[SOLVED] Linux Mint 20.3, unable to get onto WiFi using TRENDnet USB.

[DystoniaGamer]

Hello everyone, I have a rather strange issue. I’m relatively new to Linux, but not exactly. (I have a Laptop with Linux Mint as well, but that’s not the subject of today).

The subject of today is my desktop computer. There’s actually two issues with it, but only one is networking related. So, the networking issue is I can’t connect to WiFi, which is obvious. I have a TRENDnet USB adapter (model number TEW-805UB), that is connected to the computer by an Ivetto USB hub, (The 7 port one). Strangely enough, it sees the TrendNet USB when I go to “Driver Manager”, but when I go to the Network logo in the bottom right, I don’t even got the option to turn WiFi on or off. It only says “Wired cable unplugged”. Also, in Driver Manager, it says;

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TRENDnet
This device is not working
•rtl8812au-dkms(open-source)
Version 4.3.8.12175.20140902+dfsg-0ubuntu13~20.04.3
dkms source for the r8812au network driver
•Do not use this device

When I click on the driver, it gives an error of: pk-client-error-quark: Cannot download packages whilst offline (257)

Also, here’s a partial output of;

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inxi -Fxxxrz

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System: 
 Kernel: 5.4.0-91-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0
 Desktop: Cinnamon 5.2.7 wm: muffin 5.2.0 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
 Distro: Linux Mint 20.3 Una base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine:
 Type: Desktop Mobo: ASRock model: B365M Pro4 serial: <filter>
 UEFI: American Megatrends v: P4.40 date: 5/29/2020
CPU:
 Topology: 6-Core model: Intel Core i7-8700K bits: 64 type: MT MCP
 arch: Kaby Lake rev: A L2 cache: 12.0 MiB
 flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
 bogomips: 88796
 Speed: 1052 MHz min/max 800/4700 MHz Core speeds (MHz) 1; 3258 2: 3317 3: 3276 4: 3340 5: 3327 6: 3377 7: 3302 8: 3358 9: 3297 10: 3309 11: 3307 12: 3269
Graphics: 
 Device-1: AMD Ellesmere [Radeon Pro WX 5100] driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0
 chip ID: 1002:67c7
 Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: ati,fbdev
 unloaded: modesetting,radeon,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
 OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
 compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes
Audio:
 Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: ASRock
 driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:a2f0
 Device-2: AMD Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590]
 driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 chip ID: 1002:aaf0
 Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-91-generic
Network: 
 Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASRock driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k
 port: f000 bus ID: 00:1f.6 chip ID: 8086:15b8
 IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter>

Sorry if I misspelled anything by the way. I typed it out on mobile. If you need anything else though, please don’t hesitate to ask. Any help in solving my issue is appreciated. Thank you.

[HAWR]

Hello DystoniaGamer,

what strikes me independently of the wifi problem is that you have not loaded a graphics driver. So you should upgrade to the latest 5.13 kernel in the Update Manager > View > Linux kernels and reboot

Graphics:
Device-1: AMD Ellesmere [Radeon Pro WX 5100] driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0
chip ID: 1002:67c7
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: ati,fbdev
unloaded: modesetting,radeon,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~77Hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 12.0.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.3
compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes

After the reboot post additionally the outputs with plugged-in wifi adapter of

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lsusb && rfkill list all && mokutil --sb-state

[DystoniaGamer]

what strikes me independently of the wifi problem is that you have not loaded a graphics driver. So you should upgrade to the latest 5.13 kernel in the Update Manager > View > Linux kernels and reboot

Hello HAWR, I tried that just now, but unfortunately I get an error when I try upgrading the kernel to 5.13.

The output given is the following;

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W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-hwe-5.13/linux-hwe-5.13-headers-5.13.0-22_5.13.0-22.22~20.0.4.1_all.Deb 
 Could not resolve ‘archive.ubuntu.com’
 
 W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-hwe-5.13/linux-hwe-5.13-headers-5.13.0-22_5.13.0-22.22~20.0.4.1_amd64.Deb 
 Could not resolve ‘archive.ubuntu.com’
 
 W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-hwe-5.13/linux-hwe-5.13-modules-5.13.0-22_5.13.0-22.22~20.0.4.1_all.Deb 
 Could not resolve ‘archive.ubuntu.com’
 
 W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-signed-hwe-5.13/linux-image-5.13.0-22-generic-5.13.0-22.22~20.0.4.1_all.Deb 
 Could not resolve ‘archive.ubuntu.com’
 
  W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux-signed-hwe-5.13/linux-modules-extra-5.13.0-22-generic-5.13.0-22.22~20.0.4.1_all.Deb 
 Could not resolve ‘archive.ubuntu.com’

Again, sorry for any mistakes. I’m writing this out on mobile.

[HAWR]

You could change the mirror servers and try it again: Update Manager > Edit > Package Sources.

[DystoniaGamer]

You could change the mirror servers and try it again: Update Manager > Edit > Package Sources.

When I go to select a mirror for the Main (una), the two options are a Global one from LayerOnline and an American one from Linux Mint, however they both say Unreachable. When I change them over from one to the other, it gives me a different error, this time saying;

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Failed to download repository information. Check your internet connection.

Clicking the Details dropdown menu gives this output;

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E:The Repository ‘cdrom://Linux Mint 20.3_Una_-Release amd64 20220104 focal Release’ does not have a Release file.

Also, if I switch the mirror to the global mirror from LayerOnline, on the main Update Manager page itself, it says “Please switch to another Linux Mint mirror. Your APT configuration is corrupt.”

However, I also noticed something else about this particular USB adapter. Since it came with a driver CD, I put it in, and there are drivers for Windows and Mac, but not for Linux. Then after finding that out, I went to the manufacturer’s website and found they actually don’t make a Linux version of drivers for any of their adapters that I found. Maybe I just need to buy a USB adapter that is compatible with Linux?

Fortunately it can wait too until I get another adapter, if that is the issue here. I didn’t actually install Linux over Windows 11. I just have another USB with it installed on that that I’m booting from. I’ll update here tomorrow when the new adapter comes in.

[HAWR]

It seems that you have no internet connection. Does your ethernet not work?

Maybe I just need to buy a USB adapter that is compatible with Linux?

I don't think so. Can you post in between the outputs with plugged-in wifi adapter of

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lsusb && rfkill list all && mokutil --sb-state

[DystoniaGamer]

It seems that you have no internet connection. Does your ethernet not work?

Unfortunately my house doesn’t have Ethernet, so that’s I was using the USB WiFi adapter. But it apparently only works on Windows and Mac OS, not Linux. So that’s why I’m buying another adapter for WiFi now. When it comes I’ll update here whether it works or not. Hopefully it does.

[HAWR]

If you have a smartphone, you can use USB tethering for a temporary internet connection:

https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... ernet.html

[HAWR]

I've just seen, that your wifi adapter needs the rtl8812au driver (as it is stated in the driver manager) and needs a USB 3.0 port.

[DystoniaGamer]

If you have a smartphone, you can use USB tethering for a temporary internet connection:

https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... ernet.html

Unfortunately, the Network applet on the bottom right is still showing no connection. But when I click on it, it now shows my iPhone, along with ‘cable unplugged’, even though I have it plugged in via USB. The same is said for the Ethernet Connection. Is there anything else I can do to fix this issue?

[HAWR]

Then please download from another PC the rtl8812au-dkms package from the following website (direct download link):

http://ports.ubuntu.com/pool/universe/r ... .4_all.deb

Then copy it to your desktop and run it by double-clicking on it in the file manager. You need to reboot and Secure Boot must be disabled in Bios:

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mokutil --sb-state

[DystoniaGamer]

Then please download from another PC the rtl8812au-dkms package from the following website (direct download link):

http://ports.ubuntu.com/pool/universe/r ... .4_all.deb

Then copy it to your desktop and run it by double-clicking on it in the file manager. You need to reboot and Secure Boot must be disabled in Bios:

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mokutil --sb-state

I was able to install the driver to my laptop and place it into a USB drive I had lying around. However, when I installed it and rebooted, it wasn’t there any longer.

Secure boot is disabled in BIOS. The mokutil command produces this output;

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SecureBoot is disabled
Platform is in Setup Mode

I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that I’m in Setup Mode? I never formally installed Mint onto my computer. I’m using it via USB drive. Reason being I anticipated something like this happening. I tried to both reboot the system and restart it, and the driver was no longer installed after both a reboot and a restart. Should I actually install Mint on my computer to see what happens or no? Also, I’m incredibly sorry to waste most of your day like this. I genuinely appreciate the help.

[HAWR]

I never formally installed Mint onto my computer.

That's the reason. You have to install first LM on your Computer, but you need an internet connection for that. Can you really not make a wired connection to a router or possibly USB tethering with an Android smartphone?

[sleeper12]

Maybe reinsert the ethernet cable or try:

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 sudo modprobe -r e1000e && sudo modprobe e1000e && sudo systemctl restart network-manager.service 

[DystoniaGamer]

I never formally installed Mint onto my computer.

That's the reason. You have to install first LM on your Computer, but you need an internet connection for that. Can you really not make a wired connection to a router or possibly USB tethering with an Android smartphone?

Maybe with an Android. I (technically can) with an iPhone. It hasn’t worked yet though. But I mean, I can probably ask one of my parents for their phones if need be. They have Androids. Would it be better to use one of their Androids or my iPhone?

[HAWR]

In a previous you described that it didn't work with your iPhone, so I think it's worth to try it with an Android.

[DystoniaGamer]

In a previous you described that it didn't work with your iPhone, so I think it's worth to try it with an Android.

Tethering works with an Android phone. Wonder why it wasn’t working for my iPhone? Nevertheless, now I’ll install LM and get back to you when it’s finished. Thank you for the help!

[HAWR]

When LM is installed and you will have run the first updates and a reboot, you can install the driver for your adapter in the driver manager.

[DystoniaGamer]

When LM is installed and you will have run the first updates and a reboot, you can install the driver for your adapter in the driver manager.

LM is installed, I updated everything including the Kernel, and I updated the driver for the adapter. But still can’t even select Wireless in the Network applet.

[HAWR]

Is the adapter connected to a USB 3.0 port? If yes, we should try another driver. But to be sure, please post the output with plugged-in adapter:

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lsusb