Wireless USB adapter not working since last update (july 2020)

[Joe321]

Hello,

Since my last update of Linux Lite (3 days ago) my Wireless USB adapter (TL-WN722N) doesn't work anymore. It seems not to be recognized by the system and the green LED (on top of the adapter) doesn't turn on anymore.
The laptop built-in wifi still works though (but signal is pretty poor due to location (hence the use of external adapter)).
I tried to update the driver but "software & updates" tells me:" No additional drivers available."

I tried it with another computer (Asus) running the same version of Linux Lite on which I haven't done any updates for a month or so and the USB adapter is recognized and works fine.


My system is


-Version-
Kernel : Linux 4.4.0-186-generic (x86_64)
Compiled : #216-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 1 05:34:05 UTC 2020
C Library : Unknown
Default C Compiler : GNU C Compiler version 5.4.0 20160609 (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.12)
Distribution : Linux Lite 3.8
-Current Session-
Computer Name : joe-Latitude-E6440
User Name : joe (Joe)
Home Directory : /home/joe
Desktop Environment : XFCE 4
-Misc-
Uptime : 1 hour, 30 minutes
Load Average : 0.05, 0.19, 0.25


Here is the output of "sudo lsusb" (with the USB adapter plugged in) if that helps:

Code:

joe[member=6256]Joe[/member]-Latitude-E6440:~$ sudo lsusb
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0c45:64d0 Microdia
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 006: ID 0cf3:9271 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR9271 802.11n
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 3938:1032 
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 058f:6254 Alcor Micro Corp. USB Hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

When I unplug it and run the command again, the line with "Atheros Communications, Inc ..." isn't there anymore.
Thank you in advance for your help.

[Şerban S.]

Hello!

[...]Linux Lite 3.8 [...]

I wonder, why Linux Lite 3.8?  ???
It is too old!!

[...]Latitude-E6440 [...]

Your CPU supports very well, wonderful I must say, Linux Lite 5.0!

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...0-ghz.html

Install Linux Lite 5.0 and I belive that will solve the problem.
Far more, on my Dell Precision T1700, I have the same GPU: HD Graphics 4600 and it works very fine.
I put on my wife's Dell Inspiron N5030 (a slower CPU, Dual Core without HT) Linux Lite 4.8 and works excellent and she has way less experience in administrative tasks than me and she still manages to handle the OS and the Apps well enough. Since she works in Germany, it's impossible for me to reinstall LL 5.0 but as soon as we meet, that's what I'm planning to do.

Good luck!

[Joe321]

Hi Şerban,

Thanks for getting back to me.
To answer your questions, I tried to move from serie 3 to serie 4 when it just came up and reverted back to 3.8 because of a few problems with the brand new LL4.0 at the time.

I keep on using LL3.8 for a few reasons:
- it's lite on resources (for older computers that I still use),
- I am quite used to it,
- but most importantly, it just works. And that's the most important thing for me, I don't need the latest thing with all the bells and whistles. I just need something that works reliably and get the job done.

I agree with you, upgrading to LL5.0 (therefore formatting) may solve the problem (as a matter of fact, formatting solve almost all problems).
But I would welcome any option that will help me to actually fix the problem without having to format.

[johnausten13]

I think it is not Atheros chipset. MOst probably it is RealTek. This is for Version 2 of TP Link Wireless Adaptor.

Code:

sudo apt-get install git dkms
git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu.git
sudo dkms add ./rtl8188eus
sudo dkms install 8188eus
sudo modprobe 8188eus

[Şerban S.]

[...]But I would welcome any option that will help me to actually fix the problem without having to format.  [...]

Hi!

I guess I know what your problem is. You still use the Windows style for data...
Your data is in the /home DIRECTORY , in the ROOT PARTITION.
Well, I guess there are two options here:

1. Keep things as they are and be happy with what you get.
2. Learn to use a /home PARTITION, then CloneZilla, and everything will take you some 30 minutes, from testing a new Linux version to testing whatever distro catches your eye for whatever reason you might have.
Further more, you'll be able to use your system far better.
But in the end, it really is your choice!
That is what I would do, before even one would be able to blink. Why hesitate?
Nothing would be lost, everything would be in its place, except that I would have a much better machine, in terms of performance.

Best Regards!

[pkmaarsen]

Hi Joe.
I'm using LL 3.8 as well. I came into trouble when using the Updates on the introduction page.
The (only) way to restore the connection was to reinstall LL 3.8 and NOT to update from the first page, but to use the command line.
Thus I went to the Terminal and commanded : sudo apt-get update.
See also LL Forum @Wifi problems after Updates (April 28, 2017).
Good luck, Paul.

[Joe321]

To johnausten13,

Thank you for your reply. I do believe that it is the Atheros Chipset, that's the name that is displayed when I chose  which wifi card I want to use to connect to the internet (I bought it a bit more than 6 years ago).
I did run the commands that you suggested though, the first 3 went ok,

Code:

joe[member=6256]Joe[/member]-Latitude-E6440:~$ sudo apt-get install git dkms
[sudo] password for joe:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
dkms is already the newest version (2.2.0.3-2ubuntu11.8).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libjson-c2:i386 linux-headers-4.4.0-154 linux-headers-4.4.0-154-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-155 linux-headers-4.4.0-155-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-156 linux-headers-4.4.0-156-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-159 linux-headers-4.4.0-159-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-160 linux-headers-4.4.0-160-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-161 linux-headers-4.4.0-161-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-165 linux-headers-4.4.0-165-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-166 linux-headers-4.4.0-166-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-167 linux-headers-4.4.0-167-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-170 linux-headers-4.4.0-170-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-171 linux-headers-4.4.0-171-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-172 linux-headers-4.4.0-172-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-173 linux-headers-4.4.0-173-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-174 linux-headers-4.4.0-174-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-176 linux-headers-4.4.0-176-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-177 linux-headers-4.4.0-177-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-178 linux-headers-4.4.0-178-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-179 linux-headers-4.4.0-179-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-180 linux-headers-4.4.0-180-generic
  linux-headers-4.4.0-181 linux-headers-4.4.0-181-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-154-generic linux-image-4.4.0-155-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-156-generic linux-image-4.4.0-159-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-160-generic linux-image-4.4.0-161-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-165-generic linux-image-4.4.0-166-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-167-generic linux-image-4.4.0-170-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-171-generic linux-image-4.4.0-172-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-173-generic linux-image-4.4.0-174-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-176-generic linux-image-4.4.0-177-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-178-generic linux-image-4.4.0-179-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-180-generic linux-image-4.4.0-181-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-154-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-155-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-156-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-159-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-160-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-161-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-165-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-166-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-167-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-170-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-171-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-172-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-173-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-174-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-176-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-177-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-178-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-179-generic
  linux-modules-4.4.0-180-generic linux-modules-4.4.0-181-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-154-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-155-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-156-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-159-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-160-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-161-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-165-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-166-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-167-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-170-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-171-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-172-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-173-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-174-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-176-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-177-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-178-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-179-generic
  linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-180-generic linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-181-generic
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following additional packages will be installed:
  git-man liberror-perl
Suggested packages:
  git-daemon-run | git-daemon-sysvinit git-doc git-el git-email git-gui gitk
  gitweb git-arch git-cvs git-mediawiki git-svn
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  git git-man liberror-perl
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 5 not upgraded.
Need to get 3,932 kB of archives.
After this operation, 25.6 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.mirror.rafal.ca/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 liberror-perl all 0.17-1.2 [19.6 kB]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.mirror.rafal.ca/ubuntu xenial-security/main amd64 git-man all 1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9 [736 kB]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.mirror.rafal.ca/ubuntu xenial-security/main amd64 git amd64 1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9 [3,176 kB]
Fetched 3,932 kB in 3s (1,278 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package liberror-perl.
(Reading database ... 902913 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../liberror-perl_0.17-1.2_all.deb ...
Unpacking liberror-perl (0.17-1.2) ...
Selecting previously unselected package git-man.
Preparing to unpack .../git-man_1%3a2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9_all.deb ...
Unpacking git-man (1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9) ...
Selecting previously unselected package git.
Preparing to unpack .../git_1%3a2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking git (1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Setting up liberror-perl (0.17-1.2) ...
Setting up git-man (1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9) ...
Setting up git (1:2.7.4-0ubuntu1.9) ...
joe[member=6256]Joe[/member]-Latitude-E6440:~$ git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu.git
Cloning into 'rtl8188eu'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 103, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (103/103), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (78/78), done.
remote: Total 12832 (delta 54), reused 50 (delta 25), pack-reused 12729
Receiving objects: 100% (12832/12832), 16.38 MiB | 1.61 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (9720/9720), done.
Checking connectivity... done.

but then I get:

Code:

joe[member=6256]Joe[/member]-Latitude-E6440:~$ sudo dkms add ./rtl8188eus
Error! Could not find module source directory.
Directory: /usr/src/.-rtl8188eus does not exist.

I tried to look manually for such a folder but couldn't find it.
Please keep in mind that I am rather new to linux. ^^
Thanks for your help.

[johnausten13]

Sorry Dear. I might have mixed the commands with Version 3.

You can try this again for Version 2.0. I hope this will go well.

Code:

sudo apt-get install git dkms
git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu.git
sudo dkms add ./rtl8188eu
sudo dkms install 8188eu/1.0
sudo modprobe 8188eu

This is for Version 3.0

Code:

sudo apt-get install git dkms
git clone https://github.com/AIRCRACK-NG/RTL8188EUS
sudo dkms add ./rtl8188eus
sudo dkms install 8188eus
sudo modprobe 8188eus

[Joe321]

To johnausten13,
Unfortunately, I got the same result with the other commands for Version 2.0
I tried tinkering around but to no avail. Thanks anyway for your help. 

To Şerban S.
Thank you for introducing me to CloneZilla. I may give it a try when I upgrade to a newer version of LL when support for serie 3 will stop. 

To pkmaarsen,
Thank you very much, I went to that thread you mentioned, tried the commands without success, until I found that booting from the previous kernel, my USB wifi now works like before. 

I wonder now, is it safe for me not to update my kernel from now on?
If yes, how can I keep everything else up-to-date without updating the kernel?

[Moltke]

I wonder now, is it safe for me not to update my kernel from now on?

Updating/Upgrading the kernel is not mandatory, certainly not necessary in older machines/systems since it could lead to issues like system's  instability. So yes, as long as your machine works fine you can keep on using the same kernel version for as long as you want/need. If you do not want it to update with the system, open a terminal and type

Code:

sudo apt-mark hold your_kernel_version_here

type in your password when asked and hit enter. To check that it worked type

Code:

apt-mark showhold

and it should show the kernel. From there on your kernel won't be updated along with the system.

Hope this helps!