How can I get wifi working again (help me read this error message)?
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1565272/how-can-i-get-wifi-working-again-help-me-read-this-error-message
When my kernel updated itself to version 6.17.0-14-generic, my wifi disappeared (by which I mean that the wifi symbol no longer appears at the upper right menu of symbols, nor in the menu that appears when you click on the symbols, and also there is no wifi connection)
It has since updated to 6.17.0-19-generic and the wifi problem remains.
I did "sudo apt update" followed by "sudo apt upgrade". The second command gave me lots of errors which mention "broadcom" which is the hardware of my wifi. So I believe this error message should give a clue of what to do next.
Building module:
Cleaning build area...
make -j4 KERNELRELEASE=6.17.0-14-generic KVER=6.17.0-14-generic...(bad exit stat
us: 2)
ERROR: Cannot create report: [Errno 17] File exists: '/var/crash/broadcom-sta-dk
ms.0.crash'
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.17.0-14-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more informat
ion.
dkms autoinstall on 6.17.0-14-generic/x86_64 failed for broadcom-sta(10)
Error! One or more modules failed to install during autoinstall.
Refer to previous errors for more information.
* dkms: autoinstall for kernel 6.17.0-14-generic
...fail!
run-parts: /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 11
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic (--configure):
installed linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic package post-installation script subp
rocess returned error exit status 11
Setting up gdb (15.1-1ubuntu1~24.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic (6.17.0-19.19~24.04.2) ...
/etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms:
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 6.17.0-19-generic
Sign command: /usr/bin/kmodsign
Signing key: /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.priv
Public certificate (MOK): /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.der
Building module:
Cleaning build area...
make -j4 KERNELRELEASE=6.17.0-19-generic KVER=6.17.0-19-generic...(bad exit stat
us: 2)
ERROR: Cannot create report: [Errno 17] File exists: '/var/crash/broadcom-sta-dk
ms.0.crash'
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.17.0-19-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more informat
ion.
dkms autoinstall on 6.17.0-19-generic/x86_64 failed for broadcom-sta(10)
Error! One or more modules failed to install during autoinstall.
Refer to previous errors for more information.
* dkms: autoinstall for kernel 6.17.0-19-generic
...fail!
run-parts: /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 11
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic (--configure):
installed linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic package post-installation script subp
rocess returned error exit status 11
Setting up libfreetype6:amd64 (2.13.2+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1) ...
Setting up python3-software-properties (0.99.49.4) ...
Setting up python3-cryptography (41.0.7-4ubuntu0.4) ...
Setting up intel-media-va-driver:amd64 (24.1.0+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.2) ...
Setting up sudo (1.9.15p5-3ubuntu5.24.04.2) ...
Setting up libnm0:amd64 (1.46.0-1ubuntu2.6) ...
Setting up gnome-keyring-pkcs11:amd64 (46.1-2ubuntu0.2) ...
Setting up libtiff6:amd64 (4.5.1+git230720-4ubuntu2.5) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.
04:
linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 depends on linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic; how
ever:
Package linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup erro
r from a previous failure.
Setting up libgtk-4-common (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.9) ...
Setting up gir1.2-nm-1.0:amd64 (1.46.0-1ubuntu2.6) ...
Setting up libbinutils:amd64 (2.42-4ubuntu2.10) ...
Setting up libpam-gnome-keyring:amd64 (46.1-2ubuntu0.2) ...
Setting up libfprint-2-2 (1:1.94.7+tod1-0ubuntu5~24.04.6) ...
Setting up libctf0:amd64 (2.42-4ubuntu2.10) ...
Setting up libinput10:amd64 (1.25.0-1ubuntu3.3) ...
Setting up linux-image-6.17.0-19-generic (6.17.0-19.19~24.04.2) ...
Setting up network-manager (1.46.0-1ubuntu2.6) ...
Setting up software-properties-common (0.99.49.4) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic-hwe-24.04:
linux-generic-hwe-24.04 depends on linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 (= 6.17.0-19
.19~24.04.2); however:
Package linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-generic-hwe-24.04 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libgprofng0:amd64 (2.42-4ubuntu2.10) ...
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Setting up network
-manager-openvpn (1.10.2-4ubuntu0.2) ...
Setting up binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu (2.42-4ubuntu2.10) ...
Setting up software-properties-gtk (0.99.49.4) ...
Setting up network-manager-config-connectivity-ubuntu (1.46.0-1ubuntu2.6) ...
Setting up binutils (2.42-4ubuntu2.10) ...
Processing triggers for libglib2.0-0t64:amd64 (2.80.0-6ubuntu3.8) ...
Processing triggers for dbus (1.14.10-4ubuntu4.1) ...
Processing triggers for shared-mime-info (2.4-4) ...
Processing triggers for udev (255.4-1ubuntu8.14) ...
Setting up libgtk-4-1:amd64 (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.9) ...
Setting up libgtk-4-bin (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.9) ...
Setting up gir1.2-gdm-1.0 (46.2-1ubuntu1~24.04.7) ...
Processing triggers for install-info (7.1-3build2) ...
Setting up gir1.2-gtk-4.0:amd64 (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.9) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.27-2build1) ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.39-0ubuntu8.7) ...
Setting up network-manager-openvpn-gnome (1.10.2-4ubuntu0.2) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.12.0-4build2) ...
Setting up python3-proton-vpn-api-core (4.17.2) ...
Setting up proton-vpn-daemon (0.13.6) ...
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/me.proton.vpn.split_
tunneling.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/me.proton.vpn.split_tunneling.servic
e.
Setting up libgtk-4-media-gstreamer (4.14.5+ds-0ubuntu0.9) ...
Setting up gdm3 (46.2-1ubuntu1~24.04.7) ...
Setting up proton-vpn-gtk-app (4.15.1) ...
Processing triggers for linux-image-6.17.0-14-generic (6.17.0-14.14~24.04.1) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 6.17.0-14-generic
Sign command: /usr/bin/kmodsign
Signing key: /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.priv
Public certificate (MOK): /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.der
Building module:
Cleaning build area...
make -j4 KERNELRELEASE=6.17.0-14-generic KVER=6.17.0-14-generic...(bad exit stat
us: 2)
ERROR: Cannot create report: [Errno 17] File exists: '/var/crash/broadcom-sta-dk
ms.0.crash'
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.17.0-14-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more informat
ion.
dkms autoinstall on 6.17.0-14-generic/x86_64 failed for broadcom-sta(10)
Error! One or more modules failed to install during autoinstall.
Refer to previous errors for more information.
* dkms: autoinstall for kernel 6.17.0-14-generic
...fail!
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 11
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-6.17.0-14-generic (--configure):
installed linux-image-6.17.0-14-generic package post-installation script subpro
cess returned error exit status 11
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Processing trigger
s for initramfs-tools (0.142ubuntu25.8) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.17.0-19-generic
Processing triggers for linux-image-6.17.0-19-generic (6.17.0-19.19~24.04.2) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 6.17.0-19-generic
Sign command: /usr/bin/kmodsign
Signing key: /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.priv
Public certificate (MOK): /var/lib/shim-signed/mok/MOK.der
Building module:
Cleaning build area...
make -j4 KERNELRELEASE=6.17.0-19-generic KVER=6.17.0-19-generic...(bad exit stat
us: 2)
ERROR: Cannot create report: [Errno 17] File exists: '/var/crash/broadcom-sta-dk
ms.0.crash'
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 6.17.0-19-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more informat
ion.
dkms autoinstall on 6.17.0-19-generic/x86_64 failed for broadcom-sta(10)
Error! One or more modules failed to install during autoinstall.
Refer to previous errors for more information.
* dkms: autoinstall for kernel 6.17.0-19-generic
...fail!
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 11
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-6.17.0-19-generic (--configure):
installed linux-image-6.17.0-19-generic package post-installation script subpro
cess returned error exit status 11
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Errors were encoun
tered while processing:
linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic
linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic
linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04
linux-generic-hwe-24.04
linux-image-6.17.0-14-generic
linux-image-6.17.0-19-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
The start of the error message says "Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build/make.log for more information." Here it is:
DKMS make.log for broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 for kernel 6.17.0-19-generic (x86_64)
Sat Mar 28 09:25:47 PM EDT 2026
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Makefile:91: Neither CFG80211 nor Wireless Extension is enabled in kernel
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/6.17.0-19-generic/build M=`pwd`
make[1]: warning: jobserver unavailable: using -j1. Add '+' to parent make rule.
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic'
make[2]: Entering directory '/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build'
warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel
The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04.1) 13.3.0
You are using: gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04.1) 13.3.0
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
Kernel architecture is X86_64
CC [M] src/shared/linux_osl.o
src/shared/linux_osl.c:23:10: fatal error: typedefs.h: No such file or directory
23 | #include <typedefs.h>
| ^~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic/scripts/Makefile.build:287: src/shared/linux_osl.o] Error 1
make[3]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic/Makefile:2016: .] Error 2
make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic/Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory '/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-19-generic'
make: *** [Makefile:183: all] Error 2
The error message also references a file /var/crash/broadcom-sta-dkms.0.crash
Here it is:
ProblemType: Package
DKMSBuildLog:
DKMS make.log for broadcom-sta-6.30.223.271 for kernel 6.17.0-14-generic (x86_64)
Tue Mar 24 11:11:43 AM EDT 2026
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Makefile:91: Neither CFG80211 nor Wireless Extension is enabled in kernel
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/6.17.0-14-generic/build M=`pwd`
make[1]: warning: jobserver unavailable: using -j1. Add '+' to parent make rule.
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic'
make[2]: Entering directory '/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build'
warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel
The kernel was built by: x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04) 13.3.0
You are using: gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04.1) 13.3.0
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
Kernel architecture is X86_64
CC [M] src/shared/linux_osl.o
src/shared/linux_osl.c:23:10: fatal error: typedefs.h: No such file or directory
23 | #include <typedefs.h>
| ^~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[4]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic/scripts/Makefile.build:287: src/shared/linux_osl.o] Error 1
make[3]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic/Makefile:2016: .] Error 2
make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic/Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory '/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.271/build'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:248: __sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.17.0-14-generic'
make: *** [Makefile:183: all] Error 2
DKMSKernelVersion: 6.17.0-14-generic
Date: Tue Mar 24 11:11:47 2026
Package: broadcom-sta-dkms 6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1
PackageVersion: 6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1
SourcePackage: broadcom-sta
Title: broadcom-sta-dkms 6.30.223.271-23ubuntu1.1: broadcom-sta kernel module failed to build
Here is the result of "sudo lshw -class network"
*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Network controller
product: BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n
vendor: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:a0400000-a0403fff
Here is the relevant seeming part from "lsusb" (but it may not be relevant because it says Bluetooth, and Bluetooth is not a problem right now):
Bus 003 Device 004: ID [redacted] Broadcom Corp. BCM2046B1 USB 2.0 Hub (part of BCM2046 Bluetooth)
The part that seems relevant from "lspci"
02:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n (rev 01)
The output of "rfkill list all"
0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: yes
Hard blocked: no
Thank you if you can help.
EDIT: The comment posted by user david below seemed to be the best match for my problem, although my dkms did not contain anything newer than 6.8 so I did not use that additional step. After following those instructions the wifi is working again. Thank you!