Hey, so I've decided to switch to linux from microsoft on my PC but my PC can't see any network aside from wired connection. I've read through the other posts with similar problems and applied the proposed solutions but to no avail.
lsusb:
<pre>Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1532:023f Razer USA, Ltd Razer Cynosa Lite
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 1532:005c Razer USA, Ltd Razer DeathAdder Elite
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 2a70:f00e OnePlus BE2029
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0846:9011 NetGear, Inc. WNDA3100v2 802.11abgn [Broadcom BCM4323]
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
</pre>
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 3 times in total.
Reason:Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Welcome to the forums.
Well done for posting some good info about your system.
It might be worth your while using the 5.4 (LTS) kernel which may suit your hardware better.
For Linux in general, you'd upgrade your kernel only if you were having problems with an older LTS version.
LTS=long term support
Do you know how to do that? If not, post back and it will be explained.
You need to install a driver for your Broadcom wifi card.
The driver you need is bcmwl-kernel-source.
You can get if via the driver manager found in the Adminstration menu
Or you can install it via the terminal with this command
First thing:
I'm unsure how to get the 5.4 kernel. I had it before but changed to 5.13 hoping it would fix my problem and that was pretty straightforward as it activated automatically. But now the 5.4 kernel only shows installed and I don't know how to "activate" it.
Second:
I installed the bcmwl-kernel-source driver from the command line because the driver manager only shows drivers for my graphics card and rebooted my PC but there is still no option for a wireless connection.
Unfortunately, that USB Broadcom chip doesn't have any supported modules for the Linux Kernel.
You'll need something with a chipset that the manufacturer has made a driver available.
Most USB adapters these days have realtek chipsets inside, which tend to be pretty okay in terms of support (but always a good idea to search details before spending 10 bucks )
I think, I have no good news for you and your USB wifi adapter, which must be an older one, right? There is no driver in Linux and no additional driver for it:
The only thing to get it working is with ndiswrapper, but I've read, that ndiswrapper doesn't work well (if at all) with the recent 5er kernels. But you could try it with the help of the following website. Ndiswrapper uses the Windows driver to get your adapter working:
His_Holiness wrote: ⤴Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:57 am
First thing:
I'm unsure how to get the 5.4 kernel. I had it before but changed to 5.13 hoping it would fix my problem and that was pretty straightforward as it activated automatically. But now the 5.4 kernel only shows installed and I don't know how to "activate" it.
To boot into an older kernel, bring up the grub menu, select the Advanced Options, and then select the desired kernel.
If you do not normally see grub menu, do one of these options to bring it up while booting:
Hold (Repeatedly tap) the shift key during boot to enter grub for non-UEFI/Legacy boot computer
Repeatedly tap the escape key during boot to enter grub for an UEFI boot computer.
See this post for how to edit grub to get the menu to show if you are having problems getting either of those options to work.
Once you boot with the older kernel, you will want to remove the newer one because Mint automatically boots into the highest number kernel. You can remove the newer kernel in a manner similar to the way you installed it in Update Manager. Only this time, you will get a "Remove" button option when you click on the kernel.
djph wrote: ⤴Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:27 pm
Unfortunately, that USB Broadcom chip doesn't have any supported modules for the Linux Kernel.
You'll need something with a chipset that the manufacturer has made a driver available.
Most USB adapters these days have realtek chipsets inside, which tend to be pretty okay in terms of support (but always a good idea to search details before spending 10 bucks )
So I need to buy a new wifi adapter?
How do I know which ones will work? Does it have to explicitly state that it works with linux?
Any affordable recommendations?
djph wrote: ⤴Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:27 pm
Unfortunately, that USB Broadcom chip doesn't have any supported modules for the Linux Kernel.
You'll need something with a chipset that the manufacturer has made a driver available.
Most USB adapters these days have realtek chipsets inside, which tend to be pretty okay in terms of support (but always a good idea to search details before spending 10 bucks )
So I need to buy a new wifi adapter?
How do I know which ones will work? Does it have to explicitly state that it works with linux?
Any affordable recommendations?
I don't have any recommendations, no -- I get intel-based internal cards. Haven't ever used a USB Wifi card.
That being said, I understand that most of the $15-$25 options from tplink (etc.) are typically pretty safe bets -- but as with anything, double check it'll work on linux before you buy it (especially if buying from amazon or similar, those sellers *love* stuffing key words in the listings).
the command rfkill list doesn't give me any results
But anyway I'll just buy a new wifi adapter or see if I can set up a wired connection.
Thanks a bunch for the help even if i do have to buy new hardware(at least I now know where the problem was). Its nice seeing a community that can provide support so quickly and thoroughly ,which is a new experience for me.
)
