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I just installed Kali Linux on Dell Inspiron 1545, and am unable to get wireless connection.

I attempted the following

root@kali:~# lspci -knn | grep Net -A2
0c:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
    Subsystem: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card [1028:000c]

# apt-get install firmware-iwlwifi
# modprobe -r iwlwifi; modprobe iwlwifi

I even tried commands I used when I installed Ubuntu on the same laptop

sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo modprobe -r b43 bcma
sudo modprobe wl

How to fix?

UPDATE

I also ran

sudo apt-get install kali-linux-wireless

but I still cannot detect and connect to my home wi-fi.

Thanks!

Tried first solution

I tried first solution, but when I go to Administration > System, I get package manager. I searched for everything Broadcom downloaded, installed, rebooted, but still no wireless.

There has to be an easy solution ......

Am trying this, http://www.chokepoint.net/2014/04/installing-broadcom-bcm43142-drivers-on.html

I was getting errors with install. After I reboot, still no wireless detector.

Update

I'm trying all your suggestions .... seems I will have to read the links you provided. Who knew getting wireless would be so difficult! I will extend bounty time if possible.

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4
  • Please read editing guidelines and modify your question.
    – shivams
    Jun 13, 2015 at 0:28
  • 3
    will do so ... why the down vote for something so trivial?
    – Rhonda
    Jun 13, 2015 at 0:31
  • 1
    Trivial!! This is not trivial. Properly framing your question is THE most important part of asking a question on the SE network. Moreover, the downvote is not permanent. Edit your question properly and it might go away.
    – shivams
    Jun 13, 2015 at 0:34
  • 2
    okay okay calm down ... I fixed ... kindly upvote if you wish
    – Rhonda
    Jun 13, 2015 at 0:35

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
6
+50

May be your wireless card is in turned off state, does the laptop have any dedicated physical switch or key combo(like Fn+F3 on my acer laptop) to turn on/off Wi-Fi ? most laptops also have a LED to show Wi-Fi card state.

Device firmwares are not pre installed in kali-linux(my last used version 1.0.4 can't tell about latest versions) , so if not already installed, install them.

sudo apt-get install firmware-linux firmware-linux-free firmware-linux-nonfree

Install Broadcom wireless card firmware

sudo apt-get install firmware-brcm80211 firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer broadcom-sta-dkms

Then use proper kernel drivers, b43 or b43legacy, iwlwifi is Intel Wi-Fi card driver so firmware-iwlwifi is not necessary.

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6
  • I am installing in Dell Inspiron 1545 ... will try this
    – Rhonda
    Jun 19, 2015 at 9:51
  • @Arnam I tried the two commands, but no luck. What do you mean by Then use proper kernel drivers, b43 or b43legacy, iwlwifi is Intel Wi-Fi card driver so firmware-iwlwifi is not necessary.
    – Rhonda
    Jun 19, 2015 at 22:32
  • As your Wi-Fi module is made by Broadcom , so it is unnecessary to use any Intel Wi-Fi card driver, iwlwifi kernel module is for Intel Wi-Fi modules. Does the Wi-Fi interface shows up(check with /sbin/ifconfig) as wlan0 or even as eth1 ? I think your card needs Proprietary Broadcom STA Wireless driver , did you installed this ? broadcom-sta-dkms ? About 1yr ago I had same issue with an old lenovo laptop , but finally worked smoothly on Ubuntu with bcmwl-kernel-source package. check it here wiki.debian.org/wl , and hey, my name is Arnab not Arnam .
    – Arnab
    Jun 20, 2015 at 4:09
  • sorry about the typo :-) will check this
    – Rhonda
    Jun 20, 2015 at 10:31
  • @Arnam Your answer gave me great ideas
    – Rhonda
    Jun 23, 2015 at 0:17
2

The following question in AskUbuntu resembles to this question and the best chosen answer suggests to perform the following steps:

Go to: System->Administrator->Additional Drivers(Hardware drivers)

Then click to Broadcom STA wireless driver and enable it.

Restart

Although, this is for Ubuntu, the best way to:

  Open System Settings --> Software & Updates.

  In the Softwares & Updates screen, head over to Additional Drivers and
  follow the instructions from there on.

I have personally never faced such an issue before and so I do not know what to do next :/

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2
  • Will try this very soon
    – Rhonda
    Jun 18, 2015 at 17:27
  • These options do not appear anywhere. And there is no search in Kali LInux!
    – Rhonda
    Jun 18, 2015 at 22:14
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I'm running Kali Linux on a Macbook Pro. The macbook also uses the broadcom device drivers. 

apt-get update
apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r | sed ‘s,[^-]*-[^-]*-,,’) broadcom-sta-dkms
modprobe -r b44 b43 b43legacy ssb brcmsmac
modprobe wl

You can find the instructions on how to make this work here.

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2
  • 1
    Hi! It would be best if you explained what your call to sed is meant to do.
    – dhag
    Nov 28, 2015 at 18:50
  • Not sure exactly, but the debian wiki recommends this command for installing the broadcom devices. Take a look at part 2 of these installation instructions :- wiki.debian.org/wl
    – KaliLinux
    Nov 28, 2015 at 18:56
1

Try this command:

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-lpphy-installer

Also, if that won't work, look here: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/1428

It seems someone made it work... in Mint, but still...

If you couldn't find the package: https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/firmware-b43-lpphy-installer

...you need b43-lpphy driver aka low-power

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