BCM43142 WiFi Driver Issue on Xubuntu 24.04 – wl Module Not Found

akashh · July 28, 2025, 2:52pm

Ubuntu Version:
Xubuntu 24.04 LTS (xubuntu-24.04.2-desktop-amd64 ISO)

Desktop Environment (if applicable):
XFCE (Default in Xubuntu)

Problem Description:
I was previously using Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon on my Dell Vostro 2520 laptop, which has a Broadcom BCM43142 WiFi card. Everything was working fine, including WiFi using the wl driver provided by the bcmwl-kernel-source package.

Two days ago, I accidentally removed the WiFi module via terminal. I tried reinstalling various modules and drivers but failed. After some attempts and booting into older kernels, my system started showing “kernel panic” and wouldn’t boot at all.

So, I decided to install Xubuntu 24.04 LTS cleanly. The installation went fine, but:

The WiFi is not working at all.

bcmwl-kernel-source installs, but the wl module is not loaded.

Additional Drivers shows nothing related to Broadcom.

I tried manually loading wl via modprobe, but it says “module not found”.

Secure Boot is disabled.

Current kernel is 6.11.0-1016-generic (HWE)

I have access to USB tethering and internet.

I am now stuck without working WiFi on a fresh install.

Relevant System Information:

Laptop: Dell Vostro 2520
WiFi Chip: Broadcom BCM43142 (rev 01)
Driver tried: bcmwl-kernel-source
Kernel: 6.11.0-1016-generic
OS: Xubuntu 24.04 LTS
Secure Boot: Disabled

Output of lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net:

02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM43142 802.11b/g/n [14e4:4365] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell BCM43142 802.11b/g/n
Kernel modules: wl

Output of inxi -Fxxxrzc0 --usb: (You can paste your real output here)

Screenshots or Error Messages:

modprobe: FATAL: Module wl not found in directory /lib/modules/6.11.0-1016-generic

(Attach screenshot if needed)

What I’ve Tried:

Fresh install of Xubuntu 24.04 LTS

Installed bcmwl-kernel-source via apt

Tried modprobe wl (failed)

Verified Secure Boot is disabled

Booted with older kernel via recovery (not working)

Searched Ubuntu forums & tried dkms-related commands

Checked /var/lib/dkms/wl/… shows module not built

Attempted installing linux-headers and re-running dkms build

Tried alternate methods (b43, brcmsmac – not compatible with BCM43142)

Please help me find the most stable and working solution.
Thanks in advance!

Jeremy31 · July 28, 2025, 5:11pm

Post results for dkms status

akashh · July 28, 2025, 6:52pm

akashh · July 28, 2025, 6:53pm

@Jeremy31 I uploaded the screenshot

Jeremy31 · July 28, 2025, 8:41pm

Can you try a
sudo apt install linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04
Reboot and then
sudo apt install --reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source and post any errors?

akashh · July 29, 2025, 2:39am

I am in live boot, if I reboot then everything will be deleted? @Jeremy31

1… in my real os i have to solve kernel panic

2…in live boot i have to install without any problem os error ( in xubuntu installation process after some time it’s show something went wrong) how to fix this

juergh · July 29, 2025, 10:42am

Can you boot into your installed OS?

akashh · July 29, 2025, 12:46pm

No , When I boot it shows me to insert USB drive to boot , I guess There is no OS installed on the laptop somehow it removed @juergh

rubi1200 · July 29, 2025, 12:57pm

If you have a liveUSB, then follow the instructions here to create a summary report.

Steps:

boot with the live medium and choose to Try Ubuntu
follow the instructions to add the ppa and run a summary report
paste the pastebin link back here in a post

akashh · July 30, 2025, 3:44am

https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/HNynBxVSvV/

Here is the link @rubi1200

rubi1200 · July 30, 2025, 3:52am

Your installation on sda2 appears to be still there, which is a good sign.

More than likely the reason you cannot access it is because GRUB is not installed in the MBR of sda.

I would try running the recommended repair from the boot repair utility and once complete, hopefully with no errors, reboot taking out the USB and you should be able to get back into your install.

If there are problems along the way or other issues, let us know.

akashh · July 30, 2025, 4:09am

https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/5Z27h4VJYg

These commands were shown in boot repair, I tried to run them and here is the output.

@rubi1200

rubi1200 · July 30, 2025, 4:27am

Well, we are not there yet but we might be a step closer…

Try looking for and disabling some or all of the settings in BIOS mentioned in this post:

After that, try running the repair again from the live USB.

Success?

akashh · July 30, 2025, 4:57am

Is this good ? @rubi1200

rubi1200 · July 30, 2025, 6:02am

We need to go back into BIOS and do the following:

Reboot and re-enter the BIOS
Change Boot List Option → set to UEFI not Legacy
Disable Legacy Option ROM if available
Save and reboot
When booting from USB use the boot menu (usually F12 on Dell)
Choose the entry that says UEFI: , not just the plain USB name.

Once back in the Try Ubuntu mode, try the recommended boot repair again to reinstall GRUB.

akashh · August 1, 2025, 7:31pm

Reboot and re-enter the BIOS
Change Boot List Option → set to UEFI not Legacy
Disable Legacy Option ROM if available
Save and reboot
When booting from USB / without USB it not opening only show dell logo …

@Jeremy31 @rubi1200 @juergh

tea-for-one · August 1, 2025, 7:45pm

Lines 9 to 13 of your boot-repair report do not contain any boot folders/files.

File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  FAT32
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:

After 4 days without a solution, I suggest you start from scratch and re-install.
You need to boot the USB in UEFI mode
When asked where to place the bootloader, choose sda not sda1 or sda2