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Need help with Ubuntu on Inspiron B120?
I recently installed Ubuntu on this computer that I got from a friend that was COMPLETELY WIPED. By completely wiped I mean there is nothing on the disk except for random patterns of 0's and 1's, nothing else. So after I installed Ubuntu on it I discovered that the internet doesn't work. I looked this up online but being the Linux noob that I am I had no clue what any of them were saying. Even the ones that I kind of understood and tried didn't work. I was just wondering if any of you guys know what is wrong and/or have any slightly understandable help.
2 Answers
- PAULSCLv 61 decade agoFavourite answer
The problem with the B120 is that nobody has written a Linux driver for the Broadcom chip that is used in this notebook for Ethernet and wireless network connectivity. That's because Broadcom are not forthcoming about releasing any of their Intellectual Property to people in the Open Source community who might want to work on this, for free. So, Linux people hope Broadcom folks will die slowly from running sores.
And you are stuck, with your only means of running Linux on this thing and getting a network connection being to run an evil hack called ndiswrapper. ndiswrapper is a way of using Windows native drivers for network hardware on a Linux machine, by making the code of a Windows driver think the system that is calling it is, really, Windows, when in fact, it is Linux. ndiswrapper is evil and can be "difficult" to configure, especially for noob guys who don't know networking, Linux, and Windows, at the code level, like the backs of their hands.
This is not a good laptop for a noob to be installing Linux on, because of such hardware glitches. But if you want to keep trying, here's a step-by-step guide: http://www.linlap.com/wiki/Dell+Inspiron+B120
- jetterLv 45 years ago
eliminate the battery in a resoponsible way... as there have been situations of battery fires......below a million hr seems slightly short....in the mean time save the battery remoted basically in case it does reason a fire.....
