Trouble with Netbook Ubuntu connecting to the Internet

[Jeffrey Needle]

J wrote:
> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 16:15, Jeffrey Needle<jeff.needle at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> Hello.  I've installed Netbook Ubuntu inside Windows (the second choice
>> in the install menu on the .iso).  Installation went nicely, and
>> everything was fine until I tried to connect to the internet.
>>
>> I have AT&T high speed internet service, with a router that wires my
>> entire apartment.  Windows finds the wireless network just fine.  But
>> Ubuntu is having problems.  I can't figure out how to get connected.
>>
>> I've tried with both Evolution and Firefox, but no success.  I've
>> ensured that both apps were working in on-line mode.
>>
>> Any help you can be will be greatly appreciated.  I'm working on an HP
>> Mini netbook.
>
> Open a terminal (under Applications/Accessories/Terminal) and run the command:
>
> lspci | grep Network
>
> Look at the output and tell us what it says.
>
> I'm willing to bet you HP has the Broadcom wireless card that has some
> issues... not to worry though, if it is the Broadcom wireless card,
> the problem can easily be resolved.
>
> The Broadcom wireless cards are fairly common these days among various
> netbooks and laptops and you need a specific proprietary driver to
> make them work that doesn't get intstalled by default (since it's
> proprietary).
>
> If you'd like to go ahead and try, you'll need a network cable.  Plug
> the netbook into the router (or your switch) directly and boot it up
> into Ubuntu.  After it boots and you log in, you should have network
> connectivity.
>
> Look in the System Menu under Administration.  Click on the "Hardware
> Drivers" item.  This will launch a tool that will scan your hardware
> and tell you what non-open source drivers you need to make it run.
>
> Look for something called STA Driver (or whatever driver it suggests
> for your wi-fi card).  Click the driver, then click the button toward
> the bottom right of the window that says Enable or Install.  It'll do
> it's thing, then you close the tool down, reboot, Bob's your uncle,
> and internets work.
>
> Of course, all of the above is predicated on you having a card that
> does work with the non-free drivers.  I'm assuming your HP has the
> broadcom wi-fi chipset.
>
> Either way, send the output of that lspci command so we can find out
> what you do have for a wi-fi card.
>
> Cheers
> Jeff
>

Worked well, except that Linux keeps hanging and breaking on me.  It 
won't boot every other attempt and I have to start it in repair mode.

I'm going to abandon my Linux hopes right how.  Too much work to catch 
up on.

Thanks for your help!