[Solved] I need Legacy WiFi Driver for Intel 3945ABG

[VTV47]

Linux noob here so go easy with the geek-speak please

Recently installed Mint 17.1 on a mid-90’s Toshiba Satellite laptop. Full install to clean formatted hard drive and Vista is long gone. System Settings show “Wi-Fi Unavailable” but “inxi -ni” shows “Card-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG” installed. I’m assuming that the 17.1 distro either didn’t include the driver or didn’t install it. The wired network works fine but after many years tethered to a router I’ve gotten spoiled with wifi. Any suggestions on where I can find and install a functional driver (with explicit instructions) would be appreciated.

I did run across this ( iwlwifi-3945-ucode-15.32.2.9.tgz ) at Intel but don’t know if it will work or how and where to install it. I’m hardly up to speed on terminal commands so a lot of hand-holding would be great. Thanks for all you folks do here.

VTV

[Pjotr]

Please generate an overview of your system like this:
- launch a terminal window and make it fullscreen, to avoid chopped lines;
- copy/paste this command into the terminal:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

(if you type: the letter F is a capital letter)

Press Enter.

Copy/paste the output in your next message.

Also post the output of this command:

Code: Select all

sudo rfkill list all

(note that when you type your password, it'll remain entirely invisible, not even dots will show, this is normal)

[VTV47]

Thanks Pojtr. As requested:

System: Host: Aich-Satellite-A135 Kernel: 3.13.0-37-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.8.2)
Desktop: Gnome Distro: Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca
Machine: System: TOSHIBA (portable) product: Satellite A135 version: PSAD0U-03H00P
Mobo: TOSHIBA model: IAKAA version: 1.00 Bios: TOSHIBA version: V1.10 date: 12/08/2006
CPU: Dual core Intel CPU T2250 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB flags: (nx sse sse2 sse3) bmips: 6915.54
Clock Speeds: 1: 1733.00 MHz 2: 800.00 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 945GM/GMS 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
X.Org: 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1280x800@59.9hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945GM x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 10.1.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.13.0-37-generic
Network: Card-1: Realtek RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 4000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection driver: iwl3945 ver: in-tree:s bus-ID: 04:00.0
IF: wlan0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 120.0GB (3.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HTS54161 size: 120.0GB
Partition: ID: / size: 109G used: 4.4G (5%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 1.06GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 42.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 140 Uptime: 1 min Memory: 220.2/992.5MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.2 Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4

sudo rfkill list all
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

I hope this is in the proper format.

VTV

[Pjotr]

OK.... It's not the driver that's the problem: the wireless chipset is hard blocked.

Is there a hardware switch on your laptop for wireless (often a very small, almost hidden switch)? Or a Fn key combination for enabling/disabling wireless?

When that doesn't lead to anything: check the BIOS settings, if you can set the wireless chipset to "always on" (instead of "last state" or even "off").

When no avail, try this terminal command:

Code: Select all

sudo rfkill unblock all

(when you type your password it'll remain entirely invisible, not even dots will show, this is normal)

[VTV47]

Cool!! I dug out my magnifying glass and found that tiny switch. It's running in wifi right now . Thanks for the simple and fast fix. I've bought this Toshiba new and don't remember that switch. Of course I was running on a wired network at the time. Thanks again, Pjotr. You just made my day.

[Pjotr]

Good to hear that it has been solved!

One final remark: your computer will probably run best on the lightweight Xfce edition of Mint 17.1. Considering both your weak video card and the relatively small amount of RAM.

[VTV47]

I'm glad it was something simple even though hard problems can be more challenging.

I appreciate the note on Xfce and I'll look into that. I can always burn a bootable dvd to try it out. Thanks again for your assistance.

VTV