[Solved!] Realtek RTL8723BS not working on tablet Cinnamon 18

[Destry]

Realtek RTL8723BS Wireless Lan 802.11n SDIO Network Adapter

I have looked around for a solution and tried this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2249936 and it didn't work. When I restarted the tablet, LM would not boot so I just did a reinstall. Any ideas?

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destry@destry-Default-string ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: destry-Default-string Kernel: 4.4.0-21-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.3.1)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.0.5 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18 Sarah
Machine:   System: Default string product: Default string v: Default string
           Mobo: Hampoo model: Cherry Trail CR v: Default string
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 5.11 date: 04/28/2016
CPU:       Quad core Intel Atom x5-Z8300 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 11519
           clock speeds: max: 1840 MHz 1: 1017 MHz 2: 557 MHz 3: 1508 MHz
           4: 1588 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Device 22b0 bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 2160x1440@59.95hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics (Cherryview)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Failed to Detect Sound Card! Sound: ALSA v: k4.4.0-21-generic
Network:   Card: Failed to Detect Network Card!
Drives:    HDD Total Size: NA (-) ID-1: /dev/mmcblk0 model: N/A size: 62.5GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 53G used: 4.9G (10%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/mmcblk0p2
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.21GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/mmcblk0p3
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 185 Uptime: 1 min Memory: 349.2/3873.7MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.3.1
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.4

[bbaker6212]

Which tablet is this? Was it working with Mint 17.3?

if this page is up to date it looks like that driver may be WIP (work in progress) and not yet supported... https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/use ... rs/rtl819x

Maybe send an email to Larry...

If you get an unsupported device, you can donate it to the driver maintainer. For more info ask Larry Finger <Larry.Finger@lwfinger.net>.

[Destry]

Which tablet is this? Was it working with Mint 17.3?

Tablet is right here: viewtopic.php?f=58&t=223426&p=1176655#p1178213
Woking on LM 18 Cinnamon
LM 17.3 is not responsive on it. I can get 17.3 live USB to load, but that was it. Could not run installer.

[bbaker6212]

This was something related to your BS driver I bumped into, if it helps...

Internal WiFi (Realtek 8723bs) Working with kernel 4.5.1 patched with this driver thanks to Akmelius
Kernel and system optimized for Baytrail/CherryTrail Intel CPUs.

on this page - a guy building a custom distro to get Ubuntu working on a Teclast X98 Plus w/Intel Cherry Trail Z8300...
https://xjesus.net/xjubuntu/xjubuntab-t ... 4-64-bits/

[bbaker6212]

ah, that Chuwi Hi12 is a great deal. Hope you can get it working. That would be sweet.
Btw, if you don't know. That guy Jesus working on that XJUbunTAB distro posts a lot on the Techtablets forum. Him and some other guys hacking Linux on various Chinese brand tablets.

[Destry]

Thanks for the info and the heads up!

[Destry]

I found this file: linuxium-z3735f-patch.sh
at this link: http://superuser.com/questions/839260/s ... -sdio-card

I am trying to figure out hot to install this on Cinnamon 18.

Any tips?

[Destry]

Tried this:

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sudo apt-get -y install git

cd
git clone https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723bs.git
cd rtl8723bs
make
sudo make install
sudo reboot

Booted into Bios/ South Bridge/ LPSS & SCC CONFIGURATION/ SCC SDIO Support = changed acpi to PCI then saved and exit. After reboot, wifi working! Connected and online!

inxi -Fxz still shows card not found even though the wifi is working...

[bbaker6212]

Tried this:

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sudo apt-get -y install git

cd
git clone https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723bs.git
cd rtl8723bs
make
sudo make install
sudo reboot

Booted into Bios/ South Bridge/ LPSS & SCC CONFIGURATION/ SCC SDIO Support = changed acpi to PCI then saved and exit. After reboot, wifi working! Connected and online!

inxi -Fxz still shows card not found even though the wifi is working...

Nice! So which distro are you booting with, Cinnamon 18 64 bit? Is the touch-screen still working only on USB live boot and not after installing?

[Destry]

Nice! So which distro are you booting with, Cinnamon 18 64 bit? Is the touch-screen still working only on USB live boot and not after installing?

Touch screen worked with live usb until i did disk wipe and install. Then touch screen would not work. I now believe there was a partition on the ssd that contained drivers for bios to run touch screen. I purchased a second Hi12 tablet so I can play with it to verify this.

Yes I am running Cinnamon 18 64 bit. Waiting for KDE 64 bit though as that is my favorite flavor.

[bbaker6212]

Nice! So which distro are you booting with, Cinnamon 18 64 bit? Is the touch-screen still working only on USB live boot and not after installing?

Touch screen worked with live usb until i did disk wipe and install. Then touch screen would not work. I now believe there was a partition on the ssd that contained drivers for bios to run touch screen. I purchased a second Hi12 tablet so I can play with it to verify this.

Yes I am running Cinnamon 18 64 bit. Waiting for KDE 64 bit though as that is my favorite flavor.

I recommend Macrium Reflect Free for backing up all original partitions - Windows, Android, Linux, etc prior to modifying things. Also, making Macrium Reflect USB bootable rescue media is a good idea: http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50210.aspx. Otherwise if you're hip to Linux stuff like Clonezilla you can go that route... http://clonezilla.org/show-live-doc-con ... Clonezilla <-- I've not used it so dunno if it works for Windows partitions. I know Macrium Reflect works for FAT32, NTFS, and EXT4 partitions. My understanding is Android 6.0 uses encrypted EXT4 partition for internal drive so Macrium should work for that and earlier Android versions as well.

http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-usage/ ... ve-use.php

[Destry]

Nice! So which distro are you booting with, Cinnamon 18 64 bit? Is the touch-screen still working only on USB live boot and not after installing?

Touch screen worked with live usb until i did disk wipe and install. Then touch screen would not work. I now believe there was a partition on the ssd that contained drivers for bios to run touch screen. I purchased a second Hi12 tablet so I can play with it to verify this.

Yes I am running Cinnamon 18 64 bit. Waiting for KDE 64 bit though as that is my favorite flavor.

I recommend Macrium Reflect Free for backing up all original partitions - Windows, Android, Linux, etc prior to modifying things. Also, making Macrium Reflect USB bootable rescue media is a good idea: http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50210.aspx. Otherwise if you're hip to Linux stuff like Clonezilla you can go that route... http://clonezilla.org/show-live-doc-con ... Clonezilla <-- I've not used it so dunno if it works for Windows partitions. I know Macrium Reflect works for FAT32, NTFS, and EXT4 partitions. My understanding is Android 6.0 uses encrypted EXT4 partition for internal drive so Macrium should work for that and earlier Android versions as well.

http://clonezilla.org/clonezilla-usage/ ... ve-use.php

Thanks! I will back up the partitions on my 2nd Hi12 and may apply those to the 1st tablet I modified. Then see if I can just replace the Win10 installation with LM18 on it. I do like the idea of having dual boot Android / LM18. May even maintain the touch screen with the LM installation.

[Destry]

Clonezilla refuses to clone everything from the disk on my 2nd Tablet and it fails to inform the Kernel of changes on the first tablet. When I power up my original first hi12 tablet, I get the boot select screen with android present and the 10 second countdown. no Win10. When I choose Android, it hangs on boot and nothing.

Macrium is a .exe file therefore I cannot use.

[Destry]

Gparted shows most partitions created with clonezilla as unknown.

[bbaker6212]

OK, good to know. Well I'm pretty sure Macrium Reflect will work.

[Destry]

Tried this:

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sudo apt-get -y install git

cd
git clone https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723bs.git
cd rtl8723bs
make
sudo make install
sudo reboot

Booted into Bios/ South Bridge/ LPSS & SCC CONFIGURATION/ SCC SDIO Support = changed acpi to PCI then saved and exit. After reboot, wifi working! Connected and online!
If you do not change the setting in Bios, the Hi12 will freeze at boot after installing the driver. Just hold your power button down for 10 to 12 seconds and it will power off.

inxi -Fxz still shows card not found even though the wifi is working...

[handygeek]

I have my Hi12 & I have Linux Mint 18 running.

See this link for details ...
http://techtablets.com/forum/topic/linu ... post-45211

Questions:

1. Where does the wifi driver get loaded - on the USB stick or does it write to some location on the Hi12 tablet?
2. Are you working with the Hi12 you wiped or the second unmolested Android/Win10 model you got?
3. Did you test the Macrium backup/restore app?
4. Is the Free version adequate or does one need to buy the Home Edition top get the necessary features?
5. Is there an equally-reliable alternative or is Macrium the only one to trust - at the moment?

Thanks! David

[bbaker6212]

Destry installed on his HD, he's not using a persistent live-USB boot disk. If you don't install, anything you do will have to be stored on USB because your HD will not be mounted so no way for the system to access it unless you specifically mount it. Macrium Free works well, just use it.

[handygeek]

OK. I had hoped he'd tried the USB install on his second Hi12.
OK re. Macrium - it's loading now - typical MS app, a gargantuan 1/2G+ (574.5MB) just to perform backup & restore.
I'm spoiled by Puppy Linux where the emphasis has been on really tight code.
Asked my CS-major son to find a way to download the 6G+ Win10 for the Hi12 as it keeps timing-out or something for me, I have the rest of the system files, BIOS, drivers, etc.
Backup tonight then hopefully get crazy on the Hi12 tomorrow evening.
BTW: The keyboard is awesome!
It would have been cool if they'd built a backup battery pack into it but it does what it's supposed to do & is solidly built.
Thanks!

[bbaker6212]

Regarding the audio problem if you have one, I ran into this page which might help debugging the audio problem on the Hi12: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Sound ... gProcedure
[edit] found this. Give a try:

Following these instructions will give you the latest ALSA (audio) driver, but only for internal "HDA Intel" sound cards (if your computer is from 2005 or newer, you almost certainly have a "HDA Intel" sound card for handling internal speakers, headphone jacks and microphones). USB or Bluetooth sound will not be affected.

Make sure dkms package is installed by running command:

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dkms --version

Make sure you are running on the default Kernel version (4.4) if you upgraded your kernel this might not work:

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uname -r

You can display a list of all your installed kernels and if you can boot into a prior one for testing:

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dpkg --list | grep linux-image

This only works if your kernel starts with "4.4.x"
Installation instructions

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wget https://code.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-audio-dev/+archive/ubuntu/alsa-daily/+files/oem-audio-hda-daily-lts-xenial-dkms_0.201606221846~ubuntu16.04.1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i oem-audio-hda-daily-lts-xenial-dkms_0.201606221846~ubuntu16.04.1_all.deb

Reboot