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Laptop Wireless issues

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  Laptop Wireless issues Cody Jackson <codyjacks@gmail.com> - 2017-09-13 20:20 +0200
    Re: Laptop Wireless issues Sven Joachim <svenjoac@gmx.de> - 2017-09-13 20:50 +0200
      Re: Laptop Wireless issues Cindy-Sue Causey <butterflybytes@gmail.com> - 2017-09-13 21:20 +0200
        Re: Laptop Wireless issues David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2017-09-14 17:50 +0200
          Re: Laptop Wireless issues Darac Marjal <mailinglist@darac.org.uk> - 2017-09-14 18:20 +0200
    Re: Laptop Wireless issues Henning Follmann <hfollmann@itcfollmann.com> - 2017-09-13 20:50 +0200
      Re: Laptop Wireless issues Sven Joachim <svenjoac@gmx.de> - 2017-09-13 21:00 +0200
      Re: Laptop Wireless issues Cody Jackson <codyjacks@gmail.com> - 2017-09-14 23:50 +0200

#186753 — Laptop Wireless issues

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Hi,

I'm a new linux user. I've used Debian on Virtualbox but recently decided
to make the move to a dedicated Debian system. I recently purchased an Asus
X541-UA-RH71 to install Debian on. I ran into some issues with the wifi
setup.

When I was installing it said that the firmware for rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
couldn't be found. Realizing that I probably wouldn' be able to fix the
issue without finishing installation, I went on until installed.

Using another computer I started googling.

This article
<https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/229221/rtlwifi-rtl8723befw-bin-wireless-stop-working-then-laptop-needs-to-reboot-to#229481>
told me to download the .bin firmware file, which I did. I attempted to
re-install Debian. When the same message came up, I inserted my USB with
the .bin file on it. However, after some time, the same message kept
appearing. Maybe the computer wasn't detecting the .bin file?

The same article suggests to upload the .bin file to
/lib/firmware/rtlwifi/. I tried locating that file on my new computer but
was unable to. The apt-file command isn't installed yet (due to not having
wifi). I tried copying the .bin file
<https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=136652> to the
/lib/firmware/rtlwifi folder but was unable to.

I tried unmounting the module and remounting it. Nothing as well.

The Debian website suggested loading all the firmware files in conjunction
with the installation of Debian in order to mitigate the chances of having
issues. I'm not sure how to use the .tar file when I'm installing Debian.
Do I need to partition the USB drive so there are both the OS and the
firmware files? Or do I put the firmware .tar file on another USB that is
used later in the installation process?

Here is what I'm thinking might work:

1. Get an ethernet cable and use that to connect online, then run the
commands and make sure the RealTek drivers are there and then attempt to
add the .bin file again.

2. Install the DVD image iso that has more of the packages already
downloaded and hopefully that will allow me to access the commands/files I
need in order to remedy the situation.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Cody

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#186754

On 2017-09-13 11:58 -0600, Cody Jackson wrote:

> I'm a new linux user. I've used Debian on Virtualbox but recently decided
> to make the move to a dedicated Debian system. I recently purchased an Asus
> X541-UA-RH71 to install Debian on. I ran into some issues with the wifi
> setup.
>
> When I was installing it said that the firmware for rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
> couldn't be found. Realizing that I probably wouldn' be able to fix the
> issue without finishing installation, I went on until installed.

The easiest way to install Debian on laptops is with the unofficial
images that contain all the firmware typically needed for your WiFi[1,2].

> 1. Get an ethernet cable and use that to connect online, then run the
> commands and make sure the RealTek drivers are there and then attempt to
> add the .bin file again.
>
> 2. Install the DVD image iso that has more of the packages already
> downloaded and hopefully that will allow me to access the commands/files I
> need in order to remedy the situation.

If you already have installed Debian on your laptop, simply get the
firmware-realtek package[3] from non-free (either using a wired
connection, or via another computer and sneakernet).  You can install it
with dpkg:

# dpkg -i firmware-realtek_20161130-3_all.deb

Good luck,
Sven


1. http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/
2. http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/9.1.0+nonfree/amd64/iso-cd/firmware-9.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso
3. https://packages.debian.org/stretch/firmware-realtek

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#186757

On 9/13/17, Sven Joachim <svenjoac@gmx.de> wrote:
>
> If you already have installed Debian on your laptop, simply get the
> firmware-realtek package[3] from non-free (either using a wired
> connection, or via another computer and sneakernet).  You can install it
> with dpkg:
>
> # dpkg -i firmware-realtek_20161130-3_all.deb

> 3. https://packages.debian.org/stretch/firmware-realtek


Something that's not always clear (for newbies) is that you have to
issue that "dpkg -i" command from within the directory containing the
target .deb file after it's downloaded. That directory can be almost
anywhere (if not actually anywhere), but the command has to be issued
from wherever that .deb landed in the file hierarchy.

Cindy :)
-- 
Cindy-Sue Causey
Talking Rock, Pickens County, Georgia, USA

* dogs ate my... electric chainsaw cord. literally _hate_ when that
happens. #Irma. *

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#186801

On Wed 13 Sep 2017 at 15:12:41 (-0400), Cindy-Sue Causey wrote:
> On 9/13/17, Sven Joachim <svenjoac@gmx.de> wrote:
> >
> > If you already have installed Debian on your laptop, simply get the
> > firmware-realtek package[3] from non-free (either using a wired
> > connection, or via another computer and sneakernet).  You can install it
> > with dpkg:
> >
> > # dpkg -i firmware-realtek_20161130-3_all.deb
> 
> > 3. https://packages.debian.org/stretch/firmware-realtek
> 
> 
> Something that's not always clear (for newbies) is that you have to
> issue that "dpkg -i" command from within the directory containing the
> target .deb file after it's downloaded. That directory can be almost
> anywhere (if not actually anywhere), but the command has to be issued
> from wherever that .deb landed in the file hierarchy.

It's not at all clear to me either. What has the current working
directory to do with the behaviour of dpkg, and where have you seen
documentation for this statement?

Cheers,
David.

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#186805

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On Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 10:47:36AM -0500, David Wright wrote:
>On Wed 13 Sep 2017 at 15:12:41 (-0400), Cindy-Sue Causey wrote:
>> On 9/13/17, Sven Joachim <svenjoac@gmx.de> wrote:
>> >
>> > If you already have installed Debian on your laptop, simply get the
>> > firmware-realtek package[3] from non-free (either using a wired
>> > connection, or via another computer and sneakernet).  You can install it
>> > with dpkg:
>> >
>> > # dpkg -i firmware-realtek_20161130-3_all.deb
>>
>> > 3. https://packages.debian.org/stretch/firmware-realtek
>>
>>
>> Something that's not always clear (for newbies) is that you have to
>> issue that "dpkg -i" command from within the directory containing the
>> target .deb file after it's downloaded. That directory can be almost
>> anywhere (if not actually anywhere), but the command has to be issued
>> from wherever that .deb landed in the file hierarchy.
>
>It's not at all clear to me either. What has the current working
>directory to do with the behaviour of dpkg, and where have you seen
>documentation for this statement?

I guess the confusion comes because apt is provided with a package name 
(apt install firmware-realtek), whereas dpkg is provided with a filename 
(dpkg -i ~/Downloads/firmware-realtek*.deb).

apt is clever (it works out which version of firmware-realtek you want 
AND what dependencies are needed and fetches them all from the network, 
then it runs dpkg on all of those in the right order), while dpkg is 
stupid (it installs package(s) provided and offers no help if 
dependencies are missing). They are fairly rubbish without each other, 
though.

>
>Cheers,
>David.
>

-- 
For more information, please reread.

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#186755

On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 11:58:01AM -0600, Cody Jackson wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm a new linux user. I've used Debian on Virtualbox but recently decided
> to make the move to a dedicated Debian system. I recently purchased an Asus
> X541-UA-RH71 to install Debian on. I ran into some issues with the wifi
> setup.
> 
> When I was installing it said that the firmware for rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
> couldn't be found. Realizing that I probably wouldn' be able to fix the
> issue without finishing installation, I went on until installed.
> 
[...]

> 
> Cody

add non-free to your apt sources file (/etc/apt.sources.list)
The default looks like
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main
add at least the non-free to it (maybe contrib too) ->
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main contrib non-free

now a 
apt update; apt install firmware-realtek

is all you might need.


-H



-- 
Henning Follmann           | hfollmann@itcfollmann.com

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#186756

On 2017-09-13 14:40 -0400, Henning Follmann wrote:

> On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 11:58:01AM -0600, Cody Jackson wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I'm a new linux user. I've used Debian on Virtualbox but recently decided
>> to make the move to a dedicated Debian system. I recently purchased an Asus
>> X541-UA-RH71 to install Debian on. I ran into some issues with the wifi
>> setup.
>> 
>> When I was installing it said that the firmware for rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
>> couldn't be found. Realizing that I probably wouldn' be able to fix the
>> issue without finishing installation, I went on until installed.
>> 
> [...]
>
>> 
>> Cody
>
> add non-free to your apt sources file (/etc/apt.sources.list)
> The default looks like
> deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main
> add at least the non-free to it (maybe contrib too) ->
> deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main contrib non-free
>
> now a 
> apt update; apt install firmware-realtek
>
> is all you might need.

The obvious problem here is that this fetches the firmware via the
network, and to use the network you need the firmware…

Cheers,
       Sven

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#186822

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Thanks so much!

Turns out I had nothing in the apt sources file. How embarrassing.

I did what you said and used this site: https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList

I also did apt-get install firmware-realtek.

Once I had done apt-get update && apt-get upgrade, everything worked out
fine.

Now I have wifi! Whoot!

Thanks again!

On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 12:40 PM, Henning Follmann <
hfollmann@itcfollmann.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 11:58:01AM -0600, Cody Jackson wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm a new linux user. I've used Debian on Virtualbox but recently decided
> > to make the move to a dedicated Debian system. I recently purchased an
> Asus
> > X541-UA-RH71 to install Debian on. I ran into some issues with the wifi
> > setup.
> >
> > When I was installing it said that the firmware for
> rtlwifi/rtl8723befw.bin
> > couldn't be found. Realizing that I probably wouldn' be able to fix the
> > issue without finishing installation, I went on until installed.
> >
> [...]
>
> >
> > Cody
>
> add non-free to your apt sources file (/etc/apt.sources.list)
> The default looks like
> deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main
> add at least the non-free to it (maybe contrib too) ->
> deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stretch main contrib non-free
>
> now a
> apt update; apt install firmware-realtek
>
> is all you might need.
>
>
> -H
>
>
>
> --
> Henning Follmann           | hfollmann@itcfollmann.com
>
>

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