In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing wireless drivers on Ubuntu without the need for an internet or ethernet connection. This can be a daunting task, especially for new users, but we’ll break it down into manageable steps and explain each one in detail.
To install wireless drivers on Ubuntu without internet or ethernet, you can use a Live USB to install the necessary drivers, manually download and install the driver packages, or use the b43-fwcutter tool for Broadcom wireless cards. Each method requires different steps, but with the right guidance, you can successfully install the drivers and get your wireless connection up and running.
Method 1: Using a Live USB
If you have the Live USB from which you installed Ubuntu, you can use it to install the necessary drivers.
Step 1: Insert and Mount the Live USB
Insert the Live USB into your computer. Ubuntu should automatically detect the USB and mount it. If it doesn’t, you can use the Disks utility to manually mount it.
Step 2: Install the Drivers
Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T. In the terminal, type the following commands:
sudo dpkg -i /media/username/volname/pool/main/d/dkms/dkms_*.deb
sudo dpkg -i /media/username/volname/pool/restricted/b/bcmwl/bcmwl-kernel-source_*.debReplace username with your Ubuntu username and volname with the volume label of the USB drive. The dpkg -i command installs the drivers located in the specified directory.
Step 3: Reboot Your System
After the installation completes, reboot your system. The new drivers should now be active.
Method 2: Manual Package Download
If you don’t have a Live USB, you can manually download the necessary driver packages from the Ubuntu packages website.
Step 1: Download the Driver Package
Visit the Ubuntu packages website and search for the specific driver package you need. Download the package onto a USB drive or other portable storage device.
Step 2: Transfer and Install the Package
Copy the downloaded package to your Ubuntu system. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the package is located. Run the following command to install the package:
sudo dpkg --install /path/to/packageReplace /path/to/package with the actual path to the downloaded package. The dpkg --install command installs the package.
Step 3: Install Dependencies
Before installing the driver package, make sure to manually install any dependencies listed on the package’s webpage. You can download these dependencies in the same way as the driver package.
Method 3: Using b43-fwcutter
For users facing issues with Broadcom wireless cards, you can use the b43-fwcutter tool to extract and install the necessary firmware.
Step 1: Identify Your Broadcom Wireless Card Model
Open the terminal and run the following command:
lspci -vnn | grep 14e4This command lists all PCI devices and filters the output for Broadcom devices.
Step 2: Download the Necessary Drivers
Follow the instructions provided on the Linux Wireless website to download the necessary drivers for your specific model.
Step 3: Install the Drivers
Transfer the downloaded drivers to your Ubuntu system. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the drivers are located. Run the following commands to install the drivers:
tar xjf broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5.tar.bz2
cd broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5/driver
b43-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/ wl_apsta_mimo.oThe tar xjf command extracts the downloaded file. The cd command changes the current directory to the extracted driver directory. The b43-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/ wl_apsta_mimo.o command extracts the firmware from the driver files and installs it.
Conclusion
Installing wireless drivers on Ubuntu without an internet or ethernet connection can be a complex task, but with the right guidance, it’s definitely achievable. We hope this guide has been helpful in navigating this process. Always remember to adapt these instructions according to your specific hardware and Ubuntu version to ensure a successful installation.
Yes, you can install wireless drivers on Ubuntu without an internet connection by using methods such as using a Live USB, manually downloading the driver packages, or using the b43-fwcutter tool.
To mount a Live USB in Ubuntu, simply insert the USB into your computer. Ubuntu should automatically detect and mount it. If it doesn’t, you can use the Disks utility to manually mount it.
To open the terminal in Ubuntu, press Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut will launch the terminal.
To install a driver package using dpkg, open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the package is located. Then, run the command sudo dpkg --install /path/to/package, replacing /path/to/package with the actual path to the downloaded package.
Before installing a driver package, make sure to manually install any dependencies listed on the package’s webpage. You can download these dependencies in the same way as the driver package, and then install them using the sudo dpkg --install /path/to/dependency command.
To identify your Broadcom wireless card model, open the terminal and run the command lspci -vnn | grep 14e4. This command will list all PCI devices and filter the output for Broadcom devices.
To extract and install firmware using b43-fwcutter, first download the necessary drivers for your specific Broadcom wireless card model. Then, transfer the downloaded drivers to your Ubuntu system. Open the terminal, navigate to the directory where the drivers are located, and run the commands tar xjf broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5.tar.bz2, cd broadcom-wl-4.150.10.5/driver, and b43-fwcutter -w /lib/firmware/ wl_apsta_mimo.o. This will extract the firmware from the driver files and install it.
These methods can generally be used for most versions of Ubuntu. However, it’s always important to adapt the instructions according to your specific hardware and Ubuntu version to ensure a successful installation.
