0

I recently got a new Dell xps 13 developer edition with Ubuntu 14.04. Since I got a software update my wireless network device has stopped working. lshw -C network gives:

*-network UNCLAIMED 

   description: Network controller
   product: Wireless 8260
   vendor: Intel Corporation
   physical id: 0
   bus info: pci@0000:3a:00.0
   version: 3a
   width: 64 bits
   clock: 33MHz
   capabilities: cap_list
   configuration: latency=0
   resources: memory:dc200000-dc201fff

The additional drivers tab in the settings menu also seems to be stuck on "Do not use this device", even though it shows other drivers. When I try to change the driver, I am unable to do so. This laptop does not have a Ethernet port.

This is my first time using Linux, so a clearly explained answer would be helpful. So far I have tried other solutions which I could find for similar problem, but to no avail.

As requested: When checked in modinfo iwlwifi | grep 0050 it gives: alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_90bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_2Abc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_20bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_02bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_0Abc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_00bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_12bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d0000095Asv*sd00_0050_10bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d000008B1sv*sd00_0050_72bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d000008B1sv*sd00_0050_70bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000896sv*sd00_0050_27bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000896sv*sd00_0050_25bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000897sv*sd00_0050_17bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000897sv*sd00_0050_15bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000896sv*sd00_0050_07bc*sc*i* alias: pci:v00008086d00000896sv*sd00_0050_05bc*sc*i*

Mechtoid
  • 3
  • What is the exact response to the terminal command: sudo modprobe iwlwifi ? – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 18:49
  • @chili555 "sudo modprobe iwlwifi" does not give a response. – Mechtoid Aug 09 '16 at 19:50
  • Let's dig a little deeper: dmesg | grep iwl – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 19:55
  • @chili555 "dmesg | grep iwl" doesn't give a response either... – Mechtoid Aug 09 '16 at 20:15
  • Wow! Are you certain this device worked at first? I wonder if this is a Dell-specific driver tweak. May we see: lspci -nnk | grep 0280 -A2 and also: uname -r` – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 20:24
  • @chili555 "Uname -r' " gives: >, with nothing else showing up, not even a new :~$... When I tried uname -r it gave: 3.19.0-66-generic – Mechtoid Aug 09 '16 at 20:42
  • @chili555 lspci -nnk | grep 0280 -A2 gives: 3a:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wireless 8260 [8086:24f3] (rev3) Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:00550] 3b:00.0 Unassigned class [ff00]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:525a] (rev 1) – Mechtoid Aug 09 '16 at 20:45
  • How about: sudo updatedb && locate oem-wireless updatedb will take a few moments, please be patient. Finally: dmesg | grep dkms – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 20:45
  • @chili555 sudo updatedb && locate oem-wireless gives nothing. dmesg | grep dkms gives nothing as well – Mechtoid Aug 09 '16 at 20:49
  • Please recheck: lspci -nnk | grep 0280 -A2 Is the subsystem 0055 or 0550 or ... what? Whatever it is, check this: modinfo iwlwifi | grep 0550 or whatever subsystem you found. I suspect the problem is that it is not covered at all without a Dell-specific tweak we've been unable to uncover and therefore fix so far. – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 20:52
  • If you find that the correct subsystem is not covered by the 3.19.0-xx version of the driver iwlwifi, I will propose a solution! – chili555 Aug 09 '16 at 21:19
  • @chili555 My mistake, it was supposed to be 0050. The response is too long for a comment. I put it in with the question. – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 07:33

1 Answers1

2

Please notice your pci.id (corrected):

Intel Corporation Wireless 8260 [8086:24f3] (rev3) Subsystem: Intel Corporation Device [8086:0050]

For the driver iwlwifi to claim and drive your device, it must find a match in the module alias fields that match, exactly, 8086:24f3 AND 0050. In the modinfo you posted, there are several references to 0050 but none to 24f3. Here is the corresponding data from my machine running kernel version 4.4.0-xx:

chili@T440p:~$ modinfo iwlwifi | grep 0050
alias:          pci:v00008086d000024F3sv*sd00000050bc*sc*i*
<snip>

As you can see, there is an exact match.

I believe there are three possible solutions to your issue. First, you could contact Dell and report that their apparent driver tweak that enabled your wireless to work at first was obliterated by an update; probably a later kernel version. They might have a solution and might email a revised tweak package. We have seen other instances of oem-wireless-dkms packages from Dell that fail after a kernel update.

Second, you could reboot, interrupt the boot process at the GRUB menu and select the earliest kernel you have. Boot into it and enjoy your wireless. However, that process would be required at every boot.

enter image description here

This is an older example but illustrates how you could boot, in the example, into -12 instead of -14.

Third, you could install a later kernel version that properly drives your device.

sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-xenial

After a reboot, you will be running kernel version 4.4.0-x and your wireless will be working.

Although you may select any option, I suggest that the third option is the simplest and preferred option.

Pierre.Vriens
  • 1,137
chili555
  • 60,188
  • Thank you for the awnsers. I assume i need to get a network connection first for option 3 to work? – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 18:42
  • I'm afraid none of the kernels in the list returned wifi functionality. Since I haven't had this laptop for too long, I think I will just use the restore system option and install the 4.4.0-x kernel immediately after. – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 19:12
  • If you are unable to borrow a USB wireless or ethernet, I can edit my answer to add off-line instructions. – chili555 Aug 10 '16 at 19:49
  • I've already reset the laptop, and wifi is working for now. However, when I run sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-xenial it ends with: E: Unable to locate package linux-generic-lts-xenial – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 19:56
  • Please first try: sudo apt-get update and then: sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-xenial. – chili555 Aug 10 '16 at 19:57
  • sudo apt-get update worked fine, but sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-xenial returned the same as before. – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 20:00
  • Please open Software and Updates. Be certain that main, universe, restricted, and universe are selected. If not, please do and then try again. If this doesn't work, I will edit to write off-line instructions. – chili555 Aug 10 '16 at 20:06
  • It looks like this did the trick, but after a reboot it opens "BusyBox", which I can't seem to exit. – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 20:35
  • Busybox??? What does it say, exactly, on the screen? A terminal prompt or what? Like this? http://askubuntu.com/questions/44286/busybox-error-on-boot – chili555 Aug 10 '16 at 20:43
  • here's what it says exactly: `BusyBox v1.21.1 (Ubuntu 1:1.21.0-1ubuntu) built-in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

    (initramfs) prompt`

     – Mechtoid Aug 10 '16 at 20:53
  • That typically indicates a corrupted file system which you can attempt to repair from the prompt. It is beyond my experience level. I suggest you search askubuntu for remedies. – chili555 Aug 10 '16 at 20:57
  • I tried to follow the above steps suggested by chili555 and used the third option he suggested, which is to install later kernel and that fixed my wifi issues. However, now I can't seem to connect to wired connection now. How can I fix this? I was able to connect to wired connection without any problem before installing the later kernel. – KSdude Nov 11 '20 at 15:55
  • @SaiCharan Please start your own new question and we'll be happy to help. – chili555 Nov 12 '20 at 00:45