Updated to 24.04 LTS... is my network/wifi card dead or is it sofware related?

[dect60]

Hi, just noticed that my wifi isn't working and not sure if it is my hardware (network card) or something else. Here's what I noticed:

out of the blue the wifi wouldn't connect, I restarted the router and my laptop and it seemed to fix itself, whatever the issue was and then the next day the same thing happened but restart of both laptop and router didn't fix the issue this time and every attempt to connect to my wifi or any other wifi network results in the same thing - there's an attempt and then it is unable to and I get a pop up in the right hand corner telling me this.

I am able to connect with a wired (ethernet) connection


OS kubuntu 24.04 LTS

KDE Plasma 5.27.12

kernel: 6.8.0-71 64 bit


the laptop is an ASUS F555LA-AB31 and network card is RTL8111/8168/8411 (output from nmcli)

I've made sure that wifi is toggled on and there isn't a function key on the keyboard that inadvertantly turns off wifi as with other laptops so pretty sure the obvious stuff is not the issue

before I go ahead and swap out the network card, I'd like to be sure that this is in fact a hardware issue and not a software issue, what are the steps to make that determination?

thank you

[Snowhog]

Well, if it's practical, I'd take the laptop to a local that you know has public wifi and see if you can connect. If you are able to, then your card is fine, and one would want to start looking at your routers configurations.

[dect60]

Well, if it's practical, I'd take the laptop to a local that you know has public wifi and see if you can connect. If you are able to, then your card is fine, and one would want to start looking at your routers configurations.

Apologies, thought I had already mentioned that it can not connect to other wifi signals either.

I've already done what you suggest, tried it with a friend's router/wireless connection and it won't connect wirelessly.

But I thought that even so, it could be a setting or configuration error or driver issue etc related to my computer and not necessarily a 100% indication that the network card is fried.

You seem to be suggesting that if it can't connect to another wifi signal (public wifi etc. ) than it must indicate that the network card needs to be replaced but what if the issue is with the laptop, some sort of setting or software glitch?

Thanks!

[claydoh]

Or the security patch to the recently updated kernel may be a factor. It is not uncommon.

Boot to a previous kernel in Grub and see if it works there.

the laptop is an ASUS F555LA-AB31 and network card is RTL8111/8168/8411 (output from nmcli)

That is your wired Ethernet card, not your WiFi card.

Use lspci to see that, or look for it in KInfo Center.

I'd suggest updating to the current HWE kernel (6.14) which likely has better wifi hardware support, but that option depends on your specific chip. If the 24.04.3 ISO image was out, I'd suggest testing that out in a live session, as it has the current kernel already. I will strongly guess it is a Realtek or probably Broadcom one. Both can be finicky or just annoying.

I would *almost* suggest replacing the wifi and getting an Intel one (making sure it is the correct mini-PCI-e half size), except that it is a bit of an involved process.......