Maybole Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 As many regulars will have noticed I have recently successfully installed Linux Mint on an older laptop. The laptop is an HP Pavilion G6 approx 6 years old, and three years ago it suffered a WiFi failure. This was cured by a repair shop who plugged in a Dongle into one of the USB ports. It worked fine until yesterday. Now all indication are that it is connecting to my router perfectly but I cannot access any sites. I get a message " Server not found" As you can see from this post using a Windows 10 laptop everything works fine with my wife's mini laptop. I have been to 2 repair shops in Computer Plaza only to be turned away because both are Windows only repairers and will not touch Linux. Can anybody recommend a repairer in Chiang mai area who will touch Linux ? Forbye, I am not convinced that the Operating System is relevant to the WiFi, it should be part of the computer's basic programme. I suspect the Dongle, should I try replacing it first ? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 First I would change the USB port that it's plugged into, many times I've had a USB port go bad. Then I'd test it in a different computer which I guess is easy to do if you have several computers lying around the place all using identical wi-fi adapters but that probably isn't your situation. Also plug it into the wifes laptop to see if it recognises it in there. If none of that works then I'd buy a new one, they're pretty cheap anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybole Posted October 13, 2020 Author Share Posted October 13, 2020 Thanks for that, co-incidentally I recently moved the Dongle to a different port because I was told it was a more powerful location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno123 Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 Server Not Found sounds like a DNS error, not a fault with the Wireless Card. A 'repairer' would have replaced the faulty Wireless Card, not just plugged in a USB Wireless Adapter. I guess he didn't have any cards in stock or simply didn't know how to deal with the Whitelisting. Since this is a Linux issue, you can try to post it on the Linux section, if anyone actually goes there. This is why people go with Windows....more support. Personally I would fit an inexpensive SSD(from as little as 431 baht), install Windows 10 Pro and possibly replace the Wireless/Bluetooth Combo Card(for neatness). Around 500 baht in total if you leave the current USB card in place. You'll then have a much speedier and easier to maintain laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybole Posted October 14, 2020 Author Share Posted October 14, 2020 Thanks to UKRules, I moved the Dongle to a different USB port, all is working fine, however I only get 2 or three bars on the signal indicator, where I used to get 4 bars on the possibly faulty port. I will now try to get a new socket fitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterw42 Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 3 hours ago, Maybole said: Thanks to UKRules, I moved the Dongle to a different USB port, all is working fine, however I only get 2 or three bars on the signal indicator, where I used to get 4 bars on the possibly faulty port. I will now try to get a new socket fitted. That model laptop has 1 x USB 2 port and 2 x USB 3 ports. it could just be a case of your dongle only operates on USB 2 or 3, and not the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamus Yaigh Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 16 hours ago, Maybole said: As many regulars will have noticed I have recently successfully installed Linux Mint on an older laptop. Cannot say I noticed at all:-) That said I too have an old HP G6 that I run Linux Mint on through the wifi just fine. I did have trouble a few years back with the built in wifi card, but these are dirt cheap on the net to buy and easy enough to replace yourself like I did. Saves faffing about with dongles sticking out the side of the laptop. Must say I was mighty unimpressed with HP and won't be buying them again tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybole Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 An update, I once again lost the internet although indications showed a firm connection to the router. I moved the dongle back to its previous position in the right hand port and all worked perfectly with an improved signal indicated. I suspect that the dongle has an intermittent fault which is reset by repositioning it I will by a new one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Maybole said: An update, I once again lost the internet although indications showed a firm connection to the router. I moved the dongle back to its previous position in the right hand port and all worked perfectly with an improved signal indicated. I suspect that the dongle has an intermittent fault which is reset by repositioning it I will by a new one. Sometimes you can squeeze the connector a little (the metal casing bends quite easily) which will ensure a better connection....not too much though, and maybe clean the contacts. Worth a shot...also the contacts on the laptop side might use a clean, solved a few issues for me over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now