[SOLVED] No Wifi in Linux Mint After it Had Been Working - Why? How Can I Fix It?

[mintyfreshuser]

Hi.

My Wifi stopped working but it had previously been working just fine. I've been using Linux Mint for over a week with no Wifi issues so I don't understand why this would happen now.

I had to use a USB Wifi dongle in order to post this. The USB Wifi dongle works as it should, but why doesn't my computer's built-in Wifi work anymore?

The distro of Linux Mint that I'm using is Linux 18.3 Sylvia and the desktop environment is Cinnamon 3.6.6 if that helps.

Thank you.

[kc1di]

Hello mintyfreshuser and welcome to the Linux Mint Forums,
First lets get a look at your system and see if we can diagnose the problems would you go to a terminal and type the following commands and post the outputs here:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

Code: Select all

rfkill list

Thanks.

[mintyfreshuser]

Hello mintyfreshuser and welcome to the Linux Mint Forums,
First lets get a look at your system and see if we can diagnose the problems would you go to a terminal and type the following commands and post the outputs here:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

Code: Select all

rfkill list

Thanks.

Hi.

Here is the output after typing in the first command:

Code: Select all

mintyfresh@MintyFresh ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: MintyFresh Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: HP (portable) product: HP Notebook v: Type1ProductConfigId
           Mobo: HP model: 8305 v: KBC Version 73.16
           Bios: Insyde v: F.25 date: 01/19/2017
CPU:       Quad core AMD E2-7110 APU with AMD Radeon R2 Graphics (-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 14372
           clock speeds: max: 1800 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1200 MHz 3: 1200 MHz
           4: 1350 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Mullins [Radeon R3 Graphics]
           bus-ID: 00:01.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.00hz, 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD MULLINS (DRM 2.49.0 / 4.10.0-38-generic, LLVM 4.0.0)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] FCH Azalia Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Kabini HDMI/DP Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:01.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8188EE Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8188ee port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-3: Ralink MT7601U Wireless Adapter
           driver: mt7601u usb-ID: 003-012
           IF: wlx00e620014784 state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 628.0GB (19.5% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: SanDisk_SDSSDH35 size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: SD/MMC/MS_PRO size: 127.9GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 443G used: 45G (11%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-0
           ID-2: /boot size: 473M used: 69M (16%) fs: ext2 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 16.07GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-1
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0C mobo: 0.0C gpu: 57.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 234 Uptime: 3:14 Memory: 2027.4/15005.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[mintyfreshuser]

Hello mintyfreshuser and welcome to the Linux Mint Forums,
First lets get a look at your system and see if we can diagnose the problems would you go to a terminal and type the following commands and post the outputs here:

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz

Code: Select all

rfkill list

Thanks.

And here is the output after typing in the second command:

mintyfresh@MintyFresh ~ $ rfkill list
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
4: phy4: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
mintyfresh@MintyFresh ~ $

[kc1di]

you can try this command and reboot see if it works.
Rtl8188ee has caused problems for quite awhile.

Code: Select all

 echo "options rtl8188ee swenc=Y ips=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8188ee.conf

I suspect that the last update you did included and kernel update and that is what might have caused the problem.
good luck.

[mintyfreshuser]

you can try this command and reboot see if it works.
Rtl8188ee has caused problems for quite awhile.

Code: Select all

 echo "options rtl8188ee swenc=Y ips=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8188ee.conf

I suspect that the last update you did included and kernel update and that is what might have caused the problem.
good luck.

Thank you. Your solution worked!

[kc1di]

Glad it's working Enjoy

[shaka_zulu]

Hey guys,

I am having the same problem. Could you please help me somehow? Thanks a lot.

System: Host: sasa-Studio-1537 Kernel: 4.13.0-36-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: System: Dell (portable) product: Studio 1537 v: A11
Mobo: Dell model: 0P173H v: A11 Bios: Dell v: A11 date: 04/14/2011
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo T5800 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 7979
clock speeds: max: 2000 MHz 1: 1600 MHz 2: 800 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: 1280x800@60.02hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express
GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 17.2.8 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: k4.13.0-36-generic
Network: Card-1: Broadcom BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY
driver: wl bus-ID: 04:00.0
IF: wlp4s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Broadcom NetLink BCM5784M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe
driver: tg3 v: 3.137 bus-ID: 08:00.0
IF: enp8s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 750.2GB (6.6% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MQ01ABD0 size: 750.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 684G used: 43G (7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.22GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-0
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 56.0C mobo: 43.0C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A fan-2: 0 fan-3: 0
Info: Processes: 184 Uptime: 10 min Memory: 1521.0/3878.9MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

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sasa@sasa-Studio-1537 ~ $ rfkill list
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: brcmwl-0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

Not sure why wifi is hard blocked?! I was using it normally in the morning and afternoon without any update wifi didn't want to start up. I was trying to turn it on and off in BIOS but nothing has helped.

When i left click on network icon and try to turn it on switch button do not want to move it is just ''slipping''. When i go to network settings wifi switch goes on but then after some time it goes back off. :/

Not sure what is a problem.

Please help me somehow. Thanks a million.

[JeremyB]

I would try

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get remove bcmwl-kernel-source && sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

Reboot

[kc1di]

Hard block means that some how you hit or the machine decided to switch off you wifi card.
You'll have to find what the combo of keys or a physical switch on the machine will turn it back on.

on my machine the switch is the FN+F1 key. But it's different on each manufacturer's machine.
find the owner's manual. If you don't have one try searching on line. Good Luck.

[JeremyB]

Hard block means that some how you hit or the machine decided to switch off you wifi card.
You'll have to find what the combo of keys or a physical switch on the machine will turn it back on.

on my machine the switch is the FN+F1 key. But it's different on each manufacturer's machine.
find the owner's manual. If you don't have one try searching on line. Good Luck.

A true hard block will show under phy0, this one is caused by the bcmwl-kernel-source module

[shaka_zulu]

Thanks for a super fast replies.

I have removed and reinstalled drivers as JeremyB instructed but nothing has changed. Actually, now when i apply command rfkill list
i have only this:

0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes
I do not have phy4 option as before.

It is true, i have dedicated hard button on laptop for wifi on/off but also when i press it nothing changes :/ For as much i could tell i do not have keyboard combo for it.

[kc1di]

HI,
According to the manual from dell there is a switch on the left side of the laptop near the HDMI output that switch must be turned on. did you accidentally turn that one off?
You can download a copy of the manual from here: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/11437 ... e=9#manual
Look at Section 2:7 & 2:8.
Good luck.

[shaka_zulu]

Thanks for a reply. I am aware of that button but for some reason when i press it nothing happens, i mean, output in terminal is the same and still there is no option to turn the wifi on. :/

[kc1di]

I have the same card as you and it is the bcmwl - driver that works best with it. so if you did as JeremyB said and installed the b43 driver please make sure the switch is in the on position and plug into a Ethernet connection and reinstall the bcmwl-kernel-source driver. Then try again.
By the way it's always better to open a new thread for your own problem than reopen one that was solved. Just for future knowledge.
P.S. you may have to reboot the machine for it to work after you've installed the driver and made sure the switch is turned on.

[Moem]

By the way it's always better to open a new thread for your own problem than reopen one that was solved.

That's right, and it's also a forum rule. Thanks for understanding!

[alexeymuranov]

I've also noticed that my WiFi with a Broadcom Wireless Adapter was not working in a freshly installed Linux Mint 19.1, despite that the driver bcmwl-kernel-source was installed.

Apparently the problem was related to this wizardry with Secure Boot, MOK, and driver signing. I could fix it with

Code: Select all

sudo apt install --reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source

I was asked to choose a password and on the next reboot i was prompted to use it to enroll some MOK or something like that. After this operation the WiFi got fixed.

[WVUTampaAlum]

you can try this command and reboot see if it works.
Rtl8188ee has caused problems for quite awhile.

Code: Select all

 echo "options rtl8188ee swenc=Y ips=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8188ee.conf

I suspect that the last update you did included and kernel update and that is what might have caused the problem.
good luck.

This worked for me also. Thank you much! My wifi was acting very weird. Sometimes it would be fine at 50 mbs or higher download then 10 minutes later I am getting < 1 mbs and it never changes. Running LM19.1.

[cassepipe]

you can try this command and reboot see if it works.
Rtl8188ee has caused problems for quite awhile.

Code: Select all

 echo "options rtl8188ee swenc=Y ips=N" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/rtl8188ee.conf

I suspect that the last update you did included and kernel update and that is what might have caused the problem.
good luck.

This worked for me also. Thank you much! My wifi was acting very weird. Sometimes it would be fine at 50 mbs or higher download then 10 minutes later I am getting < 1 mbs and it never changes. Running LM19.1.

It also worked for me and I have a realtek RTL8191SEvB. I just replaced the device's name by my own's in the lines above.

Also, do not forget to reboot