I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.

I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
find the WiFi.
At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find any
network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to connect to.

Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
Ethernet port.

I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
working out of the box.

Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?

Cheers

Dave R

--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:43:24 -0400, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:

> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.
> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find any
> network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to connect to.
>
> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
> Ethernet port.
>
> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
> working out of the box.
>
> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?

Try one of the Mageia Live iso images from
http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mageia/iso/cauldron/

Regards, Dave Hodgins

Am 04.08.23 um 20:43 schrieb David:
> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
> working out of the box.

It is by far. My Dell XPS 9310 did always find my Wifi immediately and
it was easy to configure. But it certainly depends on the hardware in
your Dell. Should be only a problem with very exotic hardware.

Even my older Macs with various Linux never had an issue with Mint LMDE
nor Ubuntu base to find the Wifi out of the box.

--
Alea iacta est

David wrote:
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.

LM has inxi hardware info script installed by default.

See what inxi -Nn says. Maybe add xx ie inxi -Nnxx; the advantage of
the x/s on my system is that it adds the chip ID to the report.

A distro that I've observed to properly handle a BCM wifi when others
didn't do its driver including LM was MX.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> David wrote:
>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>> find the WiFi.
>
> LM has inxi hardware info script installed by default.
>
> See what inxi -Nn says.  Maybe add xx ie inxi -Nnxx; the advantage of
> the x/s on my system is that it adds the chip ID to the report.
>
> A distro that I've observed to properly handle a BCM wifi when others
> didn't do its driver including LM was MX.
>
This is how that inxi report looks on the laptop w/ the problem BCM wifi:

$ inxi -Nnxx
Network:
Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl
v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4359
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: a4:17:31:ba:90:c9
Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express
Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169
v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000
bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
IF: eth0 state: down mac: 08:9e:01:38:0e:ff

In this case the ethernet wasn't connected, eth0 state down, and the
broadcom bcm43228 had the *proper* wl driver which many distro/s
couldn't solve during a live boot. It is inconvenient to solve a wifi
problem if you can't temporarily connect w/ ethernet.

Another advantage of booting w/ a live MX for solving a wifi problem is
that among the many MX tools is one called Network assistant, which has
several useful functions for problem solving along w/ a Help function
which brings up an extensive local help document.

Fortunately my 'problem' laptop also has ethernet, so that makes it
convenient to solve the wifi problem w/ the other distro/s that can't do
it live out of the box.

Puppy linux also has useful tools for solving wifi.

--
Mike Easter

On 8/4/2023 2:43 PM, David wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.
> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find any
> network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to connect to.
>
> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
> Ethernet port.
>
> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
> working out of the box.
>
> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?
>
> Cheers
>
> Dave R

You can try

lspci # Covers PCI or PCI Express (similar control blocks)

lsusb # Lower speed Wifi used to be popular on USB2.
# Modern high speed Wifi, like Wifi 6, need something a bit faster,
# and a PCI Express x1 lane may help in that case.

You can even use those as Google terms in a search, along with your model number.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dell_XPS_13_%289343%29

"Wi-Fi

Most configurations sport the Dell DW1560 802.11ac adapter. This is based on the
Broadcom BCM4352 chip which requires proprietary driver to work. Packages broadcom-wl
and broadcom-wl-dkms provide it. In the former case remember to install the
Linux kernel headers too (even if it is listed as an optional dependency of the
dkms package, it is mandatory for having a working network). See the
Broadcom wireless page for more details and/or assistance.

Some higher-end models do not use the above-mentioned adapter, instead they
use an Intel Wireless 7265 card which is supported by the mainline kernel.
"

If you look at the driver support on a typical Dell laptop download page,
there can be multiple instances of Wifi modules. A case where Intel would
not allow that, was things like "Centrino" branding, where the Wifi might have
BIOS enforcement so only certain Intel modules would work. This puts a crimp in
Dells style, and reduces Wifi variance.

Like Mikes suggestion, you start with some identifying utilities, to determine
whether a Wifi module is even present. On a Refurb, the leasing company may
have unplugged the module and left the two internal coax cables dangling.
And then, all the nifty utilities in the world will not find a module
which is not there.

So before you get even moderately excited, take the plate off the bottom
of the laptop, and check for the Wifi module.

and if it is empty, consider whether it's a "special" high end Intel laptop model (Centrino/Ultrabook),
in which case, only a few pretty specific modules will work. On low end
laptops, there is no Wifi enforcement, and you can put a $10 TPLink module
in there. I think I have at least one cheesy 802.11n (with no MIMO), for emergencies.

Atheros used to be the go-to brand for Linux. But Atheros was
bought up by Qualcomm, so for the most part, it lost its halo effect.
Broadcom is another chip maker, and the main part of the fun there,
is "getting your blacklisting done correctly", to get it to work.
In other words, Broadcom has too many driver versions for its own good.

See if you can spot the hardware on a bus first, open the machine
and verify the module is present, before throwing too much shade at the distro.

Paul

On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:08:44 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:

> Mike Easter wrote:
>> David wrote:
>>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>>> find the WiFi.
>>
>> LM has inxi hardware info script installed by default.
>>
>> See what inxi -Nn says.  Maybe add xx ie inxi -Nnxx; the advantage of
>> the x/s on my system is that it adds the chip ID to the report.
>>
>> A distro that I've observed to properly handle a BCM wifi when others
>> didn't do its driver including LM was MX.
>>
> This is how that inxi report looks on the laptop w/ the problem BCM
> wifi:
>
> $ inxi -Nnxx Network:
> Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl
> v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID:
> 14e4:4359
> IF: wlan0 state: up mac: a4:17:31:ba:90:c9 Device-2: Realtek
> RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express
> Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
> speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID:
> 10ec:8168
> IF: eth0 state: down mac: 08:9e:01:38:0e:ff
>
> In this case the ethernet wasn't connected, eth0 state down, and the
> broadcom bcm43228 had the *proper* wl driver which many distro/s
> couldn't solve during a live boot. It is inconvenient to solve a wifi
> problem if you can't temporarily connect w/ ethernet.
>
> Another advantage of booting w/ a live MX for solving a wifi problem is
> that among the many MX tools is one called Network assistant, which has
> several useful functions for problem solving along w/ a Help function
> which brings up an extensive local help document.
>
> Fortunately my 'problem' laptop also has ethernet, so that makes it
> convenient to solve the wifi problem w/ the other distro/s that can't do
> it live out of the box.
>
> Puppy linux also has useful tools for solving wifi.

Thanks.
The laptop has a Broadcom chip - BCM4352 - and also has no Ethernet.
I was contemplating pulling down the driver on another system,
transferring it to the USB stick, then locally installing.
However life is too short.

I tried plugging in a WiFi stick and it was identified on the USB port but
no sign of any driver kicking in.

I now have my cheapo M.2 SSD so I can install that and then install W10
and see how that goes.

I am wondering if things like this explain why I haven't used Linux for
years when I was an enthusiastic adopter 10-15 years ago.

Oh, and if I boot another (Ethernet) system with the stick, is there any
reason why I can't install the Broadcom driver package even if the system
doesn't have a Broadcom chip?

Seems a possible way out.

Cheers

Dave R

--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:45:51 -0400, Paul wrote:

> On 8/4/2023 2:43 PM, David wrote:
>> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>>
>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>> find the WiFi.
>> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find
>> any network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to
>> connect to.
>>
>> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
>> Ethernet port.
>>
>> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
>> working out of the box.
>>
>> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Dave R
>
> You can try
>
> lspci # Covers PCI or PCI Express (similar control blocks)
>
> lsusb # Lower speed Wifi used to be popular on USB2.
> # Modern high speed Wifi, like Wifi 6, need something a bit
> faster,
> # and a PCI Express x1 lane may help in that case.
>
> You can even use those as Google terms in a search, along with your
> model number.
>
> https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dell_XPS_13_%289343%29
>
> "Wi-Fi
>
> Most configurations sport the Dell DW1560 802.11ac adapter. This
> is based on the Broadcom BCM4352 chip which requires proprietary
> driver to work. Packages broadcom-wl and broadcom-wl-dkms provide
> it. In the former case remember to install the Linux kernel
> headers too (even if it is listed as an optional dependency of
> the dkms package, it is mandatory for having a working network).
> See the Broadcom wireless page for more details and/or
> assistance.
>
> Some higher-end models do not use the above-mentioned adapter,
> instead they use an Intel Wireless 7265 card which is supported
> by the mainline kernel.
> "
>
> <snip useful stuff>
> Paul

As posted upstream it has a Broadcom BCM4352.

I have obviously lost track as to why the Broadcom driver package can't be
included, perhaps with a utility to identify the chip and install the
proprietary drivers.
Given that you can install the drivers yourself once the system is up and
running.

Cheers

Dave R

--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

On 05/08/2023 13:05, David wrote:
> On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:45:51 -0400, Paul wrote:
>
>> On 8/4/2023 2:43 PM, David wrote:
>>> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>>>
>>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>>> find the WiFi.
>>> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find
>>> any network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to
>>> connect to.
>>>
>>> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
>>> Ethernet port.
>>>
>>> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
>>> working out of the box.
>>>
>>> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Dave R
>>
>> You can try
>>
>> lspci # Covers PCI or PCI Express (similar control blocks)
>>
>> lsusb # Lower speed Wifi used to be popular on USB2.
>> # Modern high speed Wifi, like Wifi 6, need something a bit
>> faster,
>> # and a PCI Express x1 lane may help in that case.
>>
>> You can even use those as Google terms in a search, along with your
>> model number.
>>
>> https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dell_XPS_13_%289343%29
>>
>> "Wi-Fi
>>
>> Most configurations sport the Dell DW1560 802.11ac adapter. This
>> is based on the Broadcom BCM4352 chip which requires proprietary
>> driver to work. Packages broadcom-wl and broadcom-wl-dkms provide
>> it. In the former case remember to install the Linux kernel
>> headers too (even if it is listed as an optional dependency of
>> the dkms package, it is mandatory for having a working network).
>> See the Broadcom wireless page for more details and/or
>> assistance.
>>
>> Some higher-end models do not use the above-mentioned adapter,
>> instead they use an Intel Wireless 7265 card which is supported
>> by the mainline kernel.
>> "
>>
>> <snip useful stuff>
>> Paul
>
> As posted upstream it has a Broadcom BCM4352.
>
> I have obviously lost track as to why the Broadcom driver package can't be
> included, perhaps with a utility to identify the chip and install the
> proprietary drivers.
> Given that you can install the drivers yourself once the system is up and
> running.
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
>
> Dave R
>
>

Had same problem here. You need the binary blob then add that to the
kernel. Just use the search engine of choice for that. I had the same
chip with a HP Laptop and same issues (WiFi not working) but with that
binary blob, no problem.

--

Cheers,
G.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
---------------------------->8------------------------------
/"\
\ / ASCII Ribbon Campaign
X against HTML e-mail
/ \
---------------------------->8------------------------------

David wrote:
> Mike Easter wrote:
>
>> This is how that inxi report looks on the laptop w/ the problem BCM
>> wifi:
>>
>> $ inxi -Nnxx Network:
>> Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl
>> v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID:
>> 14e4:4359
>
> Thanks.
> The laptop has a Broadcom chip - BCM4352 - and also has no Ethernet.
> I was contemplating pulling down the driver on another system,
> transferring it to the USB stick, then locally installing.
> However life is too short.
>
It is 'easier' (more convenient) if you can temporarily get ethernet (or
other connectivity on the target device.

> I tried plugging in a WiFi stick and it was identified on the USB port but
> no sign of any driver kicking in.
>
I don't have any experience w/ using a USB ethernet or a USB wifi, but
either one of those routes which achieved connectivity could get your
driver package that you need which is the package which contains the wl
driver above. That is, your bcm 4352 needs the wl just like my 43228
did, which many distro/s incl LM couldn't solve on the live boot, but it
is in the repo/s.

On my LM 21.2 which I have handy, in synaptic the repo/s show the name
of the package to be broadcom-sta-dkms which is described as a binary
only device driver to support (list of broadcom cards which includes
your 4352 and my 43228) and further goes on to say
'this package provides the source code for the wl kernel modules and
makes use of the DKMS build utility to install them for the running
kernel. ... The wireless tools package is also required in order to
make use of these modules. Kernel source or headers are required to
compile these modules.'

My point is that when I used my ethernet w/ LM to solve the bcm problem,
it was easy. I just dl/ed the package and the package and its build
system and the LM were able to do all the rest and the bcm wifi became
operational.

If you are using your live LM on another machine that doesn't have the
bcm, you can use synaptic to 'download only' the package. That is, when
you click 'Apply' after you've chosen that DKMS package, a dialogue
comes up which has a 'download only' option unchecked which can be
checked. Then the package is dl/ed into /var/cache/apt/archives/ and
its name is broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.222.271-23-22.04.1_all.deb
>
> Oh, and if I boot another (Ethernet) system with the stick, is there any
> reason why I can't install the Broadcom driver package even if the system
> doesn't have a Broadcom chip?
>
(I think) You want the specific .deb for your specific LM distro, but I
could be wrong about that. I always like to use .deb/s I get from my
own distro version's repos.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> (I think) You want the specific .deb for your specific LM distro, but I
> could be wrong about that.  I always like to use .deb/s I get from my
> own distro version's repos.
>
Now I'm looking at the package in the MX Linux synaptic, which is
installed by default in that live distro/s boot. It looks to me, on the
basis of 'numbers' that the .deb is the same as the one in the LM 21.2's
repo/s.

So, it is possible that if you boot the MX as I suggested in the earlier
post, which will have the wifi driver 'automagically' you could dl its
..deb package and use it in the LM.

broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-23_all

BTW, I consider the MX distro a very good distro to use, altho' I use LM
as my daily driver. I recently looked over all 3 current MX, the
fluxbox, the xfce, and the KDE. I'm typing this on the mx fluxbox via
the bcm wifi which it enabled by default on the live boot.

--
Mike Easter

David wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.

Here's a plan. Make a Ventoy stick. Copy the MX Linux and LM Cinn
..iso/s to the stick. Boot the MX which will automatically connect via
the bcm wifi. Download the bcm dkms package (using reinstall, apply,
then download only). You need to put/copy that .deb someplace 'real'
because the live ventoy MX boot isn't really 'files' (more like virtual)
and I don't have experience using Ventoy's persistence capabilities.
Then boot the LM Cinn live and access the real bcm .deb and install that
wl driver in the LM.

My 'ignorance' re the ventoy persistence in this message may finally
motivate me to get straightened out on that feature, because I LUV both
ventoy and live persistence. I usually do them 'separately' - some live
w/ persistence distro on a stick of its own, a ventoy stick 'full of'
linux .iso/s, but not persistent.

--
Mike Easter

On 8/5/2023 8:01 AM, David wrote:
> On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:08:44 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:
>
>> Mike Easter wrote:
>>> David wrote:
>>>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>>>> find the WiFi.
>>>
>>> LM has inxi hardware info script installed by default.
>>>
>>> See what inxi -Nn says.  Maybe add xx ie inxi -Nnxx; the advantage of
>>> the x/s on my system is that it adds the chip ID to the report.
>>>
>>> A distro that I've observed to properly handle a BCM wifi when others
>>> didn't do its driver including LM was MX.
>>>
>> This is how that inxi report looks on the laptop w/ the problem BCM
>> wifi:
>>
>> $ inxi -Nnxx Network:
>> Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl
>> v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID:
>> 14e4:4359
>> IF: wlan0 state: up mac: a4:17:31:ba:90:c9 Device-2: Realtek
>> RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express
>> Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
>> speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID:
>> 10ec:8168
>> IF: eth0 state: down mac: 08:9e:01:38:0e:ff
>>
>> In this case the ethernet wasn't connected, eth0 state down, and the
>> broadcom bcm43228 had the *proper* wl driver which many distro/s
>> couldn't solve during a live boot. It is inconvenient to solve a wifi
>> problem if you can't temporarily connect w/ ethernet.
>>
>> Another advantage of booting w/ a live MX for solving a wifi problem is
>> that among the many MX tools is one called Network assistant, which has
>> several useful functions for problem solving along w/ a Help function
>> which brings up an extensive local help document.
>>
>> Fortunately my 'problem' laptop also has ethernet, so that makes it
>> convenient to solve the wifi problem w/ the other distro/s that can't do
>> it live out of the box.
>>
>> Puppy linux also has useful tools for solving wifi.
>
>
> Thanks.
> The laptop has a Broadcom chip - BCM4352 - and also has no Ethernet.
> I was contemplating pulling down the driver on another system,
> transferring it to the USB stick, then locally installing.
> However life is too short.
>
> I tried plugging in a WiFi stick and it was identified on the USB port but
> no sign of any driver kicking in.
>
> I now have my cheapo M.2 SSD so I can install that and then install W10
> and see how that goes.
>
> I am wondering if things like this explain why I haven't used Linux for
> years when I was an enthusiastic adopter 10-15 years ago.
>
> Oh, and if I boot another (Ethernet) system with the stick, is there any
> reason why I can't install the Broadcom driver package even if the system
> doesn't have a Broadcom chip?
>
> Seems a possible way out.
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Dave R

I own perhaps too much computer junk, to be a good authority
on a "minimal set" of toys :-)

But I like having an ASIX USB3-to-Ethernet adapter (which works
on USB2 or USB3), as a means of cabling up boxes that have USB,
to the Internet, so I can get drivers. ASIX is the company that
makes the silicon chip, making it easier for other manufacturers
to make the whole adapter package.

There are a lot of different brands like "Trendnet", all of
them using the ASIX chips. There is an ASIX chip for 10/100BT
(older) and the ASIX USB3 to GbE Ethernet chip (newer, preferred).
This shows a picture of the concept, but other brands (having the same chip)
would work as well.

https://www.trendnet.com/support/support-detail.asp?prod=315_TU3-ETG

With todays inflation, I cannot begin to guess what one of those
costs now.

Paul

Mike Easter wrote:
> My 'ignorance' re the ventoy persistence in this message may finally
> motivate me to get straightened out on that feature,

I've made progress, but I'm still not comprehending comprehensively.

I can 'get into' the ventoyplugson persistence function, but I don't
understand what to do w/ the paths in the persistence tab. I'm working
on an existing ventoy stick w/ several .iso/s on it. It accepts my path
for one of the .iso/s, but my 'idea' of naming a persistent .dat file is
not acceptable to the tool.

https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_persistence.html

--
Mike Easter

On Sat, 05 Aug 2023 14:18:17 -0400, Paul wrote:

> On 8/5/2023 8:01 AM, David wrote:
>> On Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:08:44 -0700, Mike Easter wrote:
>>
>>> Mike Easter wrote:
>>>> David wrote:
>>>>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem
>>>>> to find the WiFi.
>>>>
>>>> LM has inxi hardware info script installed by default.
>>>>
>>>> See what inxi -Nn says.  Maybe add xx ie inxi -Nnxx; the advantage of
>>>> the x/s on my system is that it adds the chip ID to the report.
>>>>
>>>> A distro that I've observed to properly handle a BCM wifi when others
>>>> didn't do its driver including LM was MX.
>>>>
>>> This is how that inxi report looks on the laptop w/ the problem BCM
>>> wifi:
>>>
>>> $ inxi -Nnxx Network:
>>> Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n driver: wl
>>> v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID:
>>> 14e4:4359
>>> IF: wlan0 state: up mac: a4:17:31:ba:90:c9 Device-2: Realtek
>>> RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express
>>> Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
>>> speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID:
>>> 10ec:8168
>>> IF: eth0 state: down mac: 08:9e:01:38:0e:ff
>>>
>>> In this case the ethernet wasn't connected, eth0 state down, and the
>>> broadcom bcm43228 had the *proper* wl driver which many distro/s
>>> couldn't solve during a live boot. It is inconvenient to solve a wifi
>>> problem if you can't temporarily connect w/ ethernet.
>>>
>>> Another advantage of booting w/ a live MX for solving a wifi problem
>>> is that among the many MX tools is one called Network assistant, which
>>> has several useful functions for problem solving along w/ a Help
>>> function which brings up an extensive local help document.
>>>
>>> Fortunately my 'problem' laptop also has ethernet, so that makes it
>>> convenient to solve the wifi problem w/ the other distro/s that can't
>>> do it live out of the box.
>>>
>>> Puppy linux also has useful tools for solving wifi.
>>
>>
>> Thanks.
>> The laptop has a Broadcom chip - BCM4352 - and also has no Ethernet.
>> I was contemplating pulling down the driver on another system,
>> transferring it to the USB stick, then locally installing.
>> However life is too short.
>>
>> I tried plugging in a WiFi stick and it was identified on the USB port
>> but no sign of any driver kicking in.
>>
>> I now have my cheapo M.2 SSD so I can install that and then install W10
>> and see how that goes.
>>
>> I am wondering if things like this explain why I haven't used Linux for
>> years when I was an enthusiastic adopter 10-15 years ago.
>>
>> Oh, and if I boot another (Ethernet) system with the stick, is there
>> any reason why I can't install the Broadcom driver package even if the
>> system doesn't have a Broadcom chip?
>>
>> Seems a possible way out.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>
>>
>> Dave R
>
> I own perhaps too much computer junk, to be a good authority on a
> "minimal set" of toys :-)
>
> But I like having an ASIX USB3-to-Ethernet adapter (which works on USB2
> or USB3), as a means of cabling up boxes that have USB,
> to the Internet, so I can get drivers. ASIX is the company that makes
> the silicon chip, making it easier for other manufacturers to make the
> whole adapter package.
>
> There are a lot of different brands like "Trendnet", all of them using
> the ASIX chips. There is an ASIX chip for 10/100BT (older) and the ASIX
> USB3 to GbE Ethernet chip (newer, preferred).
> This shows a picture of the concept, but other brands (having the same
> chip)
> would work as well.
>
> https://www.trendnet.com/support/support-detail.asp?prod=315_TU3-ETG
>
> With todays inflation, I cannot begin to guess what one of those costs
> now.
>
> Paul

I found the box for my Gigabit Ethernet USB adapter, but I haven't found
the contents yet. :-(

Cheers

Dave R

--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

David wrote:
> I found the box for my Gigabit Ethernet USB adapter, but I haven't found
> the contents yet. :-(

Ha! I save the 'old' (currently not in use) parts, but not the boxes;
except I recently found some new/ years-old 'stuff' that had never been
used and still in the boxes. Boxes w/o any instructions inside I might add.

A propane weed burner that was on sale way back, but then I never used.
Over the years, propane bottle connections changed and it took me a
while to figure out how to connect the 'old style' burner hose to the
new style propane bottle connection. Then I discovered that the new
connector is 'inside-outside' male-female -- I guess you would call it
'trans-gender' :-/

Whenever there's an instruction manual, it gets saved into a big
accordion file.

I still suggest booting up a live MX; it is a nice distro and the BCM
will be auto-operational.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> I still suggest booting up a live MX; it is a nice distro

AND...

MX is and has been for YEARS the #1 DW distrowatch pagehit top-ranked
item; not that that list is really an index of 'popularity' but it has
/some/ meaning; essentially, MX is a highly regarded distro and 'full
of' wonderful MX (and Anti-X) tools, just like LM has minty tools.
'Everyone' should have at least some acquaintance w/ MX. Choose your
preferred DE/WM, but it doesn't come in Cinnamon.

--
Mike Easter

On 2023-08-04, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.

Have you run the Driver Manager? That found the Broadcom WiFi chip right
away when trying Linux Mint on a Mac Mini. The driver was included on the
Live USB image, so I didn't even have to be online to get it up and running.

--
Freedom. Use it or lose it.

On 2023-08-05, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:

> I am wondering if things like this explain why I haven't used Linux for
> years when I was an enthusiastic adopter 10-15 years ago.

On Dell laptops, if the machine has a Broadcom WiFi card, I usually just
invest the $5 (or so) to buy a used Intel one from eBay. Linux developers
don't have to reverse engineer Intel WiFi cards.

--
Freedom. Use it or lose it.

Am 08.08.23 um 08:55 schrieb RonB:
> On 2023-08-04, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>>
>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>> find the WiFi.
>
> Have you run the Driver Manager? That found the Broadcom WiFi chip right
> away when trying Linux Mint on a Mac Mini. The driver was included on the
> Live USB image, so I didn't even have to be online to get it up and running.

Same here on a MBP from 2017 and on various other Macs.
Works out of the box with Ubuntu und Linux Mint as well as OpenSuse. No
need to search for the driver.

--
Alea iacta est

On 2023-08-04, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.

Have you run Driver Manager? When running Linux Mint 21.1 (I believe) on a
Mac Mini, running Driver Manager allowed me to discover the WiFi port and
the Linux Mint Cinnamon Live USB had the correct driver, which it installed.
So I didn't have to find another way to get on line to use it.

--
"Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good."
-- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

On 2023-08-04, David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.

(Sorry for the redundancy. I didn't think the first message went through.)

--
"Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good."
-- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

On 04/08/2023 19:43, David wrote:
> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>
> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
> find the WiFi.
> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find any
> network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to connect to.
>
> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
> Ethernet port.
>
> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
> working out of the box.
>
> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Dave R
>
>
>
Make sure the Wi-Fi is turned on with whatever function key combination
is used to do this, possibly Fn + PriScr, before the install so the WiFi
can be detected and installed.

Hope this helps.

On 2023-09-07, GrahamW <contact@w-side.com> wrote:
> On 04/08/2023 19:43, David wrote:
>> I'm trying to get a Dell laptop running.
>>
>> I've booted from a USB stick with Mint Cinnamon but it doesn't seem to
>> find the WiFi.
>> At least, although it is a long time since I used Linux, I can't find any
>> network option which shows me local WiFi networks I can try to connect to.
>>
>> Being an ultra slim old thing it doesn't have anything useful like an
>> Ethernet port.
>>
>> I have read that Mint is not the best distribution for getting WiFi
>> working out of the box.
>>
>> Is there another distribution which is more WiFi friendly?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>
>>
>> Dave R
>>
>>
>>
> Make sure the Wi-Fi is turned on with whatever function key combination
> is used to do this, possibly Fn + PriScr, before the install so the WiFi
> can be detected and installed.
>
> Hope this helps.

If it's Broadcom WiFi card, running Device Manager might get it working.
I've almost had issues with Broadcom WiFi cards in Linux. What I do with
Dell laptops is buy the Intel WiFi card that fits the machine for somewhere
around $5 on eBay. For the Dell XPS 13 9343 that would be the Intel 7265NGW.
(Also I think the Intel 9260NGW will work, which is probably newer.)

--
Freedom. Use it or lose it.