How to install drivers without internet access?

[Gualicho32]

Okay, so I have my new linux build complete, but now I find that my LAN/Ethernet Controller on the I/O panel is not responding. I believe this is a driver issue but, I don't know how to install drivers without an internet connection. It has never come up before. I mentioned this in another thread but decided to start a new one dedicated to this particular issue. USB stick and P2P seem to be the most likely methods to work, but I wouldn't even know where to start having never done it before. Some help please?

[sleeper12]

Maybe phone tethering:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... ernet.html

[AZgl1800]

If you boot up from a Live Session, does the USB stick have the proper drivers to detect your internet devices?

IF so, there is a way to copy that repository to a Data stick, you could use later from the Desktop.

[Gualicho32]

If you boot up from a Live Session, does the USB stick have the proper drivers to detect your internet devices?

IF so, there is a way to copy that repository to a Data stick, you could use later from the Desktop.

Is there any way to do it without completely overwriting my old install? I understand that some of the hardware in my new machine is possibly newer than the version of Mint that was out at the time my old machine died, or at least wasn't supported yet - like the integrated graphics of the processor, which I can personally confirm does not work either, which is why I thought ahead and got a SFF graphics card for it.

[AZgl1800]

You can use a Live Session at any time, on any computer, to test what does or does not work.

AS LONG AS, you do NOT click on INSTALL and continue the process.

So, boot up a Live Session of the ISO version of the OS you have now, and find out if the WiFi does what you want?

[Gualicho32]

Sorry I'm late in responding. In any event, I have learned that using a wi-fi card does allow it to go wireless. Hardly an ideal solution for a desktop, but it's at least functional now. I haven't yet run all my system updates, but I have run what were seemingly the most important ones. Unfortunately, even after updating to the latest kernel, and installing an update for brand specific CPU support, the LAN controller still does not work. I finally decided to contact the technical support department of the motherboard maker, who tersely informed me they don't provide support for linux. If my intention was to run Windows, I would've just bought an Alienware or a Razer. How aggravating.

Anyway, I read in the documentation that the manufacturer recommends installing the LAN driver before updating the BIOS...the problem is that I don't know where to download this driver for use with linux systems. I even tried using the driver manager from the start menu to see if that would work - it keeps telling me erroneously, "no drivers are needed" - and I know that this isn't true.

For some reason, I have noticed that the wi-fi card sometimes drops connection seemingly for no reason; when I pull it out and plug it back in, it works again instantly like nothing ever happened. I'm unsure if it's the card or the machine that's being fickle.

I think I might need a lifeline with a tech guru who is as knowledgable as LinusTechTips or JayzTwoCents. Is there anyone on Mint's Development Team who might be able to help? Does this issue have precedent among linux users?

[Larry78723]

First off, there is rarely anyone Mint Dev Team on these forums; it's basically users helping users. Please post an inxi -Fxpmzr report. This will give us a concise overview of your hardware and how Mint sees it per  How to get help .

Here is how to generate the report and post it:

Open a terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-t). Make it fullscreen to avoid unneeded linebreaks or chopped lines. Copy the following code and paste into the terminal (Ctrl-Shft-V) then hit Enter/Return:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxpmrz 

exactly as it has been typed here.

Go to Edit, Select All, and then Copy, come back here, click on reply then code tags, </>, and then paste.
The results will help us to help you.

[Gualicho32]

I thought it worthy of mentioning that even after I installed yet another new kernel update with firmware and a "netplan IO/Yaml" system update today, there is still no change in my systems behavior.

[pdc_2]

and please do what Larry requested;

[Gualicho32]

Okay, here is what it says...next course of action?

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-92-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: MATE 1.24.0 
           wm: marco dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20 Ulyana base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: Z490-A PRO (MS-7C75) v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
           BIOS: American Megatrends v: 2.90 date: 04/20/2021 
CPU:       Topology: 8-Core model: Intel Core i7-10700K bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: N/A 
           L2 cache: 16.0 MiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 121596 
           Speed: 1518 MHz min/max: 800/5100 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 
           5: 801 6: 800 7: 800 8: 799 9: 800 10: 800 11: 800 12: 800 13: 801 14: 800 15: 801 
           16: 800 
Graphics:  Device-1: AMD Lexa PRO [Radeon 540/540X/550/550X / RX 540X/550/550X] driver: amdgpu 
           v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 1002:699f 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: amdgpu,ati unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa 
           compositor: marco resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: 
           renderer: Radeon RX550/550 Series (POLARIS12 DRM 3.35.0 5.4.0-92-generic LLVM 11.0.0) 
           v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Comet Lake PCH cAVS vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel 
           v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:06c8 
           Device-2: AMD Baffin HDMI/DP Audio [Radeon RX 550 640SP / RX 560/560X] 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 chip ID: 1002:aae0 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-92-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: N/A port: 3000 
           bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8125 
           Device-2: NetGear WNA1100 Wireless-N 150 [Atheros AR9271] type: USB driver: ath9k_htc 
           bus ID: 1-11.2:6 chip ID: 0846:9030 
           IF: wlx2cb05d66be4b state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 84.72 GiB (9.1%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-08WN4A0 size: 931.51 GiB 
           speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 915.40 GiB used: 42.36 GiB (4.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5 
USB:       Hub: 1-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 16 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Device-1: 1-9:2 info: Pixart Imaging Optical Mouse type: Mouse 
           driver: hid-generic,usbhid rev: 1.1 chip ID: 093a:2510 
           Device-2: 1-10:3 info: Lite-On SK-9020 keyboard type: Keyboard,HID 
           driver: hid-generic,usbhid rev: 1.1 chip ID: 04ca:004f 
           Hub: 1-11:4 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 05e3:0608 
           Device-3: 1-11.2:6 info: NetGear WNA1100 Wireless-N 150 [Atheros AR9271] type: Network 
           driver: ath9k_htc rev: 2.0 chip ID: 0846:9030 
           Device-4: 1-12:5 info: Micro Star MYSTIC LIGHT type: HID driver: hid-generic,usbhid 
           rev: 1.1 chip ID: 1462:7c75 
           Hub: 2-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 10 rev: 3.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0003 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 27.8 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 23 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http: //packages.linuxmint.com ulyana main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
           2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http: //archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:      Processes: 313 Uptime: 5m Memory: 15.55 GiB used: 1.13 GiB (7.3%) Init: systemd v: 245 
           runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Client: Unknown python3.8 client inxi: 3.0.38 

[sleeper12]

You likely need a higher kernel than the 5.4. Try a live session of Mint Edge with the 5.11 kernel to see if your ethernet/wifi work any better: https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=291

[Gualicho32]

You likely need a higher kernel than the 5.4. Try a live session of Mint Edge with the 5.11 kernel to see if your ethernet/wifi work any better: https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=291

Your suggestion worked. The ethernet works in live mode with that particular version. Now then, what would be the easiest method to upgrade to an advanced kernel ahead of schedule without incident? Simply going into the package manager and using the kernel module tool within the universe/multiverse sphere, upgrading to the Edge Edition, or some other esoteric alternative? I have honestly never had to do this kind of thing before. Do tell please.

[sleeper12]

Easiest is to install the 5.13 kernel in Update Manager, View, Linux Kernels & reboot. But, you will need an internet connection to do that (wifi or phone tethering). If that doesn't work, you should install the Mint Edge version.

[Gualicho32]

Okay, everything else seems to be functioning normally now (save for the CPU's integrated graphics), but now I'm getting a message that reads, "x86 SGX disabled by BIOS" in the dark field of the Grub Loader screen before it goes to the login screen. I looked at the various menus and submenus in the BIOS, and didn't find anything that seemed useful. What would be the thing that you would look for?