Installation of 8.04 hangs after b43 error

I am trying to install Ubuntu 8.04 (also 8.10 give same error) on an Avertec laptop, with 1Gbyte memory, 30 GByte hard drive, and what appears to be a Broadcom wireless adapter. There is also a wired adapter, though I am not sure what the type is. During installation of the software, with the wireless turned off (or on), and the wired connected to the network, the system gives the error - b43/ucode5.fw not found, you must download latest firmware (http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43). Then the system hangs for 30 to 40 seconds and drops to a $ prompt. If I disconnect the wired from the network, the installation will proceed to a point of 83% on the software installtion, then hang.

Question - How can I get the system to load without any network support (or just wired) so I can get to a usable system to download the fwcutter?

Other interesting point, I was able to load 6.06 LTS, and the networking seems to work right up to the point of when the system lets me login. (System show 300 or so updates available, but the network stops working so I cannot update the system.) The if config utility shows dropped packets on RX and errors on the TX, and if I try to re enable the network card, the system hangs. (This is all on the wired network, wireless shows there but cannot detect SSID).

If I reinstall 6.06, can I upgrade to 8.04 (or 8.10) and then get a working system at least on the wired side?