dell-laptop module hard blocks wifi on Dell Vostro 1520

I had the same issue (resolved the same way) in Lucid with a dell vostro 3300

Did your lucid testing show this issue too?

I can confirm this issue on a Dell Vostro 1520 as the original poster. This is using Maverick with updates as of 2011-01-20. The suggested workaround (rmmod dell_laptop) works as posted.

I've finally got around to testing on lucid live cd. The issue is NOT present and wireless works fine after using jockey to install driver. This confirms that this a regression.

Some observations:

 1. /proc/modules shows that the dell-laptop module is indeed loaded: dell_laptop 7941 0 - Live 0xffffffffa0065000
 2. rfkill list does not list any devices however.

Here is the output of modinfo dell-laptop on lucid:

$ modinfo dell_laptop
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.32-24-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/dell-laptop.ko
alias: dmi:*svnDellInc.:*:ct8:*
license: GPL
description: Dell laptop driver
author: Matthew Garrett <email address hidden>
srcversion: 104553967ECAF17A9FB03B3
depends: dcdbas
vermagic: 2.6.32-24-generic SMP mod_unload modversions

Submitted a patch upstream. Will SRU if/when it is applied.

this bug blocks 1520 and 1720 from being certified.

Ayan - can you provide an update on this bug?

To update this report, I tested the Vostro 1520 using Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty), with both a 2.6.38-8 kernel and the 2.6.38-10 one that is in the proposed repository.

The problem as originally reported still occurs, i.e. wireless doesn't work (the panel applet says "wireless disabled by hardware switch"). Actually toggling the hardware switch has no effect.

If the dell_laptop module is unloaded, then wireless works correctly. Furthermore, even without the dell_laptop module, everything else appears to work correctly. I tested:
- Hardware wireless switch behavior (it enables/disables both bluetooth and wifi).
- Media/volume keys.
- Sleep key (and resume behavior).
- Brightness controls.

About the only thing that doesn't work (regardless of whether dell_laptop is loaded) is the battery indicator key (fn-f2).

Hope this helps.

My original patch that blacklisted this model in the dell-laptop module was rejected in favor of figuring out why the module doesn't work.

I'll ask mjg if such a patch would be acceptable now.

After upgrading to natty, my broadcom wireless doesn't work at all - regardless if the dell-laptop module is loaded or not. rfkill started listing bcwml regardless if dell-laptop module is loaded or not. If dell-laptop module is loaded, rfkill shows additionally WLAN and bluetooth.

Linux sybarite 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:24 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Switching the wireless card out for an intel card results in wlan working.

Okay -- next step is to examine the changes to the broadcom module and possibly bisect it until we figure out which change broke it.

Ayan, we have one of these in the certification lab. How can we help? We are happy to test bisected kernels.

Hi all,

I installed Ubuntu 10.04.3 to test that things work, as mentioned by Cody on #5. Differences:

- This is a full hard-disk installation as opposed to running from the Live CD.
- I'm running 10.04.3 with kernel 2.6.32-33 as opposed to Cody's 10.04.1 (I think?) with kernel 2.6.32-24.
- I'm using the wl module, as installed by jockey-gtk (STA module) or by installing bcmwl-kernel-source package. Cody's original report on Maverick has the same module apparently, but comment #5 doesn't state which module he used for his Lucid test

The reason why I'm focusing on the differences is that, even when using Lucid which was supposed to work, I still have the same behavior as originally reported, i.e. wireless shows as "disabled" until I remove dell_laptop module, at which point things start working "automagically".

I even went down to Lucid's original 2.6.32-21 kernel, installed the drivers and had the exact same behavior.

Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong would be appreciated.

Thanks!

- Daniel

I had what appeared to be exactly this problem.

When I toggle the fn-f2 key the wirless connection would appear to be enabled but as soon as I click the 'Enable Wirless' option it would disappear and the 'wireless connection disabled by hardware switch' message would come up.

Whilst reading this post and in frustration I rapidly toggled the fn-f2 key (three times I think) and suddenly my wireless connection password dialog popped open and all was fixed.

My wireless connection is now working fine (but I'm not prepared to touch the fn-f2 key again).

I'm running 11.10. The problem only occured about two weeks after installing 11.10 and possible after I accidently toggled the fn-f2 key.

Maybe this isn't exactly the same problem but the symptoms do appear to be identical.

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

might be 887834

Marking the Oneiric task Wont Fix as this bug has been in limbo for quite some time. If anyone has any updates please feel free to add them.

same problem on 11.10 hp d4000 pavilion. on installation live cd everything was working fine. Once installed it keeps saying hardware switch is off.

Wireless card
06:05.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 2200BG [Calexico2] Network Connection (rev 05)

My bad. Wireless was disabled by windows.

Does it work for Precise now? Has anyone tested?

The problem exists on Precise. Experienced today with all updates installed on a Dell Vostro 1320. I had to blacklist dell_laptop to get the wireless working.

This bug was filed against a series that is no longer supported and so is being marked as Won't Fix. If this issue still exists in a supported series, please file a new bug.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.