This is a very strange problem. The only time the Wi-Fi works is when I have the wired connection connected. I have a Dell 6400/e1505 with the Broadcom BCM 4401-B0 internal NIC, and the Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG Wi-Fi adapter.

I was on 10.0.4 LTS before, and I remember having to screw around to get the Wi-Fi to work, but that was years ago, and now it's acting even stranger than it did back then.

If I boot up with the wire connected, the Wi-Fi starts up. If I boot up without the wire connected, the Wi-Fi won't start at all. If after booting with the wire connected, and the Wi-Fi starts up, I then disable the wireless, the wired connection works fine.

Without the wire connected, dmesg shows the iwl3945 driver loading and starting with no errors, and the wireless adapter activated. Running rfkill list shows no blocks, but there is no connection to my Wi-Fi.

Help! I am more confused than a chameleon in a bag of Skittles.