[SOLVED] MX Linux: how to enable wi-fi

Ranyel · 10-05-2021, 10:34 PM

I just installed MX 19.4 Patito Feo on a laptop and quickly ran into wireless issues. I was able to connect to my home wi-fi network right away, but after I restarted the computer, NetworkManager displayed wi-fi as "disconnected". There seems to be nothing that I can do to turn networking back on. Here are some of the things that I've tried:

- The GUI for NetworkManager features an "Enable Wi-Fi" check-box, but clicking it does nothing.

Code:

sudo lspci

tells me that I actually do have a wireless card and that Linux recognizes it. Of course, since I had wi-fi earlier, that's redundant as proof, but it's still useful to know.

Code:

sudo nmcli radio wifi

yields a result of "disabled", and running

Code:

sudo nmcli radio wifi on

does not change the result.

- One blog suggestion that I found was to enter:

Code:

echo "blacklist hp_wmi" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/hp.conf
sudo rfkill unblock all

which did nothing for me.

- Another suggestion was to modify the /etc/network/interfaces file to contain this:

Code:

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
 
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wpa-essid myssid
wpa-psk mypasscode

and then to run:

Code:

sudo ifdown wlan0 && sudo ifup -v wlan0

No results there, either, except multiple messages reading "Network is down".

- Entering:

Code:

nmcli dev status

yielded:

Code:

DEVICE             TYPE      STATE         CONNECTION         
eth0               ethernet  unavailable   --
wlan0              wifi      unavailable   --         
lo                 loopback  unmanaged     --

I only mention this because I've noticed that the "unavailable" state is very uncommon. The blog that suggested this command showed either "connected" or "disconnected" for most devices, and I noticed the same thing on my other computer.

- The results of

Code:

iwconfig

are interesting as well:

Code:

eth0      no wireless extensions.

lo        no wireless extensions.

wlan0     IEEE 802.11  ESSID:off/any
          Mode:Managed  Access Point: Not-Associated   Tx-Power=off
          Retry short limit:7   RTS thr:off   Fragment thr:off
          Power Management:off

Does that "Tx-Power" thing mean that the wireless card isn't even receiving power? If so, how can I change that? And if not, is there anything else I might try? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

enigma9o7 · 10-05-2021, 10:49 PM

Forgive the obvious, but you didn't happen to bump a hardware wireless on/off switch....

GentleThotSeaMonkey · 10-05-2021, 11:55 PM

(fyi) To collect 'all' info, https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info

Ranyel · 10-06-2021, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma9o7

Forgive the obvious, but you didn't happen to bump a hardware wireless on/off switch....

It looks like that was the problem. Can't believe I didn't think to check the hardware... Thanks!

And in case anyone else runs into this: after turning the switch on, the wireless card registered as "unmanaged". To fix it, I had to open /etc/network/interfaces and change this line:

Code:

managed=false

To:

Code:

managed=true

After restarting the computer, my wireless is working again.

Credit for the "unmanaged" solution goes to this blog:

https://www.blackmoreops.com/2013/11...managed-error/

sl0wj0n · 09-07-2022, 03:19 PM

Hello, all, just a very grateful & huge "THANK YOU!".
I didn't even know my ThinkPad T430 has a "Wireless radio switch", much less that I accidently turned it off. So when I found out, from this thread, I was compelled to add to it.
I changed my keyboard &, somehow, turned 'Off' the 'radio switch'; Maybe the first time, since I didn't know about it.
So this thread clued me in & I was able to solve my 'no wi-fi' issue, hence my gratitude.
Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

thugtomas · 09-16-2022, 04:57 AM

Click the Windows button -> Settings.
Select Network & Internet.
Select Wi-Fi.
Slide Wi-Fi On, then available networks will be listed. Click Connect. Disable/Enable Wi-Fi.

sl0wj0n · 09-16-2022, 09:43 AM

Thank you!
I did not know my ThinkPad has a wi-fi switch or had forgotten it, I didn't remember it.
Turn the wi-fi switch "ON", wi-fi works.
Turn it "OFF" wi-fi will *NOT* work regardless of all other factors.
So when changing my keyboard I think I accidently switched it "OFF".
I saw that post, referring to a hardware switch, & checked on my ThinkPad T430.
It has a hardware switch for wi-fi, when I checked it was "OFF".
Turned it on, wi-fi worked.
So I posted to the thread expressing my appreciation & gratitude for the info that solved it.