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I have just got a new laptop (Dell Inspiron 15) with Windows 10. I installed Ubuntu 14.04 Dual boot with wired internet and it works fine. The wireless does not work. It works when I log into Windows 10. It is hard-blocked. I have spent the better part of a day trying to fix it. I have reinstalled Ubuntu. When I do rfkill list all. It says phy0 Wireless LAN Hard blocked: yes. I tried rebooting too, to no avail. If I go to Systems Settings > Networks >Wireless. Airplane Mode was off, but i could switch that on. More importantly, Wireless is OFF and I cannot pull/switch it on. Interestingly, when I was installing Ubuntu, it was asking for a password for the wireless adapter (Intel Corporation Wireless 3160 (rev 83)).I had no idea what to do, but I just proceeded without putting a password and the next time with a password and it installed both time. When I interrut boot, and check in BIOS all wirelss lan/bluetooth are enabled. The kernel is 3.19.0-25-generic. Which is the only thing I have not tried to update. This post had suggested that (Cannot Connect To WiFi - Intel Corporation Wireless 3160). I would appreciate if anyone has any thoughts on how to fix this?

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Valerius
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    Please provide the wireless_script as described here: http://askubuntu.com/questions/425155/my-wireless-wifi-connection-does-not-work-what-information-is-needed-to-diagnos/425180#425180 Paste it here: http://paste.ubuntu.com Give us the link in your reply. – chili555 Dec 09 '15 at 22:52
  • this one? wget -N -t 5 -T 10 https://github.com/UbuntuForums/wireless-info/raw/master/wireless-info &&
    chmod +x wireless-info &&
    ./wireless-info     – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 13:24
  • Exactly. Paste the resulting output: http://paste.ubuntu.com Please give us the link. – chili555 Dec 10 '15 at 14:30
  • Will do that asap (am out and dont have computer with me). How about updating the kernel? It is 3.x, would updating it to 4.x fix? – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 15:08
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    Without the full diagnostics, it's very hard to speculate. – chili555 Dec 10 '15 at 16:07
  • chili555, Please see at http://paste.ubuntu.com/13900145/ Thanks for your help in advance! Would really love to understand this better and also fix it. – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 17:41
  • Related: https://askubuntu.com/questions/127977/wireless-is-disabled-by-hardware-switch-on-dell-inspiron-1750 – David Foerster Jul 13 '18 at 14:13

2 Answers2

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I notice that you have both dell-wmi and dell-laptop loaded as modules. Typically, these are helper modules that translate key presses, in your case, the wireless button, into action, turning on and off the wireless.

I wonder if both are intended to be loaded to control the wireless button. Let's try to remove first one and then the other and see if the wireless button now responds to presses. If we succeed, we'll blacklist the errant module.

From a terminal:

sudo modprobe -r dell-laptop

Now try the wireless button. Does it now enable the wireless?

rfkill list all

If not, reload it and unload the other:

sudo modprobe dell-laptop
sudo modprobe -r dell-wmi

Now try the wireless button. Does it now enable the wireless?

rfkill list all

When we determine which, if either, helps, I'll amend my answer to give guidance on how to blacklist the other.

chili555
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  • is it dell-wmi or dell_wmi ? Just wanted to be sure – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:12
  • It did not help. Tried to remove both modules one by one and check as you suggested. I have another laptop which works fine. (in the process of repalcing it). http://paste.ubuntu.com/13907549/ This is from the other laptop, I have . another Dell. If you see, it looks like it has both modules too (I dont know much but I am guessing looking at the lsmod part). Perhaps comparing the tow might also help you ascertain. – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:23
  • Also, just to be clear I don't see a physical wireless button on the laptop. There is the On-Off for Wireless in Network through System Settings. But it is locked into Off. I kind of hold down the right mouse and drag it over to On, but it instantaneously switched back to Off. – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:25
  • When I was installing Ubuntu through the USB drive it was listing the adapter "Intel Corporation Wireless 3160 (rev 83)" and asking me to enter a password. I do not recall seeing that happen in the other laptop. Just additional information, which could help the trouble shooting hopefully. Thanks, so far! – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:26
  • There is a button to press! What is your exact model? Dell Inspirion 15 -what?? What is the F2 button labelled? – chili555 Dec 10 '15 at 22:32
  • Dell Inspiron 15 i5558-5718SLV Signature Edition Laptop http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Dell-Inspiron-15-i5558-5718SLV-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.328882600 – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:37
  • There is a Fn button between Ctrl button and The Windows button. should i press that with the F2 button? – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:38
  • But as you can see from the log file of the other laptop, both modules are there too. – Valerius Dec 10 '15 at 22:39
  • According to the manual: http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-5558-laptop_Setup%20Guide2_en-us.pdf It is Fn+PrtScr. The PrtScr button has a wireless symbol on it. – chili555 Dec 10 '15 at 22:42
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Nothing worked for me until I figured out this combination:

#!/bin/bash
rmmod dell laptop
rmmod dell-rbtn
rfkill unblock all
rfkill list
echo "Now press Fn+F1 keys, then wake up your notebook!"

You have to put your laptop to sleep, wake up your laptop, and unload the two modules at the top of the above code block before you get it to standby mode by pressing Fn+F1.

karel
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Sergej
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