How to enable Wi-Fi in Linux Mint?

Hi,

I recently installed Linux Mint 18.1 XFCE and can't fathom how to enable Wi-Fi. I have a wired connection so it isn't so important but it might be useful to have. The machine previously had Windows Vista on it.

The Network card is an Internal PCI 802.11b/g Wireless Network Card. I think it might be an Asus one and can open the machine to check if needed.

Do I have to enable Wi-fi somewhere in Mint?

inxi -Fz

Thanks Al1000,

Here we go;

System:    Host: Mich Kernel: 4.4.0-53-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   System: Dell product: Inspiron 530
           Mobo: Dell model: 0K216C Bios: Dell v: 1.0.18 date: 02/24/2009
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E4600 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
           clock speeds: max: 2400 MHz 1: 2000 MHz 2: 2000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RV610 [Radeon HD 2400 PRO]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1440x900@59.89hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD RV610 (DRM 2.43.0, LLVM 3.8.0)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-53-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82562V-2 10/100 Network Connection driver: e1000e
           IF: enp0s25 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Broadcom BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller
           driver: b43-pci-bridge
           IF: N/A state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (58.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3320620AS size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 290G used: 171G (63%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.29GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 50.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 194 Uptime: 11 min Memory: 851.0/3950.1MB
           Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.35
 

That is a great command line btw.... I didn't know how to do that....

First run this command to update the cache while connected to Ethernet wired connection.

sudo apt-get update

Then run this command to install the driver installer, then reboot and you should have Wifi.

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

Edited by pcpunk, 30 May 2017 - 04:31 PM.

Yea the b43 "cutter" as I call it requires a tweaked kernel with dkms.  You can also find a linux compatible wifi adapter. 

Slightly Edited my earlier post to include you need to be connected to the internet to do this.

You could even just go to the Driver Manager and install it from there, then also reboot to make it work.

Edited by pcpunk, 30 May 2017 - 04:33 PM.

Hi pcpunk

I followed your instructions. All working great now. Thanks so much. I had tried to figure Driver Manager but could only see info about 'intel microcode' (being used on an device that was listed as 'unknown'?)

Anyhow. All great now.

plug in first to your router and then do "sudo apt-get update" with the usb wifi dongle plugged in.  it "should" detetct it...

Edited by dna9, 31 May 2017 - 10:23 PM.

Hi pcpunk

 

I followed your instructions. All working great now. Thanks so much. I had tried to figure Driver Manager but could only see info about 'intel microcode' (being used on an device that was listed as 'unknown'?)

 

Anyhow. All great now.

Excellent!

Install intel microcode.  What it does is enables SSE,MMX and other intel instructions.  It makes it run a little faster and on my old machine I can play 1080p videos instead of standard video ones.  You could have did it a different way and installed the b43 driver by using an old slow wifi adapter first.  I do this and I go into the system settings where the propriety drivers can be installed and it is there too.

I just realized we may be dealing with a system that has not been Updated?

Did you ever Update the system?

Run this command in the Terminal.  Make sure you have about One Half an hour if you have a decent internet connection.  Then Activate the Firewall.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Then Activate the Uncomplicated Firewall:

sudo ufw enable

And you should be good to go!  If your not having system problems don't worry about installing the "microcode" because we don't know if you need it or not.  On a few of my computers it is showing to install the old microcode.  Maybe this is needed on some computers but if your not having issues don't bother.  Your lucky 18.1 runs on an old pc, it don't run so well on all older pc's, better now that 18.1 is out I think.

Edited by pcpunk, 01 June 2017 - 06:14 PM.

@Goofprog: Thanks for the tip.

@pcpunk :

I ran the Update Command all went well I had only been doing any updates via the Icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

I had already enabled UFW. I was wondering about any AntiVirus? Am I right to be under the impression I don't need it?

Linux Mint XFCE is ruunning really well on the PC, really snappy. I had added 2Gb extrta RAM making a grand total of 4 so that probably helped too. I honestly can't fault it

Regarding the Microcode, I can't remeber if I installed it or not in the end...I must check when I next use the machine...Is there a command line that would telll me that information?

Anyhow thanks again

@Goofprog: Thanks for the tip.

 

@pcpunk :

 

I ran the Update Command all went well I had only been doing any updates via the Icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

 

I had already enabled UFW. I was wondering about any AntiVirus? Am I right to be under the impression I don't need it?

 

Linux Mint XFCE is ruunning really well on the PC, really snappy. I had added 2Gb extrta RAM making a grand total of 4 so that probably helped too. I honestly can't fault it

 

Regarding the Microcode, I can't remeber if I installed it or not in the end...I must check when I next use the machine...Is there a command line that would telll me that information?

 

Anyhow thanks again

I feel for the most part doing the Updates from the Updater is fine, that's how I always do it...why...because I'm lazy, and it always seems to work fine.  If I'm having issues I may run the Update Command as I showed you.

Yes, you are fine without any Antivirus as long as you practice good browsing.  I've had some troubles with Linux getting buggered up, what is actually happening I don't know.  Usually Cleaning Browser Data will fix such things.  The Browser is the weak link, so you should get some good add-ons to protect you.  I use NoScript in Firefox if I'm browsing questionable or unfamiliar sites.  UFW is very good, and it don't really need tweaking, it's defaults are great, until you learn how to tweak it there is probably no need unless you just want to learn.

Xfce, I like it and don't like it haha.  It is good, but you have to like the Desktop Environment, and I don't.  I do like the easily expandable Menu!  If I were you, and came to a point that I needed to re-install, would try out Mint Mate, it is a much fuller desktop.  What does "fuller" mean, I don't know LOL.  Comes with lot's more programs installed by default etc.  Seems easier to me to set up and use, and feels like a real full fledged desktop.

microcode: Don't worry, if it works your all good, whether it is the old or new one, until you have a issue I would not worry.  I've installed it on some machines and on others not, hasn't mattered on my machines.  I do know how to produce a list of installed packages, but need to be on Linux Box to run them to be sure I'm steering you right.  Some of the Staff here taught me this so maybe they will chime in before me.

You can use this one safely if it was installed recently.  NickAu showed me this one:

cat /var/log/dpkg.log | grep "\ install\ "

Keep it up your doing great!  Wish I could save more old XP and Vista machines this way, but it's a lot of work and most people don't appreciate that.  I do it if I have time and come across good machines/donors, then will try to sell them real cheap, most charities around here don't want them.

I will check out NoScript for sure. Any extra security measures sound good.

Hopefully XFCE will do me for a good while....but if I need to reinstall I will definately consider Mate. Puppy seems to be a popular choice too?

By the way i forgot to add something in the last post... following 'sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade' updates I got a message in the Terminal window: 'No support for locale: en_IE.utf8'. Have you come accross that before?

Saving XP/Vista machines is such a good way to go. Linux brings a whole new lease of life to those machines that Microsoft would have you retire.

Thanks again fro all the encouragement and help. Will run cat /var/log/dpkg.log | grep "\ install\ " and see what turns up

By the way i forgot to add something in the last post... following 'sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade' updates I got a message in the Terminal window: 'No support for locale: en_IE.utf8'. Have you come accross that before?

Yes, but I think it is just in the script that you see during Updating right?  I don't know what it means but if it is not an Error I would not worry about it.  I see some stuff online about it but I won't comment on fixing it.  Again, if I remember correctly, I see it all the time, and it is not a problem.  Maybe others can comment further.