SOLVED: Network Manager Says Wireless Unavailable

[DrSpaced]

I am trying to get wireless working on a Linux Certified laptop running 64-bit Mint 18.2 Cinnamon in a fresh installation. I had asked for Codecs to be included during the install. The wireless interface that I am working with is an Intel Wifi Link 5100 that the laptop came with. Network Manager correctly identifies it but also shows that it is "unavailable". A USB Cisco AM10 that I plugged in is shown to be "unavailable" too. I have a wired link, so I can easily share any diagnostic output one might require. Please tell me what next steps to take.

[WharfRat]

Hello DrSpaced

Welcome to Linux Mint and the Linux Mint forum

Pasting back the results of inxi -Fzx will help

[DrSpaced]

Done.

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$ cat inxi-Fzx.txt
System:    Host: desktop Kernel: 4.8.0-53-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.4.3 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya
Machine:   Mobo: N/A model: KHLB0 v: REFERENCE
           Bios: N/A v: 1.01 date: 02/18/2009
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo P8600 (-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9576
           clock speeds: max: 2401 MHz 1: 1600 MHz 2: 1600 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 12.0.6 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.8.0-53-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel WiFi Link 5100 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 0e:00.0
           IF: wlp14s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 14:00.0
           IF: enp20s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-3: Linksys AM10 v1 802.11n [Ralink RT3072]
           driver: rt2800usb v: 2.3.0 usb-ID: 002-005
           IF: wlx687f7472c511 state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (5.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD3200BEVT size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 290G used: 14G (5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.22GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 185 Uptime: 14:18 Memory: 1188.7/3884.6MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 

[WharfRat]

What does rfkill list return

[DrSpaced]

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$ cat rfkill.tmp
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: yes
1: phy1: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

[Moem]

I assume you've looked for the wifi switch? Usually it's in a place where you can reach it when the laptop is closed, so you can switch the wifi off before switching the laptop on, for example in an airplane. Sometimes they are hard to find

[WharfRat]

On my laptop I had to press the function+F2 keys to toggle the wifi on after I installed linux.

It came with win 7 installed and I didn't have to do anything with the wifi in windows.

[DrSpaced]

I have tried what I think is the WiFi switch. It is centered horizontally between the screen and the keyboard. It has a label which resembles "(((W)))" with the inner parens smaller. Next to it is one which depicts a keyboard key with a capital W in the center. On the other side of the supposed WiFi switch is one which has a label that looks like:

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        |-----------
        |     -----------|
        |-----------     |
              -----------|

except that the corners are rounded and connected. I confess that I don't read pictures well, so I have no idea what the laptop maker was trying to communicate. Lastly, there is another
rectangular unlabelled key that is twice as long in the horizontal as the vertical just below the
power key. I have no idea what that is either.

What do you suggest?

Also, the diagnostic output indicated that there was a RealTec WiFi interface. Is it really true that I have three WiFi units in this laptop (counting the AM10)?

[WharfRat]

My Dell laptop came packed with a reference card explaining what all the fn+f key did.

Also that info can be found on Dell's support web site along with detailed pdf owner/user/repair manuals.

Maybe check your manufacturers web site

[DrSpaced]

I take from your reply that you do not read pictures any better than I do.

I did notice that the F2 key has a picture (((!))) - upside down - on it. The Fn+F2 may well control the wireless too, but I tried it and there was no effect. (The way I tried it was to press it, check the Network Manager, close Network Manager, press it again, check again the Network Manager, and so on.)

I did check the manufacturer's website. There is no support of older or even current products there, I will have to call them tomorrow.

I note that you didn't answer my question:

Also, the diagnostic output indicated that there was a RealTec WiFi interface. Is it really true that I have three WiFi units in this laptop (counting the AM10)?

In any case, thank you for your insights thus far.

[WharfRat]

I note that you didn't answer my question:

Also, the diagnostic output indicated that there was a RealTec WiFi interface. Is it really true that I have three WiFi units in this laptop (counting the AM10)?

In any case, thank you for your insights thus far.

You have three network devices, two wireless, the one you plugged-in is Card-3, Card-2 is wired Ethernet and Card-1 is the one that the laptop came with.

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Card-1: Intel WiFi Link 5100 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 0e:00.0
Card-2: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
Card-3: Linksys AM10 v1 802.11n [Ralink RT3072]

One of them doesn't show as blocked, probably the Linksys AM10, so I'm befuddled why that one isn't working

[DrSpaced]

Success!

Thanks to encouragement by WharfRat, I located the WiFi switch on this laptop. I was able to connect with no further problems.

The switch was hard to see, There was embossed ON/OFF in black plastic on the switch just below the status lights in the lower left of the keyboard. I don't see well and this escaped me before.

What those other buttons are for, I don't have a clue.

[WharfRat]

Glad to hear you had success in locating the elusive wifi switch.

I scanned a part of the reference I mentioned in an earlier post just as an fyi.

function-keys2.jpg

Good luck

[DrSpaced]

I sent an email to the manufacturer for any laptop documentation especially the exterior swithches and indicators.

[lamcgann]

I see that this issue was resolved. I read this string because I was having a similar issue but the resolution was different and I thought it worth noting for future readers. I have an HP Pavilion DV2715nr Laptop. The Broadcom modem worked with Windows but with Linux the PCI modem was listed as unavailable. While running Mint from the USB drive I loaded the drivers but after reboot they would be gone. I used DEVICE MANAGER to install the drivers. I loaded Mint 19.3 on the HDD and the drivers were still there after reboot but the Wireless card was still listed as unavailable. I loaded the drivers several times, shut down and rebooted. NO Joy. The resolution in the conversation was to turn on the manual hardware WIFI switch. On another string the answer was to turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS which apparently can disable communication hardware for security reasons until the OS tells it to make them available. This cannot be turned off for Win8 or 10 or so I read. The Utilit Mokutil can be installed from software manager and the command mokutil ---sb-state used to determine weather Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS. I dont think secure boot is an option in all BIOS's because I could find no trace of it in my Phoenix BIOS. Also the firewall UFW (Ubuntu or Uncomplicated Fire Wall) which comes loaded on Mint can stop communications. While reading and trying all these options I found this command: inxi -Fxz which lists your hardware including communication ports, whether they have drivers and are running or not.

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lesleigh@lesleigh-HP-Pavilion-dv2700-Notebook-PC:~$ inxi -Fz
System:
  Host: lesleigh-HP-Pavilion-dv2700-Notebook-PC 
  Kernel: 5.3.0-26-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.4.8 
  Distro: Linux Mint 19.3 Tricia 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard 
  product: HP Pavilion dv2700 Notebook PC v: F.14 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Wistron model: 30D6 v: 81.49 serial: <filter> BIOS: Hewlett-Packard 
  v: F.14 date: 11/30/2007 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 37.8 Wh condition: 37.8/47.5 Wh (80%) 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-58 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  Speed: 800 MHz min/max: 800/1900 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 800 2: 800 
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA C67 [GeForce 7150M / nForce 630M] driver: nouveau 
  v: kernel 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.5 driver: nouveau 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa resolution: 1280x800~60Hz, 720x576~50Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: NV67 v: 2.1 Mesa 19.2.1 
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA MCP67 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.3.0-26-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: NVIDIA MCP67 Ethernet driver: forcedeth 
  IF: enp0s10 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY driver: wl 
  IF: wlp4s0 state: dormant mac: <filter> 
  Device-3: Ralink MT7601U Wireless Adapter type: USB driver: mt7601u 
  IF: wlxe84e0658e762 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 14.69 GiB (3.2%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Toshiba model: MQ01ABD050 size: 465.76 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 457.45 GiB used: 14.69 GiB (3.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 51.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 59 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 176 Uptime: 3h 50m Memory: 1.88 GiB used: 670.7 MiB (34.9%) 
  Shell: bash inxi: 3.0.32 

Notice the Broadcom Wifi driver is listed and the STATE is UP (actually in this screen it shows dormant not sure why) but when it was not working the STATE was DOWN.

Finally I found the rfkill command set. This tool will tell you what communication devices are loaded on your PC and weather they are blocked via hardware or software locks.

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lesleigh@lesleigh-HP-Pavilion-dv2700-Notebook-PC:~$ rfkill list
0: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
2: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
3: phy1: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

All three devices and HP wifi are listed. (not sure what HP-wifi is perhaps HP software for controlling communication?) Wired Lan was never blocked. But both the Broadcom PCI card and the USB Ralink stick I tried to use to fix the problem were listed as UNAVAILABLE. flipping the wifi switch on the front edge of the PC would turn on and off the Hard block buthad no affect on the Soft block. I found this rfkill command : rfkill unblock all and that is what turned of the soft block and fixed my WIFI problem. SO I know I havent given links to every string but Googling commands and Keywords should lead you to indepth articles/explanations for everything mentioned here. I help it helps someone else. I spent about 8 hours searching and reading and benefitted greatly from others help.
Here are a few of the links I used:
https://www.ghacks.net/2015/03/27/how-t ... tallation/

search.php?keywords=wifi+unavailable FOLLOW both links in this discussion for Secure boot and rfkill

https://fossbytes.com/enable-disable-se ... dows-8-10/

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/ ... d-commands

https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/

viewtopic.php?t=309199&p=1742364 This one has the inxi command and some others.

Good Luck Les