[SOLVED] Old laptop WiFi worked during Debian 12 install but hardly works or doesn't work after install.

linustalman · 06-19-2023, 09:44 AM

Hi.

I installed Debian 12 on a 2007 laptop. The WiFi card is a 'Wireless NIC Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG 802.11a/b/g'.

What must be done to make it work again? The firmware-iwlwifi package was installed already.

Thanks.

rokytnji · 06-19-2023, 12:41 PM

What does

Code:

sudo dmesg | grep firmware

say? Since you say you already installed firmware.

edit: Might want to check

Code:

rfkill list

also.

uteck · 06-19-2023, 02:04 PM

This link has instructions and info: https://wiki.debian.org/iwlegacy but the page seems a bit old, but might still work.

Quote:

Non-free firmware is required, which can be provided by the firmware-iwlwifi package

The Debian installer has non-free firmware, but you may need to add it post-install.

linustalman · 06-20-2023, 03:37 AM

I should also mention that the laptop isn't mine and I don't always have access to it. I was able to connect an old Edimax USB dongle and that works fine. However, I'd still like to get the internal WiFi card working again.

It runs LXDE and the network program is Conman (I've not heard of that before).

fatmac · 06-20-2023, 04:10 AM

I've found 'conman' to be a bit hit & miss in the past & prefer to use 'ceni' if possible.

frankbell · 06-20-2023, 08:21 PM

It might help to know what wireless chipset is in that machine. The command lspci (list pci devices) issued in a terminal should provide that information.

You may have to issue the command as root.

linustalman · 06-21-2023, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

What does

Code:

sudo dmesg | grep firmware

say? Since you say you already installed firmware.

edit: Might want to check

Code:

rfkill list

also.

Hi rokytnji. Here's those outputs.

Code:

[   25.502228] platform regulatory.0: firmware: direct-loading firmware regulatory.db
[   25.646979] platform regulatory.0: firmware: direct-loading firmware regulatory.db.p7s
[   27.018202] rtl8192cu: Loading firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin
[   27.018291] usb 1-1: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin (-2)
[   27.018329] firmware_class: See https://wiki.debian.org/Firmware for information about missing firmware
[   27.018374] usb 1-1: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin (-2)
[   27.018396] usb 1-1: Direct firmware load for rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw_TMSC.bin failed with error -2
[   27.018438] usb 1-1: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin (-2)
[   27.018463] usb 1-1: firmware: failed to load rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin (-2)
[   27.018475] usb 1-1: Direct firmware load for rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin failed with error -2
[   27.018479] rtlwifi: Loading alternative firmware rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin
[   29.933523] iwl3945 0000:05:00.0: firmware: direct-loading firmware iwlwifi-3945-2.ucode
[   29.933544] iwl3945 0000:05:00.0: loaded firmware version 15.32.2.9

Code:

sudo rfkill list
0: acer-wireless: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no
2: phy1: Wireless LAN
	Soft blocked: no
	Hard blocked: no

linustalman · 06-21-2023, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

It might help to know what wireless chipset is in that machine. The command lspci (list pci devices) issued in a terminal should provide that information.

You may have to issue the command as root.

Hi Frank. As requested. :-)

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB controller: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7-M Family) SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family SMBus Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G72M [Quadro NVS 110M/GeForce Go 7300] (rev a1)
05:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)
06:01.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
06:04.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB-712/4 Cardbus Controller (rev 10)
06:04.1 FLASH memory: ENE Technology Inc ENE PCI Memory Stick Card Reader Controller (rev 01)
06:04.2 SD Host controller: ENE Technology Inc ENE PCI Secure Digital Card Reader Controller (rev 01)
06:04.3 FLASH memory: ENE Technology Inc FLASH memory: ENE Technology Inc: (rev 01)
06:04.4 FLASH memory: ENE Technology Inc SD/MMC Card Reader Controller (rev 01)

rokytnji · 06-21-2023, 01:49 PM

USING YOUR DMESG info to post this link

Code:

[   27.018329] firmware_class: See https://wiki.debian.org/Firmware for information about missing firmware

https://wiki.debian.org/Firmware

linustalman · 06-23-2023, 03:50 AM

I searched for the package, 'non-free-firmware'. There was a package that came with the Live ISO and I installed that. The WiFi card seems fine now.