I have been checking out many web sites and forums which point to the general displeasure of the wireless networking community when it comes to configuring Broadcom-based wireless network adapters...
Driver Conflicts
Yeah, it's important to install manufacturer specific drivers first. Then install the Broadcom WLAN Utility. If you look at the .inf files under Broadcom, you'll see entries like :
[BROADCOM]
%BCM430B_DeviceDesc% = BCM43XX, PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4301&SUBSYS_12F3103C
%BCM430G_DeviceDesc% = BCM43XG, PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4320&SUBSYS_00E70E11
%BCM430G_DeviceDesc% = BCM43XG, PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4320&SUBSYS_12F4103C
VEN_14E4 is broadcom
DEV_4301 is the 802.11b chip
DEV_4320 is 802.11g
SUBSYS is manufacturer specific. I actually have PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4301&SUBSYS_1025111A&REV_02
So I am not represented in the *Broadcom* driver set. Instead I have to install their utility on top of my vendor-specific drivers. I've had a little more time to play with this, and the results can be painful, sometimes. After a restart, I have been getting lockups and freezes, but I think I'm making progress. It may be important to switch the order of installation (Broadcom Program first, then driver). Also, Broadcom installs it's own generic drivers which I don't seem to be using. I have been experimenting with removing them (Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs) and restarting. Well, back to the fun.