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I run Ubuntu 20.04 and this script every day:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y && sudo apt -f install && sudo apt autoremove -y && sudo apt autoclean && sudo snap refresh

After the end of every day, I power down my desktop. Maybe not the smartest script, but this is the first problem it's caused in 2 years or so... (I assume this problem is due to an update.)

This morning, when I booted, when I search for Wi-Fi in settings:

No Wi-Fi Adapter Found

I've been using the wireless adapters on my motherboard, which I'm assuming an update broke the drivers for. For now I'm using the sub-optimal powerline Ethernet.

Nothing shows up for sudo rfkill list all and the wireless device is not show when using ip a or ifconfig. (This also goes for Bluetooth, which is also on the motherboard and also enabled in the BIOS.)

Here's some partial output showing my wireless adapter being unclaimed.

$ sudo lshw -C network


*-network UNCLAIMED
description: Network controller
product: Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168NGW [Stone Peak]
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
version: 10
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:ab300000-ab301fff

Here's the logs from my /var/log/apt/history.log with yesterday's date:

Start-Date: 2021-06-23  10:11:24
Commandline: /usr/bin/unattended-upgrade
Upgrade: gcc-10-base:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), gcc-10-base:i386 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libitm1:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libquadmath0:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libtsan0:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libubsan1:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), liblsan0:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libgomp1:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libgcc-s1:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libgcc-s1:i386 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libatomic1:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libatomic1:i386 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libcc1-0:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libstdc++6:amd64 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04), libstdc++6:i386 (10.2.0-5ubuntu1~20.04, 10.3.0-1ubuntu1~20.04)
End-Date: 2021-06-23  10:11:25


Start-Date: 2021-06-23  10:27:38
Commandline: apt full-upgrade -y
Requested-By: micah (1000)
Install: linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-59-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-59.66~20.04.1, automatic), linux-headers-5.8.0-59-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-59.66~20.04.1, automatic), linux-objects-nvidia-460-5.11.0-22-generic:amd64 (5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1+1, automatic), linux-modules-5.8.0-59-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-59.66~20.04.1, automatic), linux-modules-5.11.0-22-generic:amd64 (5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1, automatic), linux-modules-nvidia-460-5.11.0-22-generic:amd64 (5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1+1, automatic), linux-hwe-5.8-headers-5.8.0-59:amd64 (5.8.0-59.66~20.04.1, automatic), linux-signatures-nvidia-5.11.0-22-generic:amd64 (5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1+1, automatic), linux-image-5.11.0-22-generic:amd64 (5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1, automatic), linux-image-5.8.0-59-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-59.66~20.04.1, automatic)
Upgrade: linux-headers-generic-hwe-20.04:amd64 (5.8.0.55.62~20.04.39, 5.8.0.59.66~20.04.42), linux-libc-dev:amd64 (5.4.0-74.83, 5.4.0-77.86), linux-modules-nvidia-460-generic-hwe-20.04-edge:amd64 (5.8.0-55.62~20.04.1, 5.11.0-22.23~20.04.1+1), initramfs-tools-bin:amd64 (0.136ubuntu6.5, 0.136ubuntu6.6), linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04:amd64 (5.8.0.55.62~20.04.39, 5.8.0.59.66~20.04.42), linux-generic-hwe-20.04:amd64 (5.8.0.55.62~20.04.39, 5.8.0.59.66~20.04.42), gnome-shell-common:amd64 (3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), gnome-shell:amd64 (3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.1, 3.36.9-0ubuntu0.20.04.2), initramfs-tools-core:amd64 (0.136ubuntu6.5, 0.136ubuntu6.6), initramfs-tools:amd64 (0.136ubuntu6.5, 0.136ubuntu6.6)
End-Date: 2021-06-23  10:28:42


Start-Date: 2021-06-23  10:28:43
Commandline: apt autoremove -y
Requested-By: micah (1000)
Remove: linux-modules-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-signatures-nvidia-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-objects-nvidia-460-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-hwe-5.8-headers-5.8.0-53:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-image-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1), linux-headers-5.8.0-53-generic:amd64 (5.8.0-53.60~20.04.1)
End-Date: 2021-06-23  10:28:48

My hunch is I need to reinstall a specific version of Linux headers or something, but honestly, I'm not too sure. Anyone have an idea of what could get my wireless device reclaimed and usable?

Micah Parks
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    Please run: sudo modprobe iwlwifi && sudo dmesg | grep iwl As the output may be lengthy, post the output here and give us the link: http://paste.ubuntu.com Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. – chili555 Jun 24 '21 at 15:50
  • @chili555 looks like the kernel module was not found: modprobe: ERROR: ../libkmod/libkmod-module.c:838 kmod_module_insert_module() could not find module by name='iwlwifi' modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'iwlwifi': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg) – Micah Parks Jun 24 '21 at 16:39
  • Restarting, choosing the advanced options in GRUB and using an older version (of the Linux kernel?) brings back the WiFi adapter to full usage. I looks like that kernel module is also present in this version. – Micah Parks Jun 24 '21 at 16:43
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    May we also see: ls /boot and: uname -r – chili555 Jun 24 '21 at 19:56
  • 5.11.0-22-generic and here's the /boot listing: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/xVjcJ6Vdkp/ – Micah Parks Jun 25 '21 at 13:40
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    To be clear, in 5.11.0-22, the wireless does not work but in 5.8.0-59, it does work. Is that correct? If so, from 5.11, may I see a complete diagnostic? https://askubuntu.com/questions/425155/my-wireless-wifi-connection-does-not-work-what-information-is-needed-to-diagnos/425180#425180 – chili555 Jun 25 '21 at 15:58
  • I'm using 5.8.0-59-generic at the moment. (Confirmed with uname -r.) Wireless is working as expected. And yes, it does not work with 5.11.0-22-generic. Here's with 5.8.0-59-generic: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/bKGZSgfRPf/ Rebooting and will edit for other... – Micah Parks Jun 25 '21 at 16:22
  • Can't edit comment. Here's with 5.11.0-22-generic: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/G6snvMvZQS/ – Micah Parks Jun 25 '21 at 16:28
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    Let us continue this discussion in chat. – chili555 Jun 25 '21 at 19:54

4 Answers4

11

In our chat, we learned that the package linux-modules-extra-5.11.0-22-generic that provides the driver iwlwifi among many others, didn't get installed in your upgrade. I suggested that you do, while booted into kernel version 5.8 where the wireless does work:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-5.11.0-22-generic

Upon rebooting into kernel version 5.11, your wireless is now working.

I also recommended:

sudo apt install --reinstall linux-generic

...because its dependencies and their dependencies include linux-modules extra.

chili555
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    Amazing to have your help! Thank you so much for taking the time to resolve this! – Micah Parks Jun 25 '21 at 21:13
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    Please make sure that you've checked your Linux kernel version with uname -r before copy-pasting the fix! – vassil_momtchev Jun 08 '22 at 19:49
  • I am getting the following error after command sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-5.15.0-105-generic 
    onf for module backport-iwlwifi includes a BUILD_EXCLUSIVE directive which
does not match this kernel/arch.  This indicates that it should not be built.
Skipped.```

```uname -r command```

--------
```5.15.0-105-generic```

--------
could anyone help?
    – still_st May 12 '24 at 19:10
  • @still_st Please start your own new question. – chili555 May 12 '24 at 23:28
5

If you have a dual boot with Windows, you might want to disable the Fast Startup in Windows.

See: https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/iwlwifi#about_dual-boot_with_windows_and_fast-boot_enabled

More: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dual_boot_with_Windows#Fast_Startup_and_hibernation

Yiqian
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    This fixed the issue for me. My windows and linux are installed on two separate disks. The Fast Startup setting on windows was still able to cause this nuisance. – karl k Feb 08 '24 at 14:27
  • I am astonished that this resolved the issue for me. What exactly is the fast-startup/hibernation doing in windows that affects drivers in linux? – Matthew Apr 30 '24 at 14:32
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    @Matthew My understanding is that because fastboot/hibernate does not fully power off all the hardware, the wifi adapter stays powered on in the state of assuming the OS is still connected to it, meaning it would ignore PCI/USB probe requests or other OSes trying to communicate with it. – bparker May 01 '24 at 15:48
  • Fixed the issue on Dell Latitude 7490 windows 11 with Ubuntu booting from usb ssd – Steve May 17 '24 at 15:17
  • Fixed for me on Ubuntu 25.04 – Don May 01 '25 at 18:17
2

Here's what worked for me. First find out your kernel version:

uname -r

Note down the kernel version. (example: 6.5.0-44-generic), then run the following below (and replace the numbers with your kernel version).

sudo apt update 
sudo apt install --reinstall linux-generic
sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-6.5.0-44-generic

Reboot the PC and WiFi should be back.

aleksk
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0

If you are running Ubuntu in WSL, you need to disable Fast Startup in Windows, before the linux was telling me that the wifi is unclaimed. After disabling fast startup its working.

P Knize
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