Can't enable wireless anymore

[sinderel]

Hi,
I have Linux Mint 20.1 and it has been running well so far. Both the wireless and the wired connections worked well. However, unexpectedly, the wireless is not working anymore. It appears in the NetworkManager Applet as Disabled, and there is no option to enable it.
I found with rfkill list that it was soft blocked. I unblocked it but I still cannot enable it using the NetworkManager.
I tried rebooting the system, but this softblocked it again.
After unblocking it, I tried restarting the NetworkManager, but this also softblocked it again.

What can I do?

Here is my system info:

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.8.0-50-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A Desktop: MATE 1.24.0 wm: marco 
           dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Micro-Star product: Prestige 14 A10SC v: REV:1.0 serial: <filter> 
           Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Micro-Star model: MS-14C1 v: REV:1.0 serial: <filter> UEFI: American Megatrends 
           v: E14C1IMS.106 date: 11/29/2019 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT1 charge: 39.4 Wh condition: 49.2/52.4 Wh (94%) volts: 12.3/11.4 
           model: MSI BIF0_9 serial: N/A status: Unknown 
           Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard K270 serial: <filter> 
           charge: 55% (should be ignored) status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: 6-Core model: Intel Core i7-10710U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: N/A 
           L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 38399 
           Speed: 3832 MHz min/max: 400/4700 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 3900 2: 3898 3: 3900 
           4: 3900 5: 3896 6: 3900 7: 3900 8: 3900 9: 3894 10: 3900 11: 3896 12: 3901 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           chip ID: 8086:9bca 
           Device-2: NVIDIA TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / Max-Q] vendor: Micro-Star MSI 
           driver: nvidia v: 450.119.03 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 10de:1f96 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: modesetting,nvidia 
           unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa compositor: marco tty: N/A 
           OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design/PCIe/SSE2 
           v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 450.119.03 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           chip ID: 8086:02c8 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.8.0-50-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9462 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 4000 bus ID: 00:14.3 
           chip ID: 8086:02f0 
           IF: wlo1 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: ASIX AX88179 Gigabit Ethernet type: USB driver: ax88179_178a bus ID: 1-1:2 
           chip ID: 0b95:1790 
           IF: enx74da38a00627 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
           IF-ID-1: gpd0 state: down mac: N/A 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 168.49 GiB (35.3%) 
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Western Digital model: PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G-1032 
           size: 476.94 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 36.42 GiB used: 32.44 GiB (89.1%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6 
           ID-2: /home size: 329.00 GiB used: 136.01 GiB (41.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p7 
USB:       Hub: 1-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 12 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Device-1: 1-1:2 info: ASIX AX88179 Gigabit Ethernet type: Network driver: ax88179_178a 
           rev: 2.1 chip ID: 0b95:1790 
           Hub: 1-2:3 info: USB2.0 HUB ports: 4 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 214b:7250 
           Device-2: 1-2.1:5 info: Logitech Unifying Receiver type: Keyboard,Mouse 
           driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid rev: 2.0 chip ID: 046d:c534 
           Device-3: 1-2.2:7 info: Logitech Unifying Receiver type: Keyboard,Mouse,HID 
           driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid rev: 2.0 chip ID: 046d:c52b 
           Device-4: 1-2.4:9 info: Genesys Logic microSD Card Reader type: Mass Storage 
           driver: usb-storage rev: 2.0 chip ID: 05e3:0751 
           Device-5: 1-5:4 info: NXP s PTN5002 type: N/A driver: N/A rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1fc9:5002 
           Device-6: 1-8:6 info: Synaptics type: <vendor specific> driver: N/A rev: 2.0 
           chip ID: 06cb:009b 
           Device-7: 1-10:8 info: Intel type: Bluetooth driver: btusb rev: 2.0 chip ID: 8087:0026 
           Hub: 2-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 6 rev: 3.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0003 
           Hub: 3-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 4-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1 chip ID: 1d6b:0003 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 91.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 54 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list 
           1: deb https: //cloud.r-project.org/bin/linux/ubuntu focal-cran40/
           2: deb https: //cloud.r-project.org/bin/linux/ubuntu bionic-cran35/
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deadsnakes-ppa-focal.list 
           1: deb http: //ppa.launchpad.net/deadsnakes/ppa/ubuntu focal main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64] http: //dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/megasync.list 
           1: deb https: //mega.nz/linux/MEGAsync/xUbuntu_20.04/ ./
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mozillateam-ppa-focal.list 
           1: deb http: //ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/ppa/ubuntu focal main
           2: deb-src http: //ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/ppa/ubuntu focal main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http: //packages.linuxmint.com ulyssa main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
           2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http: //archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/oibaf-graphics-drivers-focal.list 
           1: deb http: //ppa.launchpad.net/oibaf/graphics-drivers/ubuntu focal main
           2: deb-src http: //ppa.launchpad.net/oibaf/graphics-drivers/ubuntu focal main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/owncloud.list 
           1: deb https: //download.owncloud.com/desktop/ownCloud/stable/latest/linux/Ubuntu_20.04/ /
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //repo.skype.com/deb stable main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/slack.list 
           1: deb https: //packagecloud.io/slacktechnologies/slack/debian/ jessie main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64,i386] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
           2: deb-src [arch=amd64,i386] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teams.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //packages.microsoft.com/repos/ms-teams stable main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yubico-stable-focal.list 
           1: deb http: //ppa.launchpad.net/yubico/stable/ubuntu focal main
Info:      Processes: 344 Uptime: 3m Memory: 15.47 GiB used: 2.20 GiB (14.2%) Init: systemd v: 245 
           runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Client: Unknown python3.8 client inxi: 3.0.38 

Thanks in advance!

[sleeper12]

Let's see:

Code: Select all

 rfkill list && iwconfig && mokutil --sb-state 

[sinderel]

Let's see:

Code: Select all

 rfkill list && iwconfig && mokutil --sb-state 

0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
lo no wireless extensions.

wlo1 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=-2147483648 dBm
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:on

enx74da38a00627 no wireless extensions.

gpd0 no wireless extensions.

SecureBoot disabled

[sleeper12]

Turn power management off & see if it helps:

Code: Select all

 sudo sed -i 's/3/2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf 

Reboot

[sinderel]

Turn power management off & see if it helps:

Code: Select all

 sudo sed -i 's/3/2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf 

Reboot

Thank you for the suggestion, I was hoping it would work, but unfortunately it didn't. I tried rebooting afterwards and it didn't work either (and actually, after rebooting, it became soft blocked in rfkill again). Same when restarting the network manager.

I tried again rfkill list && iwconfig && mokutil --sb-state , but it returned exactly the same as before (after unblocking the rfkill block).

[sleeper12]

Let's see this again:

Code: Select all

 iwconfig 

[sinderel]

lo no wireless extensions.

enx74da38a00627 no wireless extensions.

wlo1 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=-2147483648 dBm
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:on

gpd0 no wireless extensions.

[sleeper12]

Ok, power management is still on, so try:

Code: Select all

 sudo sed -i 's/wifi.powersave = 3/wifi.powersave = 2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf 

Reboot

Check iwconfig again & hopefully it will say off now.

[sinderel]

I run the command rebooted, but unfortunately the issue persists.

iwconfig:

Code: Select all

lo        no wireless extensions.

wlo1      IEEE 802.11  ESSID:off/any  
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=off   
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:on
          
enx74da38a00627  no wireless extensions.

gpd0      no wireless extensions.

cat /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.conf

Code: Select all

[connection]
wifi.powersave = 2

In case it helps:

cat /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

Code: Select all

[main]
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=false

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=no

[hglee]

Hi,
I have Linux Mint 20.1 and it has been running well so far. Both the wireless and the wired connections worked well. However, unexpectedly, the wireless is not working anymore. It appears in the NetworkManager Applet as Disabled, and there is no option to enable it.
I found with rfkill list that it was soft blocked. I unblocked it but I still cannot enable it using the NetworkManager.
I tried rebooting the system, but this softblocked it again.
After unblocking it, I tried restarting the NetworkManager, but this also softblocked it again.

What can I do?

That may be related to Bug #1864188.

With your laptop online by smartphone tether or otherwise, install the Intel wifi driver backports:


Open a Terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-T), then copy-and-paste the following 3 commands, one by one...

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:canonical-hwe-team/backport-iwlwifi
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install backport-iwlwifi-dkms

Reboot.

[sinderel]

Thanks for the proposed solution. Unfortunately it didn't work either: after installing and rebooting, the wireless is softblocked again, according to rfkill list. Unblocking it (sudo rfkill unblock all) didn't help either.

I am not sure whether the installation changed anything as apparently this is an obsolete module. Here is latest part of the installation output:

Code: Select all

...
Preparing to unpack .../backport-iwlwifi-dkms_8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2_all.deb ...
Unpacking backport-iwlwifi-dkms (8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2) ...
Setting up backport-iwlwifi-dkms (8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2) ...
Loading new backport-iwlwifi-8324 DKMS files...
Building for 5.8.0-50-generic
Building initial module for 5.8.0-50-generic
Secure Boot not enabled on this system.
Done.

compat.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlwifi.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlxvt.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlmvm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

mac80211.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

cfg80211.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

depmod...

DKMS: install completed.

[hglee]

Thanks for the proposed solution. Unfortunately it didn't work either: after installing and rebooting, the wireless is softblocked again, according to rfkill list. Unblocking it (sudo rfkill unblock all) didn't help either.

I am not sure whether the installation changed anything as apparently this is an obsolete module. Here is latest part of the installation output:

Thanks for that output, which says it didn't install. It would need to be forced.


Remove the PPA, copy-and-paste the following Terminal command-line:

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:canonical-hwe-team/backport-iwlwifi && sudo apt-get update

If you'd like to try forcing the backport driver to load:

Open a Terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-T), then copy-and-paste the following 3 command-lines, one by one...

Code: Select all

cd ~/Downloads && sudo apt install build-essential
wget http://launchpadlibrarian.net/510230130/backport-iwlwifi-dkms_8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i --force-all backport-iwlwifi-dkms_8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2_all.deb

Reboot.



If you later wish to remove the backport driver, copy-and-paste the following Terminal command...

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --purge backport-iwlwifi-dkms

Reboot.

[sinderel]

Thanks again. I tried but I get the same as before, and it's softblocked after rebooting.

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg -i --force-all backport-iwlwifi-dkms_8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2_all.deb
(Reading database ... 748554 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack backport-iwlwifi-dkms_8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2_all.deb ...

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module:  backport-iwlwifi
Version: 8324
Kernel:  5.8.0-50-generic (x86_64)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

compat.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.


iwlwifi.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.


iwlxvt.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.


iwlmvm.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.


mac80211.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.


cfg80211.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/5.8.0-50-generic/
rmdir: failed to remove '': No such file or directory
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod...

DKMS: uninstall completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 8324
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Unpacking backport-iwlwifi-dkms (8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2) over (8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2) ...
Setting up backport-iwlwifi-dkms (8324-0ubuntu3~20.04.2) ...
Loading new backport-iwlwifi-8324 DKMS files...
Building for 5.8.0-50-generic
Building initial module for 5.8.0-50-generic
Secure Boot not enabled on this system.
Done.

compat.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlwifi.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlxvt.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

iwlmvm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

mac80211.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

cfg80211.ko:
Running module version sanity check.

Module has been obsoleted due to being included
in kernel 5.4.0.  We will avoid installing
for future kernels above 5.4.0.
You may override by specifying --force.

depmod...

DKMS: install completed.

[hglee]

Thanks again. I tried but I get the same as before, and it's softblocked after rebooting.

As you (via NetworkManager) are unable to disable autosuspend, it's reasonable to assume that the driver fails to communicate with the wifi chipset.

Consider that there's an issue with the hardware that has the software baffled.

The internal wifi card may have come loose, so it isn't fully seated in its socket. Power-off the laptop, then give it a moment of firm but gentle thumping on its bottom or sides. This may result in a temporary reconnect. Temporary because you won't have changed how the card is secured.

Or the problem might be that your wifi card needs a hard power-cycle to do a cold reset -- which it may not be able to do because the laptop battery feeds power to the system even when the laptop appears to be switched off. Open the laptop chassis, unplug the battery from the main circuit board -- or just pop out the consumer-replaceable battery pack of older laptops -- and hold down the power button for a moment. This removes the power source and drains off residual electric charge in the components. Reassemble.

If wifi remains unresponsive, disconnect the battery again and disassemble the laptop to the point of being able to physically remove and reinsert the wifi card at its M.2 socket. Make sure it's fully reseated and secured. Be careful with its antenna wires, which may have simple snap-on connections that can get tugged off the card. Reassemble.

Before concluding that the wifi card needs to be replaced, try testing the system with an alternate operating system. Boot Manjaro Linux live media, for example. Even try that right now.

[sinderel]

Thank you for your answer and intuitions, but the wifi works well on Windows with the same machine (I have dual boot), which I guess makes the hypothesis of the hardware failure unlikely.

[sleeper12]

Do you have a Timeshift snapshot you can go back to when wifi worked?

[sinderel]

Not really. I have a rough intuition that I used the wifi somewhere in the beginning of last week (as I go with wired connection most of the time), but that's about it. Would it help if I get some history of the updates on the latest days (if there is a command to do so)?

[hglee]

Thank you for your answer and intuitions, but the wifi works well on Windows with the same machine (I have dual boot), which I guess makes the hypothesis of the hardware failure unlikely.

With dual-boot, disable Fast StartUp in Windows power options, otherwise Windows might not fully release system resources when it shuts down.

A Windows update could cripple your wifi, when its effect is that the Linux driver is unable to control the wifi chipset.


Confirm that Secure Boot and Fast Boot are disabled in your BIOS.

[sleeper12]

If you can remove & reinsert your wifi card, that might help as well.

[sleeper12]

Would it help if I get some history of the updates on the latest days (if there is a command to do so)?

You can see recent updates in Update Manager, View, History of Updates.