[SOLVED] LL7.6 on Macbook (Mid 2009) with WiFi module BCM4322

[oldgaz]

After installing LL76 on the above Macbook the Wifi worked fine without the third party driver. 
I then did a complete Update of some 200 modules which wiped out any wifi.
I have tried the third party driver offered in Driver update (Broadcom STA wireless) but this didn't help.
Is this a known issue and if so, could you please list the steps (in detail) I need to take to rectify the issue. 
Thankyou.

[stevef]

Is this a known issue and if so, could you please list the steps (in detail) I need to take to rectify the issue.

On the hardware db, there are 400 odd reports of systems using bcm4322, of which 180 odd are macbooks with more than a dozen systems reportedly using series 7. Unless someone with the same hardware has had the same issue and reads your post and is prepared to help, it is unlikely that you'll get a detailed list of steps.

Debugging an issue like this over a forum is likely to be time consuming and without any guarantee of a fix, but if you are prepared to engage we can try. Key will be finding the what caused the problem.
Do you have a System Restore point taken before the update/upgrade ?

Otherwise, this guide is perhaps closer to what you are looking for and may help. It covers the kind of questions we'd need to ask.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/55868/in...ss-drivers

Although the question is old, the answer appears to have been kept updated and might be worth a read.

[oldgaz]

G'Day stevef,
Firstly, apologies for not finding the information that you referred to. I did try a Search but came up "empty" so being new to the forum, I obviously didn't do the Search properly.
Just a bit of back ground - I volunteer for an organisation that takes in donated computers, refreshes them and then pass them on to needy kids or older folk. I ended up with some 20 macbooks on my bench and have been successful in reviving most with LL 7.6. This particular one is the oldest and the only one with the BCM4322 module. Since posting, I have been doing a bit of work on this one, and while I keep rough notes on each device, I have presented the facts a little wrong in my post. I decided to backtrack and tried a Live LL7.6 off one of my installer USBs and found that it had no WiFi. At this point, I realised that I had started the work on the macbooks using LL6.4! So, I rewrote the USB and booted into a live LL6.4 which did support WiFi. So I will begin again from here with a bit of help from the link that you have provided. Thanks.

[stevef]

No need to apologise. The hardware database isn't part of the forum - it is on the web site and can be useful for seeing what hardware is in use.
https://www.linuxliteos.com/hardware.php

You may consider sharing the reports from any systems you get working. To do this, click 'Menu' and then begin typing 'lite info' into the search box. When you see the 'Lite Info' icon, click on it and follow the instructions.

From what I read, there are lots of broadcom modules with varying problems. The askubuntu link seemed to be the most credible collection of advice.
If you have any specific queries please ask.

[oldgaz]

The link you provided in the first reply proved invaluable as I was able to determine the exact module that is installed in the Macbook and what driver was required. From that I threw the problem at chatgpt who produced a script for me that automatically retained the correct driver during any future system updates. After installing the script, I applied all outstanding updates and after a reboot there was smiles all round. The WiFi was still operational. I will attempt to post the script(probably tomorrow) as you suggested. Thanks for your support.

[oldgaz]

G'Day Steve, I attempted to upload the script as you suggested but I failed. I'm guessing that I need to go to the hardware site (in you post above) on the actual device (which is connected to the internet) that I want to submit the post on. When I enter Linux lite in the search box nothing is returned. I ran the inxi command shown on my device and that did work, so I am not too sure where I have gone wrong. You mention a "Menu" but I couldn't see that actual wording on the webpage so I entered Linux lite in the search box.

[stevef]

The Linux Lite hardware database is a collection of data about Lite systems and the hardware on which Lite is running.
Lite. Users can voluntarily and anonymously add their own system specification to the database.
It is useful when researching - you can check easily if a particular piece of hardware like a wifi adaptor is being used across the community.

To view the database you click on
https://www.linuxliteos.com/hardware.php

If you chose to add to the database you do it from the system itself, not the website.
Click 'Menu' on your system and then begin typing 'lite info' into the search box. When you see the 'Lite Info' icon, click on it and follow the instructions. If you handle a variety of hardware you can make multiple contributions to the database (one per system).

The Hardware Database is a separate matter to the script you used to load the drivers.
If you wish to show us the driver script, you will need to post it in the thread.

[oldgaz]

G'Day Stevef, Thanks for the clarification. That all worked and I submitted Macbook data.
The following is a description of the issue and the script to maintain WiFi operation during future Lite updates.

The issue I had was that I had installed Linux Lite 7.6 on a Macbook Pro 9.2 (mid 2012) and the WiFi was fine until I did a system update which caused it to go missing. It was important to go to this website -https://askubuntu.com/questions/55868/installing-broadcom-wireless-drivers – to identify the Broadcom model you have. In my case it was identified as 14e4:432b which used the b43 firmware. So the following script ONLY applies to this model. However it does work as I have re-installed the “base” 7.6 version, applied the script below, then did the system updates and the Wifi is still available.

Create the kernel hook script

sudo nano /etc/kernel/postinst.d/bcm4322-b43

Paste everything below:

#!/bin/sh
# Auto-restore BCM4322 b43 driver after kernel updates

set -e

LOG="/var/log/bcm4322-b43.log"

echo "[$(date)] Kernel update detected – enforcing b43 driver" >> "$LOG"

# Ensure firmware is present
apt-get update >> "$LOG" 2>&1
apt-get install -y firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer >> "$LOG" 2>&1

# Remove Broadcom STA if it sneaks in
apt-get purge -y broadcom-sta-dkms >> "$LOG" 2>&1 || true
apt-mark hold broadcom-sta-dkms >> "$LOG" 2>&1 || true

# Blacklist conflicting drivers
cat <<EOF >/etc/modprobe.d/bcm4322-b43.conf
blacklist wl
blacklist bcma
blacklist brcmsmac
EOF

# Force correct module load order
cat <<EOF >/etc/modules-load.d/bcm4322-b43.conf
ssb
b43
EOF

# Rebuild initramfs for the new kernel
update-initramfs -u >> "$LOG" 2>&1

echo "[$(date)] b43 enforcement complete" >> "$LOG"

Save and exit.

Make it executable (critical)

sudo chmod +x /etc/kernel/postinst.d/bcm4322-b43

Run it once now (to align the system)

sudo /etc/kernel/postinst.d/bcm4322-b43
sudo reboot