typing it in terminal.

After I finally managed the proprietary driver problem by uninstalling it via terminal I decided to stay with the open source drivers. If it ain't break, don't fix it 😀

tapan

minh Thanks Minh. Your given command just worked. I guess some of the users are not giving root access by typing sudo depmod -a and then reboot. It worked for me thisway. Though I am a newbie, just thought this will be helpful. Thanks again Minh.

ere02

minh

thx alot! I had the same issues with my Macbook air. I search for hardware first. Installed the alternative driver. At first, it didn't work. After depmod -a and reboot Wifi is working now! Greetings from South Germany!

minh

Didimidi i got kernel panic because of broadcom package with update use kernel 5. It works fine after i removed this package. So i go the same with you use open source one 😃. For whom concern how to setup open source version of broadcom: http://linuxwireless.sipsolutions.net/en/users/Drivers/b43/#other_distros

raselkhan9560

tapan sudo depmod -a also work for me. Ty

prazeworks

Thanks for this! I have a Macbook Pro 13 mid 2010 and this helped me get the WiFi working. I ran the command after installing the Hardware Driver.

jay

Solve this exact same problem by connecting to the internet using my phone via USB tethering. Then went to hardware drivers again and re-install the Broadcom drivers and reboot. Kind-a weird cause I do this all the time with other distros (installing proprietary wifi driver using wifi) and it works. You can definitely use the proprietary driver by doing this and it works better that the open-source wifif driver. I know I/m 1 year late but somebody might just have this problem nowadays.

salexandarz

jay I did exactly same thing for Manjaro and Solus. I think I didn't have to for Ubuntu, but I'm not sure.

amanitu

Just stopping by to say thanks! Got a broadcom scare and managed to get out of the trap. This forum works!

ere02

Also thx alot. I have two main distros. I still love Solus very much but i couldn't get it to run on my macbook air 2015. This command sudo depmod -a has done the trick. My daughter is now very happy with the macbook 🙂
greetings from south Germany,

Erwin