No wifi on Dell Vostro 1500

[opie]

I have a dual booted Dell Vostro 1500.  I recently updated my PCLOS partition to the PCLOS KDE 2012.08 version using a live-cd.  The live-cd allowed connection with my wifi network just fine.  However, upon installing PCLOS it did not recognize any of the wifi signals.  That suggests to me that it is not able to read my wifi card.  I tried the mimime edition with the same results.

I received a KDE bug notice on the live-cd.  I intended to address the bug notice once PCLOS was installed, however, once I installed PCLOS I did not have a wifi connection to address the bug notice.  Could the bug be the problem?  If the bug is the problem, why would it not affect the wifi connection on the live-cd?

I have never had a problem with the wifi card using PCLOS on any of my computers.  I have two other laptops with PCLOS dual booted.  

Is there a fix for this?

[Just17]

You need to supply some information about the hardware ........  what is the wifi device?

what driver was it using on the livecd?

[opie]

The wireless card is Broadcom BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY.  I have no idea what driver PCLOS uses.  PCLOS just automatically uses the correct driver to run the card.

[Just17]

As it is a dual boot rig, boot into Win and ensure the WiFi is turned on and then reboot into PCLOS.

There are quite a number of threads about this WiFi card on the forum ......  you might search for those from this year ......  this is one I came across which might have some ideas for you ......

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,106349.0.html

[opie]

Thank you.  I decided to drop back and punt.  I thought I would try PCLOS LXDE.  I just installed it and it recognized my wireless card and works fine. The only thing I don't like is that it does not show the check mark next to the connected network once it is connected.  I will explore the link and read up on the issue.  I will come back and try to fix the issue when I reinstall KDE.  Thank you for your help.

[Just17]

If you get a definitive solution please do post for anyone else who might have the problem.

I suggest you check PCC - Hardware to see what driver is being used, and also with what kernel on the LXDE install.

You should be able to duplicate it on the KDE install.

[opie]

I reloaded PCLOS KDE.  PCLOS now recognizes my network but it will not connect.  I updated PCLOS using my ethernet connection, but there was no improvement in the wifi connection.

I have since loaded Ubuntu using the Ubuntu Windows Installer in the Windows partition.  The wireless works fine in Ubuntu.  (Ubuntu uses Gnome)

I then squeezed Puppy Linux into the partition on which I have PCLOS.  The wireless card works fine in Puppy Linux.

I have four operating systems now installed on the same computer.  Three out of the four can access my wifi (Windows, Puppy, and Ubuntu).  The problem connecting is only with PCLOS.  Two other Linux programs running on the same computer and there is no problem with them connecting.  Is this a problem unique to KDE?

I am still going through the remedies listed in the forum.  I will post the remedy when I find it out.

[Just17]

Comparisons are one thing ......  but what info have you gathered besides 'working' or not?

I suggest you install the  2.6.38   kernel on PCLOS KDE and see what results you might get.

[opie]

I noticed that my post was edited to remove the name of another Linux distro and substituted the words "another distro."  Is it against the rules on the forum to mention that particular distro?