I check the spec and it has a wifi chip but the os can’t see it.

I had a wifi toggle on windows 11 when I got the PC and also when I used a mint USB boot. Driver manager sees nothing to update or install.

The mint community page has failed to post my question a few times so now I’m here.

    • db2@lemmy.world
      7·
      11 months ago

      If it’s a laptop it might be in usb depending on how it was designed.

      lsusb

  • Roopappy@lemmy.mlEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    I bought a cheap-ass Asus laptop knowing that the installed wifi module was not supported by linux. So I bought a new wifi module that had linux support for like $20 and swapped it in.

    This is the one I got, but I’m sure there are more like it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SH6GV5S

  • fxdave@lemmy.ml
    5·
    11 months ago

    Some distros do not include all supported device firmware in the base system. You have to determine your wifi adapeter and install the firmware for it. You may want to use usb tethering from your phone for that.

  • fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk
    5·
    11 months ago

    Do you know any of the following:

    • what’s the WiFi card in it?
    • what’s the laptop?
    • what kernel version are you using?

    For an easy GUI way to find these, you can go to the

    bottom-left menu > administration > system reports

    Then go to the System Information tab.

    You should have the kernel i.e. 6.3.0-39-generic at the top

    Scroll down, and under network you should have something like Device-1 Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 - that’ll be the WiFi card.

    In case you didn’t know, the Kernel contains drivers for things like WiFi and other devices.

    An older kernel tends to be more stable (the bugs have been fixed) - but it cannot contain the drivers for devices that didn’t exist at the time.

    By default, Mint is likely using the kernel 5.15, from 2022. If your WiFi device is newer than 2022, it won’t work yet. However, you can install a newer kernel (mine, above is 6.3.0). I had to do this to get the WiFi working on my Thinkpad p14s. This is quite simple and safe to do, and completely reversible if there are problems.

    There’s a chance if the WiFi card is particularly new or obscure, that it won’t work at all currently. We’re waiting on the company, or more likely a talented volunteer, to write the drivers.

    In this case, you may need to buy a USB WiFi adapter, for example TP-Link USB Wifi. I had to do this with my Dad’s laptop recently. Within the next year, he probably won’t need it anymore, as the drivers for the internal one will likely exist.

  • D_Air1@lemmy.ml
    3·
    11 months ago

    If you are dual booting, then disable fast boot in the bios to keep windows from locking various devices.

  • gnuplusmatt@reddthat.com
    3·
    11 months ago

    Lspci should list all your pci devices, one of which will be your WiFi adapter. Confirm its make and if it requires a kernel module. I would bet it’s a broadcom

  • Mac@mander.xyz
    21·
    11 months ago

    I’ve tried Mint multiple times and never got WiFi to work lol

    • n2burns@lemmy.ca
      2·
      11 months ago

      Interesting, I’ve never had any issues. Have you had better luck with other distros? What WiFi card(s)?

      • Mac@mander.xyz
        2·
        11 months ago

        I gave up and simply plugged in so i don’t have good infor for you, sorry.

      • Pantherina@feddit.de
        13·
        11 months ago

        Yes, I know that. And then the outdated kernel has missing drivers, or packages are outdated, etc. and you are searching for solutions that only apply to Mint

        • Mx Phibb@reddthat.com
          2·
          11 months ago

          Interesting, I’m running LM:DE, and haven’t had any problems, on first start up it offers up a selection of things I might want to do including loading proprietary drivers. So far I have it running on multiple computers, including two POS terminals that were never meant to be used as computers.