WiFi hard blocked on linux but works on Windows

[akash-karnatak]

I have been using Ubuntu and Windows dual boot for over an year now on my HP laptop with Ralink RT3290 wireless card. My wifi worked out of the box on both Windows and Ubuntu. A few days back I decided to update my BIOS from F.18 to F.45 version. After this update my wifi was hard blocked on Ubuntu, although it still worked on Windows. It was even hard blocked on other linux live usbs.


0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

I have tried almost every possible solution that have been posted on the internet. Things that I have tried:-

Toggling physical wifi switch.

sudo rfkill unblock all

Disabling fast boot on windows.

Turning on/off wifi on windows and then trying it on linux.

Disabling `turn off wifi to save power` in windows.

Checking `sudo dmesg` for any errors related to the wifi and wifi driver `rt2800pci`

All these things on Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, 20.4 and Arch linux live usb.

Resetting the BIOS. Also my BIOS does not have any option to enable/disable wifi.

Updating the kernel to 5.9.0

Black listing hp_wireless and toggling physical wifi switch, black listing hp_wmi and then toggling physical wifi switch. And all possible combination of black listing the above two modules.

After power off, removing battery, power cord and then holding power button for 1 min. Then putting back the battery, power cord and trying wifi on linux.

Pray to the lord to do a miracle.

But nothing worked. What should I do now?

Some useful information,



$ sudo lshw -C network
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:08:00.0
logical name: enp8s0
version: 07
serial: 34:64:a9:7c:f9:c3
size: 10Mbit/s
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=half firmware=rtl8106e-1_0.0.1 06/29/12 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=MII speed=10Mbit/s
resources: irq:18 ioport:4000(size=256) memory:b5600000-b5600fff memory:b5400000-b5403fff
*-network DISABLED
description: Wireless interface
product: RT3290 Wireless 802.11n 1T/1R PCIe
vendor: Ralink corp.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:0a:00.0
logical name: wlp10s0f0
version: 00
serial: 38:b1:db:0e:c2:49
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rt2800pci driverversion=4.18.0-15-generic firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
resources: irq:16 memory:b5510000-b551ffff
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 3
logical name: enp0s20u1
serial: e6:10:d3:c4:ce:c1
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rndis_host driverversion=22-Aug-2005 firmware=RNDIS device link=yes multicast=yes

$ ifconfig
enp0s20u1: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet6 2402:3a80:915:c061:bd59:fca6:7c0e:f4ba prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x0<global>
inet6 2402:3a80:915:c061:847b:1ace:7982:c38b prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x0<global>
inet6 fe80::8a40:3adf:c7b3:4023 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20<link>
ether e6:10:d3:c4:ce:c1 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 69289 bytes 55005112 (55.0 MB)
RX errors 30 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 30
TX packets 58525 bytes 11380820 (11.3 MB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0

enp8s0: flags=4099<UP,BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
ether 34:64:a9:7c:f9:c3 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 0 bytes 0 (0.0 B)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 0 bytes 0 (0.0 B)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0

lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING> mtu 65536
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128 scopeid 0x10<host>
loop txqueuelen 1000 (Local Loopback)
RX packets 7850 bytes 934318 (934.3 KB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 7850 bytes 934318 (934.3 KB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0

$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

wlp10s0f0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:off/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=off
Retry short long limit:2 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off

enp0s20u1 no wireless extensions.

enp8s0 no wireless extensions.

$ sudo uname -a
Linux ubuntu 4.18.0-15-generic #16~18.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu Feb 7 14:06:04 UTC 2019 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ sudo dmesg

https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/tSwhQ2XW2G/


I am speculating that rt2800pci is not compatible with my new BIOS version and I need a different driver. I tried building rt3290sta driver but coundn't do it.

Help :'(

[praseodym]

Please show


lsmod

[akash-karnatak]

Output of `lsmod`



$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
bnep 20480 2
intel_rapl 20480 0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal 16384 0
intel_powerclamp 16384 0
coretemp 16384 0
kvm 626688 0
irqbypass 16384 1 kvm
arc4 16384 2
crct10dif_pclmul 16384 0
rt2800pci 16384 0
crc32_pclmul 16384 0
rt2800mmio 16384 1 rt2800pci
rt2800lib 114688 2 rt2800mmio,rt2800pci
ghash_clmulni_intel 16384 0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 49152 1
pcbc 16384 0
rt2x00pci 16384 1 rt2800pci
rt2x00mmio 16384 2 rt2800mmio,rt2800pci
aesni_intel 200704 0
rt2x00lib 53248 5 rt2x00mmio,rt2x00pci,rt2800mmio,rt2800pci,rt2800li b
mac80211 802816 3 rt2x00pci,rt2x00lib,rt2800lib
snd_hda_codec_realtek 106496 1
snd_hda_codec_generic 73728 1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
aes_x86_64 20480 1 aesni_intel
crypto_simd 16384 1 aesni_intel
snd_hda_intel 40960 4
cryptd 24576 3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel
glue_helper 16384 1 aesni_intel
uvcvideo 94208 0
intel_cstate 20480 0
intel_rapl_perf 16384 0
videobuf2_vmalloc 16384 1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2 24576 1 uvcvideo
snd_hda_codec 126976 4 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_i ntel,snd_hda_codec_realtek
videobuf2_common 40960 2 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo
snd_hda_core 81920 5 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_i ntel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek
videodev 188416 3 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
cfg80211 667648 2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
snd_hwdep 20480 1 snd_hda_codec
joydev 24576 0
input_leds 16384 0
snd_pcm 98304 4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd _hda_core
media 40960 2 videodev,uvcvideo
hp_wmi 16384 0
sparse_keymap 16384 1 hp_wmi
serio_raw 16384 0
rtsx_pci_ms 20480 0
snd_seq_midi 16384 0
wmi_bmof 16384 0
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
hci_uart 110592 0
lpc_ich 24576 0
memstick 16384 1 rtsx_pci_ms
eeprom_93cx6 16384 1 rt2800pci
btqca 16384 1 hci_uart
btbcm 16384 1 hci_uart
snd_rawmidi 32768 1 snd_seq_midi
btintel 20480 1 hci_uart
snd_seq 65536 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
bluetooth 552960 11 btqca,btintel,hci_uart,btbcm,bnep
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
snd_timer 32768 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 81920 19 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_h da_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_code c,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_rawm idi
mei_me 40960 0
mei 98304 1 mei_me
soundcore 16384 1 snd
soc_button_array 16384 0
ecdh_generic 24576 1 bluetooth
hp_wireless 16384 0
mac_hid 16384 0
sch_fq_codel 20480 2
parport_pc 36864 0
ppdev 20480 0
lp 20480 0
parport 49152 3 parport_pc,lp,ppdev
ip_tables 28672 0
x_tables 40960 1 ip_tables
autofs4 40960 2
overlay 94208 1
nls_iso8859_1 16384 1
dm_mirror 24576 0
dm_region_hash 20480 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 20480 2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
uas 24576 0
hid_generic 16384 0
usb_storage 69632 2 uas
usbhid 49152 0
nouveau 1851392 1
i915 1740800 10
mxm_wmi 16384 1 nouveau
ttm 110592 1 nouveau
i2c_algo_bit 16384 2 i915,nouveau
drm_kms_helper 172032 2 i915,nouveau
syscopyarea 16384 1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect 16384 1 drm_kms_helper
sysimgblt 16384 1 drm_kms_helper
ahci 40960 0
fb_sys_fops 16384 1 drm_kms_helper
rtsx_pci_sdmmc 24576 0
psmouse 151552 0
libahci 32768 1 ahci
drm 458752 8 drm_kms_helper,i915,ttm,nouveau
r8169 86016 0
rtsx_pci 65536 2 rtsx_pci_sdmmc,rtsx_pci_ms
mii 16384 1 r8169
video 45056 2 i915,nouveau
i2c_hid 20480 0
hid 122880 3 i2c_hid,usbhid,hid_generic
wmi 24576 4 hp_wmi,wmi_bmof,mxm_wmi,nouveau

[praseodym]

Ok, try


echo "options hp_wmi wireless=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/hp_wmi.conf
Reboot and check


rfkill list
If its "Soft Blocked", then run


sudo rfkill unblock all
Sometimes "FastBoot" in Windows prevents wifi from correctly being deactivated.

[akash-karnatak]

Didn't work, it is still hard blocked.



0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

[praseodym]

So, lets try to unload that module


sudo rmmod hp-wmi
sudo rfkill unblock all

[akash-karnatak]

No effect. Still hard blocked :(



0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

[praseodym]

What about the BIOS downgrade? Do you really need the latest version?

[SeijiSensei]

I had this problem and discovered I had accidentally disabled my wifi card by a key combination or switch. Just a thought.

[akash-karnatak]

I tried downgrading BIOS but my laptop does not allow me to install lower versions( like F.18 and F.43). Install option is grayed out when using the installer. I even created a BIOS recovery USB using the older versions but my laptop ignores the USB when I follow the procedure of flashing BIOS. But when I create BIOS recovery USB with the current version BIOS my laptop recognizes it. Seems like I can only go up the ladder.

[akash-karnatak]

F12 is my wifi key, I have already tried toggling it several times. Toggling it in BIOS, in Windows, in Ubuntu. Even with different modifier keys.

[akash-karnatak]

Yo guys, I have found this



$ cat /sys/module/rt2800pci/drivers/pci\:rt2800pci/0000\:0a\:00.0/ieee80211/phy0/rfkill0/hard
1


I guess changing the 1 to 0 will remove my hard block. But I can't edit this file, even with the root privileges. Why?

[jeremy31]

That file is read only as it is read from BIOS, only the BIOS can change it. I have an idea that may or may not work and I doubt it can hurt anything, we can edit grub to pass some info to BIOS at boot

gedit admin:///etc/default/grub
Go to the line with
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
Add acpi_osi='Windows 2017' inside the quotes so that it is

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi='Windows 2017'"
Then do
sudo update-grub
Reboot

This should make the BIOS think that a Windows 10 version is being loaded rather than the default in Ubuntu of not responding to the BIOS acpi_osi inquiry

[akash-karnatak]

It didn;t work :(. But when I looked for other kernel parameters then I found this,



rfkill.default_state=
0 "airplane mode". All wifi, bluetooth, wimax, gps, fm,
etc. communication is blocked by default.
1 Unblocked.

rfkill.master_switch_mode=
0 The "airplane mode" button does nothing.
1 The "airplane mode" button toggles between everything
blocked and the previous configuration.
2 The "airplane mode" button toggles between everything
blocked and everything unblocked.


which looked promising. I tried them with a bunch of different combinations, like



GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash rfkill.default_state=1"


but either it was still hard blocked, or my wifi module(rt2800pci) didn't load during boot. Even when I manually loaded rt2800pci it didn't detect any wireless interface(`rfkill list` was empty).

[jeremy31]

I have found a few things but we need to see if it works in a now unsupported Ubuntu release, the ISO can be found at https://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/14.04.1/ubuntu-14.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso
Supposedly there was a change in 2015 that caused these problems

[akash-karnatak]

I have downloaded the ISO and flashed it to a USB.

[praseodym]

You could try this one, that worked up to kernel 4.4-143


sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) linux-headers-generic build-essential dkms
wget https://media-cdn.ubuntu-de.org/forum/attachments/06/23/5641297-RT3290_u16_v3.tar.gz
tar xvf 5641297-RT3290_u16_v3.tar.gz
cd RT3290_u16
tar xvf src.tar.gz
./compile.sh
sudo ./install.sh
sudo cp firmware/rt3290.bin /lib/firmware
echo "blacklist rt2800pci" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rt2800pci.conf
Worked without error?

[jeremy31]

I have downloaded the ISO and flashed it to a USB.

Does it work with no hard block?

[akash-karnatak]

Nope, it's hard blocked even in Ubuntu 14. Also my WiFi works out of the box on OpenBSD 6.8. I guess theirs some problem with rt2800pci driver.

[akash-karnatak]

Ok I tried that with linux kernel 4.1 and it did compile. But I cannot access GUI on that kernel and `iwlist eno1 scan` does not yield any scan results.

[chili555]

`iwlist eno1 scan` does not yield any scan results.eno1 is ethernet. Your wireless is likely wlp10s0f0 or similar.

[akash-karnatak]

Usually ethernet begins with the letter "e", but this time even wireless interface has it,



$ iwconfig
enxbe85d1a50781 no wireless extensions.

lo no wireless extensions.

enp8s0 no wireless extensions.

eno1 Ralink STA ESSID:"" Nickname:"RT3290STA"
Mode:Auto Frequency=2.412 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
Bit Rate:1 Mb/s
RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Link Quality=10/100 Signal level:0 dBm Noise level:0 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

[praseodym]

Maybe "pin 20" is the solution

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2150597

[jeremy31]

Maybe "pin 20" is the solution

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2150597

That should work, there is a video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzAKcmlaH1M

[akash-karnatak]

Thanks a lot guys, my WiFi is finally working. After taping pin 20, wifi is no longer hard blocked. @jeremy31 thank you for that video, I was really confused how the pins were numbered. And thanks to everyone for helping me out. I sure learned a lot while fixing my WiFi.

https://i.imgur.com/AQBwn94.png