Posting this in case anyone else struggles to fix their wifi (with a mini PCI-E / PCI Express card).
Situation:
Wireless working one minute, then stops working. Network Manager claims wifi card is disabled by hardware switch. Confirmed on CLI:
Code:
$ rfkill list all
0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes
2: hci1: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
Note this is "Hard" not "Soft" blocked... (for the latter, other forums suggest trying "sudo rfkill unblock all")
Solution:
Firstly, try the simple things:
- Check that the external / physical hardware switch for wifi radio is turned on.
- Check the BIOS for any controls relating to wifi - some laptops can disable the hardware switch from BIOS (apparently).
- Turn off laptop, remove battery, press power button a few times, power back on.
If all fails, try this:
- Remove wifi card (usually under an easily accessible trapdoor on bottom of laptop)
- Place a 1mm x 5mm piece of sticky tape (I used medical micropore, but insulation tape should work) over pin 20 connector to insulate the pin from the connector (see image - image is taken with "chip" and antenna connectors etc facing away from camera - is basically 2nd connector on the wider side from notch on underside of wifi card)
- Replace wifi card
This disables the hardware switch, and leaves wifi on always. Though I don't have a software switch shortcut on my laptop, it apparently does not affect that at all. Hope this helps a few ubuntuforums visitors (and googlers), as the original did me.
See reference thread for further details (including equivalent mini PCI card fix).
Reference:
Bookmarks