Can't re-enable wifi <Solved>

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Mildly_odd
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Can't re-enable wifi <Solved>

Post by Mildly_odd »

Hi

I've been using Mint 18.1 successfully with Wifi for a while. Today I had to disable the wifi, I thought temporarily, using the toggle in the Network Manager Applet. After later rebooting I find that the toggle has disappeared.

This basically means I can't connect wirelessly because I can't activate the wifi. My computer is a Lenovo Yoga 300. The "airplane" mode button appears to have no effect.

Results of inxi -Fxz posted below

Code: Select all

System:    Host: duncan-Lenovo-Yoga-300-11IBR Kernel: 4.4.0-133-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.2.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 80M1 v: Lenovo Yoga 300-11IBR
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Mini v: SDK0J91175WIN
           Bios: LENOVO v: C7CN28WW date: 01/16/2016
CPU:       Quad core Intel Pentium N3710 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 12799
           clock speeds: max: 2560 MHz 1: 1738 MHz 2: 2468 MHz 3: 2054 MHz
           4: 2414 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Device 22b1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@60.06hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 12.0.6 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel Device 2284 driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-133-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Wireless 3160 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: N/A state: N/A mac: N/A
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 1000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: NA (-) ID-1: /dev/mmcblk0 model: N/A size: 62.5GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 53G used: 45G (89%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/mmcblk0p2
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.20GB 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: 43.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 196 Uptime: 31 min Memory: 1573.8/3863.0MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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lsemmens
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Re: Can't re-enable wifi

Post by lsemmens »

Have a look in <System Settings> THe <Network> icon you may be able to re-enable Wifi from there.
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JeremyB
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Re: Can't re-enable wifi

Post by JeremyB »

Code: Select all

sudo sed -i 's/WirelessEnabled=false/WirelessEnabled=true/' /var/lib/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.state

Code: Select all

systemctl restart network-manager.service
See if that fixes it
Mildly_odd
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Re: Can't re-enable wifi

Post by Mildly_odd »

Hi
@JeremyB this looks really interesting, thank you.

Could you explain a little about what these commands do please? I have looked them up though they seem rather abstract to me. I am keen to have a solution that I understand kept ready in my "useful commands" crib sheet kept locally on the computer.

As an aside, the problem went away last night as the wifi connection reappeared just as mysteriously as it had disappeared. Its not the first time I have had this problem though this time, it lasting 18 hours rather than just ten minutes, is the longest nightmare its given me.

@lsemmens Yes, I should have been clearer, I had already search long throughout the system settings.
redlined

Re: Can't re-enable wifi

Post by redlined »

hi Mildly_odd!

I'm a noob and this is one of my less than dangerous drive-bys <--my disclaimer;)

about what the commands do that JeremyB advised, I see it toggling wireless enabled false to wireless enabled true in the file found in /var/lib/...
then you tell systemctl to restart nm service so that it recognizes this change. Perhaps not be helpful in explaining it in all detail but at first glance that is what I see.

Why I really wanted to respond here was to vouchsafe JeremyB, not just because he is a forum moderator, with near 10k posts in 4 yrs, but he's brilliant with such issues! I want to say wifi related but it is much more than that as can be seen in his numerous responses these forums. Check his signature link, run that for a peek at what level he is comfortable operating at (and knowing how to get near every piece of info he needs via one well written script).

Anyways, I know when I see JeremyB on such an issue I'll see [solved] added as long as one seeking help sticks with it to the inevitable end. otherwise want to say- good luck!
JeremyB
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Re: Can't re-enable wifi

Post by JeremyB »

Mildly_odd wrote: Wed Nov 14, 2018 8:37 pm Hi
@JeremyB this looks really interesting, thank you.

Could you explain a little about what these commands do please? I have looked them up though they seem rather abstract to me. I am keen to have a solution that I understand kept ready in my "useful commands" crib sheet kept locally on the computer.

As an aside, the problem went away last night as the wifi connection reappeared just as mysteriously as it had disappeared. Its not the first time I have had this problem though this time, it lasting 18 hours rather than just ten minutes, is the longest nightmare its given me.

@lsemmens Yes, I should have been clearer, I had already search long throughout the system settings.
I think airplane mode switches the setting from WirelessEnabled=true to WirelessEnabled=false and the command is an easy way to switch it back
Mildly_odd
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Re: Can't re-enable wifi <SOLVED>

Post by Mildly_odd »

Hi
JeremyB and redlined, thank you for the explanations!
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