Wireless Driver in Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

First, do this

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_8.04/Issues/Update_Dell_PPA_Entry

Then do this

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Tech/Wireless/Truemobile_ndiswrapper

Keep in mind that the wireless driver you need for your hardware is on the Dell Drivers and Utilities disk that you received with your laptop or available from

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

Make sure you use the XP driver as Vista drivers are not compatible with NDISwrapper.

I have the i1318 and there are only Vista drivers on the Dell support site.  Will that not work?

I found R188944.exe at 

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WLH&osl=EN&catid=5&impid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=INSPIRON1318&hidos=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

Unfortunately, no. Vista drivers are incompatible with ndiswrapper.

Check here for the XP drivers

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&osl=EN&catid=5&impid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_PM_1525&hidos=WW1&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

Double check your chipset by using

lspci 

or

lspci | grep -i net

( the 1525 usually has a 1395, 1390, or 1505 wireless chipset).

Copy/paste the output here and we'll check.

I have the 1395 chipset (lspci shows Broadcom Corporation BCM4310 USB Controller).  I found the:

Dell_multi-device_A17_R174291.exe 

driver for XP that applies to 1395 so I think i'll give that a shot.  I'm in Vista right now, I'm gonna boot to Ubunto and check it out.  I removed my Ubuntu partition and am going to try again... right now I'm just checking it out in wubi.

That driver shoud work, eh?

Also, I have the inspiron 1318 not 1525 but it's still the 1395 WLAN card (but it's not listed as one of those on 

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Tech/Wireless/Truemobile_ndiswrapper

Can it still work just the same?

And, do I need to do: 

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_8.04/Issues/Update_Dell_PPA_Entry

Even though it's a Dell 1318?

Hmm, so I guess that update was supposed to happen because without changing anything my wireless card is already enabled and in use and I see all of my wireless networks.  However, the problem I was having before is that it does not connect to WPA.  I can connect to an open network, but not my own WPA network.

When I did it all before I had it working with WPA when it showed as BCM4310 USB Controller (before the updates) and everything was perfect.  Then, i installed the updates and it changed to BCM4312 and I was where I am now.  I don't understand why WPA is not working but it's very agitating.  I wish I knew how to reverse whatever was updated or at least get WPA working....??

 EDIT:
I got it working fine... I followed this:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=880218

Glad you got it working! 

And, do I need to do: 

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_8.04/Issues/Update_Dell_PPA_Entry

Even though it's a Dell 1318?

Something with the update is changing my card information.  Is there any solution?  Should I just not install the updates?? 

You do need to update the package repositories to include the Dell specific repositories (PPA) to get the proper updates.

After the update the Broadcom driver was re-initialized. If you change the repo's to include the Dell specific repositories you shouldn't run into the same problem again in the future.

Update Dell's PPA (Personal Package Archives):

http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_8.04/Issues/Update_Dell_PPA_Entry