[SOLVED] B43 module not loading automatically

[skeeter]

I just installed Arcolinux Mate on a Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop with broadcom B4321. All works great but I have to load B43 module after each reboot. Ran mkinitcpio -v shows possibly missing firmware for b43 module but pacman Qi shows it is installed. I added b43 to the "modules" section of mkinitcpio w/o success. Would it be best to add "modconf" to hooks in mkinitcpio and make a file in /etc/modprobe.d for b43 or is there a better solution? Hopefully, I haven't missed a wiki somewhere with this info. Thanks.

[erikdubois]

Do you have 2 network cards?
One conflicting with the other?
Blacklisting can help then.

[skeeter]

This is solved. I dug deeper and found the broadcom-wl.conf under "usr/lib/modprobe.d" had b43 blacklisted so commented it out and it now loads correctly. HTH someone else with an old Dell laptop. Thanks Erik, you got me looking into the blacklisting.

[erikdubois]

yes it is a learning process.
depending on your hardware you learn more then others...

[albarex]

Hi,

this really helped me. But I wonder if there is a way to get rid of this module which blacklisted the b43 module? I do not do want to remember such unimportant stuff in case my WiFi stops working after some update.

PS: life can be easy:

Code: Select all

 # pacman -R broadcom-wl

[erikdubois]

https://arcolinuxb.com is where I would go.

Delete the package in the packages file and then build the iso.

You are in full control in ArcoLinux.