Q4OS Forum

ScottyOK

Member

Registered: 2024-08-21

Posts: 4

Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

I've got an old HP netbook that I've successfully installed the Q4OS with Trinity on it. Everything works except for the built in wifi. On the HP netbooks you had to push a button on the keyboard to turn the wifi on and off. On previous linux distros this button worked, but not now.

When I run MX tools and look at the network configuration, in indicates that indeed the wifi is disabled, and displays a prompt to activate the hardware switch.

ran sudo rfkill to see if I could turn it back on, no effect.

Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: bcma-pci-bridge v: N/A modules: bcma pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4727 class-ID: 0280

New user so I can't post a picture of the button on the keyboard.

suggestions?

Scott

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 4,501

Website

Re: Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

Please run:
$ sudo rfkill list all
and post back

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 4,501

Website

Re: Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

This wireless adapter may work with newer kernel, so we recommend you to try install kernel from backports:
- Add Debian backports repo:
$ sudo qrepoadd --gui
and run installation:
$ qinst-kernel-bpo

ScottyOK

Member

Registered: 2024-08-21

Posts: 4

Re: Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

Please run:
$ sudo rfkill list all
and post back

Results -
phy0: Wireless LAN
      Soft Blocked: no
      Hard Blocked: yes

ScottyOK

Member

Registered: 2024-08-21

Posts: 4

Re: Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

This wireless adapter may work with newer kernel, so we recommend you to try install kernel from backports:
- Add Debian backports repo:
$ sudo qrepoadd --gui
and run installation:
$ qinst-kernel-bpo

Good morning!
Installed the newer kernel from the backports. After reboot confirmed that I'm now running 6.9.7.

Confirmed wireless is still disabled/hard blocked.

Scott

ScottyOK

Member

Registered: 2024-08-21

Posts: 4

Re: Can't Activate built in Wifi on HP Netbook

I decided to reboot again, and this time go into the BIOS. Didn't see anything in the BIOS that I could adjust, so exited BIOS and booted into Q4OS. Now I discover that the wifi adapter is working, and connects to my home network! Not sure what was fixed, but I'll take it and mark this as "solved".