[Solved] WiFi stopped working...

[Hultan]

A week ago or so WiFi stopped working in my machine. It has been working pretty much flawlessly for years.

In the beginning I saw the Wireless section under Network Settings, but there where no networks found (not even my neighbors networks). Now I don't even see a Wireless section, maybe because I am currently connected using a cable?

My router is working, and I am able to connect to my WiFi through my phone, so the problem must be on this machine, right?

I don't even know where to begin debugging this? I will probably reinstall tomorrow, if you guys don't have any bright ideas. It is a very simple reinstall, since I basically don't have anything on this machine outside of LM:s core applications.

```
System:
Kernel: 5.4.0-126-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.4.0
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.2.7 wm: muffin dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20.3 Una
base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: Dell product: XPS 15 9550 v: N/A serial: <filter>
Chassis: type: 9 serial: <filter>
Mobo: Dell model: 0N7TVV v: A01 serial: <filter> UEFI [Legacy]: Dell
v: 1.10.0 date: 02/25/2019
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 58.3 Wh condition: 60.3/84.0 Wh (72%) volts: 11.7/11.4
model: LGC-LGC3.67 DELL T453X serial: <filter> status: Discharging
CPU:
Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-6700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Skylake-S rev: 3 L2 cache: 6144 KiB
flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
bogomips: 41599
Speed: 900 MHz min/max: 800/3500 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 900 2: 900
3: 900 4: 900 5: 900 6: 900 7: 900 8: 900
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 530 vendor: Dell XPS 15 9550 driver: i915
v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:191b
Device-2: NVIDIA GM107M [GeForce GTX 960M] vendor: Dell XPS 15 9550
driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10de:139b
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting
unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 530 (SKL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.2.6
direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio
vendor: Dell XPS 15 9550 driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3
chip ID: 8086:a170
Device-2: DisplayLink type: USB driver: cdc_ncm,snd-usb-audio
bus ID: 2-1.2:10 chip ID: 17e9:4361
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-126-generic
Network:
Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM43602 802.11ac Wireless LAN SoC
vendor: Dell driver: N/A port: e000 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 14e4:43ba
IF-ID-1: enx00249b17475f state: up speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
IF-ID-2: wg-mullvad state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 45.48 GiB (9.5%)
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: PM951 NVMe 512GB
size: 476.94 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: <filter>
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 371.28 GiB used: 45.48 GiB (12.2%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 50.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
1: deb https://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/linuxmint.com/packages una main upstream import backport
2: deb http://ftp.lysator.liu.se/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
3: deb http://ftp.lysator.liu.se/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
4: deb http://ftp.lysator.liu.se/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
Info:
Processes: 286 Uptime: 20h 01m Memory: 15.28 GiB used: 1.93 GiB (12.6%)
Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.4.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash
v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38

```

[stevengarland]

Do you have anything else, such as a cell phone, that is connecting to your wifi?

[Hultan]

My router is working, and I am able to connect to my WiFi through my phone, so the problem must be on this machine, right?

Yes

[stevengarland]

Sorry. Bad question. I meant to ask if the wifi on your computer is enabled? One of mine has a small wifi on/off on the side which can accidentally be turned off. I assume that your have done a restart etc

[stevengarland]

other ideas here:
https://blog.rottenwifi.com/linux-mint- ... 20internet.

[Hultan]

You are right, there might be a button that disconnects WiFi. The Print screen button on this image have something that might look like a WiFi symbol. Nothing happens when I press it though. I have tried Shift, Ctrl, Fn, Alt and all combinations I can think of. I might need to investigate that a little bit closer.

https://image.pushauction.com/0/0/e9479 ... aed6a4.JPG

[reticulatus]

I notice that your WiFi adapter is a Broadcom device.

Code: Select all

Network:
Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM43602 802.11ac Wireless LAN SoC
vendor: Dell driver: N/A port: e000 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 14e4:43ba
IF-ID-1: enx00249b17475f state: up speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
IF-ID-2: wg-mullvad state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A 

When I had one of those, it needed a special driver to be installed.

It might be worth checking in Driver Manager to see if it is installed.

Also, run the iwconfig command in a terminal and see if that shows the adapter.

[Hultan]

Wow, this is weird, I just updated the nvidia driver in the Device Manager to 515 version, I was running version 470 something. I then restarted, and suddenly the wifi works? Obviously the nvidia driver can't be the solution here, it must be that I have clicked FN + PrintScreen frantically and accidentally left it in enabled state?! That is my guess anyway. I have restarted several times this week, and it have not worked to fix the problem.

Anyway, it works now, that is the important thing! Thanks for your help!

[W7DAH]

Do you use a VPN?

[Nikolai5]

For future reference, the likely package you need which Driver Manager will probably recommend is "bcmwl-kernel-source".

I have had instances where this driver has decided to not work after working perfectly for ages and a restart or reinstallation has fixed it. But even so, it's somewhat better than using the firmware-b43-installer as bcmwl package contains proprietary drivers that seem to run better.

[Hultan]

Yes, I use a VPN...

And the Driver Manager shows nothing but NVidia drivers...

But again, the problem is solved, most likely I have accidentally managed to turn off WiFi by hitting the PrtScr-button.

Apparently somebody thought that there is a good reason to have a button to turn off WiFi...a switch that can't easily be turned on or off by mistake maybe, but one of the keys on the keyboard!? Some design decisions I will never understand

[stevengarland]

Probably the reason to have a turn off switch of some sort is to avoid running wifi while using an ethernet connection and vice versa.