Broadcom WiFi works in live image but not after installation

[JeansenVaars]

Hi all,

I have a question that calls my attention dearly. I have installed LinuxMint on my Sony Vaio notebook, which comes with a proprietary driver broadcom WiFi.

To my surprise, during installation, driver is recognized and I can connect to WiFi. But, after installation, when I boot for the first time, such driver is not installed and I have no other means than finding an ethernet lan cable to plug into internet. Installing the driver won't work without an internet connection.

Why is this?

I know that, from other distributions, they don't even recognize the broadcom wifi during installation either, but it sounds silly to see Linux Mint get so close and then missing the opportunity for a perfect installation.

Thanks,
JV

[ClixTrix]

Please run the following command from Terminal and post back the results:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

[JeansenVaars]

Hi,

this is now, after I've installed drivers. Btw, this is now beta 18.3

Code: Select all

System:    Host: saif-SVF14211CLB Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: MATE 1.18.0 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: Sony product: SVF14211CLB v: C10HYQ6B
           Mobo: Sony model: VAIO Bios: Insyde v: R0250DA date: 07/19/2016
CPU:       Dual core Intel Pentium 2117U (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7183
           clock speeds: max: 1800 MHz 1: 799 MHz 2: 802 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@59.99hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n driver: wl bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlp7s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 0e:00.0
           IF: enp14s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 750.2GB (5.1% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST750LM022_HN size: 750.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 28G used: 6.1G (24%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: /home size: 655G used: 27G (5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 4.17GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 48.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 180 Uptime: 2 min Memory: 646.5/3828.2MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

Saif

[ClixTrix]

Card-1: Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n driver: wl bus-ID: 07:00.0
IF: wlp7s0 state: up mac: <filter>

Looks like it's installed. I believe you need to manually enable. Go to the panel/system tray and locate the Icon for network (looks like 2 plugs with gap betwen them). Click on it and look for Wifi to toggle it ON.

[JeansenVaars]

Card-1: Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n driver: wl bus-ID: 07:00.0
IF: wlp7s0 state: up mac: <filter>

Looks like it's installed. I believe you need to manually enable. Go to the panel/system tray and locate the Icon for network (looks like 2 plugs with gap betwen them). Click on it and look for Wifi to toggle it ON.

Hi,

I think you misunderstood the problem.

During the installation, with live image, wifi worked and I could connect to my network.

After installing Mint, wifi driver is not installed and I need to plug LAN cable, go to drivers and install it. Once I do that (what I did), it works fine.

The question is, why Linux Mint does not preserve the drivers it uses for the live image

Thanks

[ClixTrix]

Sorry.....long pause and several phone calls got me off track.

OK....I looked more closely for a reason.

You're running the BETA Mint 18.3 Sylvia and not a production Distro. Generally, not discussed here, as this Forum is for Mainstream support discussions. Could be and probably is a beta bug. I know the beta for 18.3 was just released a few days ago. Did you intend to install the beta, or just got it accidentally?

I'd be interested if an install of Mint 18.2 Mate had the same problem with that driver.

Also, it would be good to inform the beta team of that bug.

[JeansenVaars]

Sorry.....long pause and several phone calls got me off track.

OK....I looked more closely for a reason.

You're running the BETA Mint 18.3 Sylvia and not a production Distro. Generally, not discussed here, as this Forum is for Mainstream support discussions. Could be and probably is a beta bug. I know the beta for 18.3 was just released a few days ago. Did you intend to install the beta, or just got it accidentally?

I'd be interested if an install of Mint 18.2 Mate had the same problem with that driver.

Also, it would be good to inform the beta team of that bug.

I am 99% positive this happened in 18.2. Just reminded me of that time since this happened again.

I know 99% is not good enough, I guess I'll have to reinstall to confirm

[ClixTrix]

Yep, could be a bug that far back. I see a mod moved the thread to Wireless.

[JeremyB]

Try installing http://mirrors.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/r ... _amd64.deb
Although it does look like the driver was installed an is working

[catweazel]

To my surprise, during installation, driver is recognized and I can connect to WiFi. But, after installation, when I boot for the first time, such driver is not installed

There's a simple fix for this behaviour that involves adding the live installation source to the list of repositories then updating something but for the life of me I cannot find the article. It's of no help to you, of course, but hopefully someone else may recall where information about this fix can be had.

Very much like it's described here.

[GreenGoulash]

I had this problem earlier in the year.
I tried Linux Mint 17.2, 17.3, 18.0, 18.1 and Ubuntu 17.04 and encountered the same problem everytime. It was very annoying

However, I recently downloaded and installed Lint Mint 18.2 and it seems to work. Although I have to restart the computer after turning it on before it recognises WIFI networks - so you might want to try that.....

[BG405]

I believe this is because the proprietary drivers are active in the live session for testing purposes but inclusion of proprietary drivers in the actual installation is kept optional, in keeping with the Linux "ethics" or whatever the proper term is for this. Doesn't help in these cases unfortunately.

[JeansenVaars]

I believe this is because the proprietary drivers are active in the live session for testing purposes but inclusion of proprietary drivers in the actual installation is kept optional, in keeping with the Linux "ethics" or whatever the proper term is for this. Doesn't help in these cases unfortunately.

This definitely makes sense, too bad we have to plug in into ethernet to get it. Although what @catweazel said would make sense, if given the chance to enable live image's proprietary drivers without having so

[sbroccolo]

I don't know how to add a USB as a source but in Synaptic Package Manager you can add a CD.
However, as you surmised the drivers are on the Live USB stick.
If you search the USB from Nemo for "b" you'll easily find:
bcmwl-kernel-source_6.30.223.271+bdcom-0ubuntu1~1.1_amd64.deb
Double click to install.
I am not sure what you need to do, if anything, after the install, as I already have those drivers installed so I can't test.
Good Luck