Wifi disabled by radio killswitch: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop [HP Pavillion]

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Offbeatmatt

Wifi disabled by radio killswitch: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop [HP Pavillion]

Post by Offbeatmatt »

I just installed Mint, and the Wireless internet is working and connecting automatically. But it seems like every time I close my laptop then open it again, the wireless becomes unavailable, and I have to restart my computer to fix it. I went to the rfkill list in the terminal, and it says Soft Blocked: no, Hard blocked: yes. Is there a way I can fix this so I don't have to restart my laptop every time I close/hibernate it?
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 4 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

What version of linux mint? Post the results in terminal for

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lsmod
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

Version 18, 64 bit, Cinnamon.

Here's the full results:

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Module                  Size  Used by
pci_stub               16384  1
vboxpci                24576  0
vboxnetadp             28672  0
vboxnetflt             28672  0
vboxdrv               454656  3 vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt,vboxpci
binfmt_misc            20480  1
nls_iso8859_1          16384  1
uvcvideo               90112  0
videobuf2_vmalloc      16384  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       16384  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2         28672  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_core         36864  2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_v4l2
v4l2_common            16384  1 videobuf2_v4l2
videodev              176128  4 uvcvideo,v4l2_common,videobuf2_core,videobuf2_v4l2
media                  24576  2 uvcvideo,videodev
intel_rapl             20480  0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0
intel_powerclamp       16384  0
hp_wmi                 16384  0
coretemp               16384  0
sparse_keymap          16384  1 hp_wmi
arc4                   16384  2
kvm                   536576  0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     53248  1
rtl8188ee              86016  0
rtl_pci                28672  1 rtl8188ee
rtlwifi                77824  2 rtl_pci,rtl8188ee
irqbypass              16384  1 kvm
mac80211              737280  3 rtl_pci,rtlwifi,rtl8188ee
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  0
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
snd_hda_codec_realtek    81920  1
snd_hda_codec_generic    77824  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
aesni_intel           167936  0
snd_hda_intel          36864  5
snd_hda_codec         135168  4 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel
cfg80211              565248  2 mac80211,rtlwifi
aes_x86_64             20480  1 aesni_intel
snd_hda_core           73728  5 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
lrw                    16384  1 aesni_intel
snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec
gf128mul               16384  1 lrw
glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
snd_pcm               106496  4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_core
ablk_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
snd_seq_midi           16384  0
snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
cryptd                 20480  2 aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd_rawmidi            32768  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                69632  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
joydev                 20480  0
input_leds             16384  0
serio_raw              16384  0
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
8250_fintek            16384  0
snd_timer              32768  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd                    81920  21 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device
shpchp                 36864  0
soundcore              16384  1 snd
processor_thermal_device    16384  0
int3400_thermal        16384  0
int340x_thermal_zone    16384  1 processor_thermal_device
acpi_thermal_rel       16384  1 int3400_thermal
hp_accel               28672  0
hp_wireless            16384  0
intel_soc_dts_iosf     16384  1 processor_thermal_device
acpi_pad               20480  0
mei_me                 36864  0
lpc_ich                24576  0
mei                    98304  1 mei_me
tpm_crb                16384  0
lis3lv02d              20480  1 hp_accel
input_polldev          16384  1 lis3lv02d
mac_hid                16384  0
parport_pc             32768  0
ppdev                  20480  0
lp                     20480  0
parport                49152  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
autofs4                40960  2
btrfs                 987136  0
xor                    24576  1 btrfs
raid6_pq              102400  1 btrfs
dm_mirror              24576  0
dm_region_hash         24576  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 20480  2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
uas                    24576  0
usb_storage            69632  1 uas
i915                 1208320  5
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 i915
drm_kms_helper        139264  1 i915
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
psmouse               126976  0
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
ahci                   36864  3
drm                   360448  6 i915,drm_kms_helper
r8169                  81920  0
libahci                32768  1 ahci
mii                    16384  1 r8169
wmi                    20480  1 hp_wmi
video                  40960  1 i915
fjes                   28672  0
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

What model HP laptop as there are some new patches out there
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

It's an HP Pavilion
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

What kernel?

Code: Select all

uname -a
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

Linux offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook 4.4.0-34-generic #53-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 27 16:06:39 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
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Prsman
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Prsman »

The MAC world is full of this complaint. My MacBookPro would do this all the time. Tried every fix out there. Changed my router and that fixed it.
No idea why.
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

I don't think changing the router would fix it. It's not that it won't connect to my router, it's that it won't connect to any router. It says no signals are available at all.
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

This may fix the issue

Code: Select all

wget https://www.dropbox.com/s/kut60z0q8f7np0b/hp-wmi.ko

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sudo cp hp-wmi.ko /lib/modules/4.4.0-21-generic/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/hp-wmi.ko
Reboot and test
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

Rebooted and retested. Didn't seem to do anything.
anderigs
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by anderigs »

Hi,
I have exactly the same problem: when I close my lid the wifi network list suddenly becomes empty in nm-applet - i.e. right click on the wifi icon in the system tray shows no networks. I can resolve this either by booting which is not quite what I would call user-friendly - or by restarting the network service (which also restarts nm-applet) :
sudo service network-manager restart

But does anybody know if there is a fix for this coming or why not everyone has this???

Cheers
andE
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

anderigs wrote:Hi,
I have exactly the same problem: when I close my lid the wifi network list suddenly becomes empty in nm-applet - i.e. right click on the wifi icon in the system tray shows no networks. I can resolve this either by booting which is not quite what I would call user-friendly - or by restarting the network service (which also restarts nm-applet) :
sudo service network-manager restart

But does anybody know if there is a fix for this coming or why not everyone has this???

Cheers
andE
Another HP computer? It might be an issue with a certain kernel module or BIOS. I have 4 laptops with either Linux Mint 18 or Ubuntu 16.04 and have no hard block issues but I don't have an HP, 1 Lenovo, 2 Toshibas and 1 Dell
anderigs
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by anderigs »

no, not HP, I have Acer.

Never had this problem with any other Linux and I have used a LOT of distros... First time I have seen it in LM18.
JeremyB
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by JeremyB »

anderigs wrote:no, not HP, I have Acer.

Never had this problem with any other Linux and I have used a LOT of distros... First time I have seen it in LM18.
Any idea what kernels the other distros had?

There hasn't been many changes to the acer-wmi module as of late and normally I would suggest blacklisting it and reboot

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echo "blacklist acer-wmi" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-acer.conf
Reboot

If it doesn't work or you lose FN keys functionality you can reverse it with

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sudo rm /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-acer.conf
rlindsey0

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by rlindsey0 »

I have a Clevo W150 and I get this problem too. Once I close it (which I rarely do, since I use the laptop mostly as a skinny desktop) and reopen it, Mint can't find any wireless networks and I have to reboot. I'm running kernel 4.4.0.38.
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop (hard block)

Post by Offbeatmatt »

I'm still having this problem, and it's the only big problem I continue to have while using Linux Mint. I'm bumping this thread.
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OveS
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Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop, HP Pavillion (hard block)

Post by OveS »

Same issue with my Thinkpad X240, Linux Mint 18, kernel 4.4.0.62
--
Minisforum X400 (AMD Ryzen 4350G, 16/512GB)
MacBook Air M1 --- iPad Air 5th Gen
Raspberry Pi 4 4GB (NextcloudPi server)
Offbeatmatt

Re: Wireless becomes unavailable every time I close and open my laptop, HP Pavillion (hard block).

Post by Offbeatmatt »

I checked my Network manager in the terminal both before and after closing my laptop lid, by typing service network-manager status. Here were the results.

Before closing the laptop:

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NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Wed 2017-02-22 16:44:02 EST; 10min ago
 Main PID: 2601 (NetworkManager)
    Tasks: 5 (limit: 512)
   CGroup: /system.slice/NetworkManager.service
           ├─2601 /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon
           ├─2842 /sbin/dhclient -d -q -sf /usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-helper -pf /var/run/dhclient-wlo1.pid -lf /var/lib/NetworkManager/dhclient-0b929e33-29b4-4210-9f6d-b3e50bb17195-wlo1.lease 
           └─2852 /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --no-resolv --keep-in-foreground --no-hosts --bind-interfaces --pid-file=/var/run/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.pid --listen-address=127.0.1.1 --cache-size=0 --conf-file

Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2852]: compile time options: IPv6 GNU-getopt DBus i18n IDN DHCP DHCPv6 no-Lua TFTP conntrack ipset auth DNSSEC loop-detect inotify
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2852]: DBus support enabled: connected to system bus
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2852]: warning: no upstream servers configured
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2601]: <info>  [1487799846.1919] device (wlo1): Activation: successful, device activated.
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2601]: <info>  [1487799846.1958] dnsmasq[0x22da440]: dnsmasq appeared as :1.19
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2852]: setting upstream servers from DBus
Feb 22 16:44:06 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2852]: using nameserver 192.168.1.1#53
Feb 22 16:44:12 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2601]: <info>  [1487799852.7524] WiFi hardware radio set enabled
Feb 22 16:44:12 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2601]: <info>  [1487799852.7524] WWAN hardware radio set enabled
Feb 22 16:44:13 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2601]: <info>  [1487799853.0186] manager: startup complete
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After reopening the laptop:

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● NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; vendor p
   Active: active (running) since Fri 2017-02-24 10:56:16 EST; 52min ago
 Main PID: 2552 (NetworkManager)
    Tasks: 4 (limit: 512)
   CGroup: /system.slice/NetworkManager.service
           ├─2552 /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon
           └─2865 /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --no-resolv --keep-in-foreground --no-hosts 

Feb 24 11:45:21 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2865]: using nameserver
Feb 24 11:45:21 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook Net0workManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2865]: setting upstream
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [
lines 1-19/19 (END)...skipping...
● NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Fri 2017-02-24 10:56:16 EST; 52min ago
 Main PID: 2552 (NetworkManager)
    Tasks: 4 (limit: 512)
   CGroup: /system.slice/NetworkManager.service
           ├─2552 /usr/sbin/NetworkManager --no-daemon
           └─2865 /usr/sbin/dnsmasq --no-resolv --keep-in-foreground --no-hosts --bind-interfaces --pid-file=/var/run/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.pid --listen-address=127.0.1.1 --cache-size=0 --conf-file

Feb 24 11:45:21 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2865]: using nameserver 192.168.1.1#53
Feb 24 11:45:21 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954721.4770] device (wlo1): Activation: successful, device activated.
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0423] manager: WiFi now disabled by radio killswitch
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0424] device (wlo1): state change: activated -> unavailable (reason 'none') [100 20 0]
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0537] dhcp4 (wlo1): canceled DHCP transaction, DHCP client pid 8873
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0539] dhcp4 (wlo1): state changed bound -> done
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook dnsmasq[2865]: setting upstream servers from DBus
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0576] dns-mgr: Writing DNS information to /sbin/resolvconf
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0667] manager: NetworkManager state is now CONNECTED_LOCAL
Feb 24 11:45:22 offbeatmatt-HP-Pavilion-Notebook NetworkManager[2552]: <info>  [1487954722.0670] manager: NetworkManager state is now DISCONNECTED
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The most illuminating thing here seems to be the line "[1487954722.0423] manager: WiFi now disabled by radio killswitch". What is the radio killswitch, and why would this be triggered? Can someone tell me what this means or direct me somewhere where I can learn more about the Network Manager and how it works, so I can potentially fix my problem?

For the record, I also tried typing service network-manager restart and service network-manager force-reload. They did restart the Network Manager, but it didn't solve my problem. I can still only solve the problem by actually restarting the compute every time.
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