[tlug] How to Re-Enable wlan0?

[CL <az.4tlug@example.com>]

Kubuntu 8.10 on a Lenovo R-61

Because I usually use Ethernet at home -- which is how I am connecting 
right now -- I didn't notice exactly when in the recent spate of updates 
that my wireless lan quit working.  Of course, I didn't notice until I 
needed it during a client visit.  KNetworkmanager says *wlan0 wireless 
disabled* and, when the mouse pointer hovers over the icon it reports 
wlan0 as "down" and eth0 as "activated."

I have this sick feeling that I have missed something basic.  But, the 
wlan0 network connection was working previously and I didn't consciosly 
do anything to turn it off ... I think.

Despite the how-tos I am still without wifi ... any polite suggestions 
would be appreciated.

---

checking hardware, I find:

> ~$ sudo lspci -v
>
> 8>< schnitt
>
> 03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG 
> [Golan] Network Connection (rev 
> 02)                                                             
>         Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device 
> 1013                                 
>         Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 
> 17                                               
>         Memory at df6ff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) 
> [size=4K]                  
>         Capabilities: [c8] Power Management version 
> 2                            
>         Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ 
> Queue=0/0 
> Enable-                                                                             
>
>         Capabilities: [e0] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 
> 00                       
>         Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting 
> <?>                         
>         Capabilities: [140] Device Serial Number 
> 66-a0-43-ff-ff-3c-1f-00         
>         Kernel driver in use: 
> iwl3945                                            
>         Kernel modules: 
> iwl3945                                                  

I have confirmed that wpasupplicant is installed, then:

> ~$ iwconfig
> lo        no wireless extensions.
>
> eth0      no wireless extensions.
>
> wmaster0  no wireless extensions.
>
> wlan0     IEEE 802.11abg  ESSID:""
>           Mode:Managed  Frequency:2.412 GHz  Access Point: Not-Associated
>           Tx-Power=0 dBm
>           Retry min limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr=2352 B
>           Power Management:off
>           Link Quality:0  Signal level:0  Noise level:0
>           Rx invalid nwid:0  Rx invalid crypt:0  Rx invalid frag:0
>           Tx excessive retries:0  Invalid misc:0   Missed beacon:0
>
> pan0      no wireless extensions.
>
> ~$ sudo ifconfig wlan0 up
> SIOCSIFFLAGS: No such device
and:

> ~$ sudo lshw             
>
>   *-network DISABLED
>        description: Ethernet interface
>        physical id: 2
>        logical name: pan0
>        serial: ba:54:c7:c8:2a:93
>        capabilities: ethernet physical
>        configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 
> firmware=N/A link=yes multicast=yes
where do I go from here?  I seem to be hitting brick walls.

--
CL