linux-firmware-nonfree doesn't properly install firmware.

[chili555]

The latest version of linux-firmware-nonfree does not install the firmware files to /lib/firmware as expected. In fact, if --reinstall is selected, the package actually removes previously installed firmware! Please see: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2243562 Refer to posts #9 and following.

On my own system, I did: sudo apt-get install --reinstall linux-firmware-nonfree. After it completes, I did: ls -al /lib/firmware/b43 and find: ls: cannot access /lib/firmware/b43: No such file or directory

As this package installs required firmware for many ubiquitous Broadcom wireless devices, it is important that this bug be corrected soon.

[varunendra (varunendra)]

And I very seriously believe that it is the "/DEBIAN/control" file within the .deb package that is causing the trouble.

Line #15 in it seems to be an accidental copy-paste, confusing dpkg (a super long Modalias line). Needs to be fixed (deleted) immediately before plenty of more "The update broke my system" threads pop up, as if all those brand new Ethernet troubles were not enough.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Tim Gardner (timg-tpi)]

b43 was removed on purpose for licensing reasons. See http://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1326776

http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43 for how to install this firmware yourself.

[varunendra (varunendra)]

Hmm.. so I guess we finally completed a full circle to get back to the old-school "sudo apt-get firmware-b43-installer" huh? Nice!

Does anyone already have the right to distribute "I hate Broadcom" badges? Caps & T-Shirts maybe?
If not, I'd love to grab the opportunity.

[praseodym (oliver-ehlert)]

Sorry for answering late.

Another method is decribed on ubuntuusers.de:

http://forum.ubuntuusers.de/topic/netzwerkkarte-nach-deaktivierung-im-autostart/#post-2480236

The grey box shows the files included, including the files for the low-power chipset LP-PHY BCM4312 PCI 14e4:4315 and BCM4318 PCI 14e4:4318 with the files ucode4/5.fw, respectively.

[woofer (woofr0c)]

After fresh install of Linux Mint MATE 17.2 on a Dell D820, then install of linux-firmware-nonfree, failed to install the b43 firmware. I had to manually download/install the firmware package per these instructions in post #38:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2239022&page=4&p=13119264

[varunendra (varunendra)]

The recommended method now is "sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer", if a temporary connection can be arranged to download the firmware from internet.

Alternatively, if the target system can't be connected to internet, the entire b43 firmware directory can also be extracted and copied from the linux-firmware-nonfree package itself. That version of the package still contains the firmware files, only is configured such that it does not install them in its normal operation. However, the firmware files have been removed from version 1.16 of the linux-firmware-nonfree package.

Instructions for the alternative (offline) method above in short -

* Download version 1.14 from here : http://packages.ubuntu.com/trusty/linux-firmware-nonfree
* Copy it to the target system and right-click > open it with whatever archive manager program you have installed (e.g. file-roller, a.k.a. "Archive Manager")
* Extract the entire "b43" directory from the package, for example, on your Desktop.
* Copy it to your /lib/firmware directory - "sudo cp -r Desktop/b43 /lib/firmware"
* Reboot

This method is no better than the one in the post #38 linked by woofer above, but an official package is more trusted than an attachment by some user.

[Donovan (donovan2014)]

Usual installation of "linux-firmware-nonfree" package failed on my Dell Mini 9