I cannot detect any wifi networks

[vkaotic]

I have a 15 year old laptop that I installed Fossapup64 9.5 on. On this laptop I had an ancient version of Ubuntu. On this old Ubuntu install I could scan and see all nearby networks. I also ran the newest ubuntu off a live usb and could scan all networks on it as well. But on Fossapup64 it just says wlan0 is down. Part of me thinks Fossapup64 doesn't have the right driver for my wireless card, but that seems crazy considering an Ubuntu install from 2008 has no problem. I know puppy isn't exactly for beginners, but I'm hoping to figure out this wifi issue so I can practice and play with it outside or on the couch instead of always at my desk.

[bigpup]

Most likely it is a missing driver and or firmware.

Fossapup64 is around 400MB in size compared to Ubuntu that is usually 2GB or larger.

So no, Puppy Linux versions do not have every possible driver and firmware for every possible piece of hardware.
They do try to have for the most common hardware.

So need to figure out what WIFI hardware you have and provide the needed software.

But maybe it is already there and you do not understand how to get it setup.

But on Fossapup64 it just says wlan0 is down.

On laptops that have a way to disable WIFI (airplane mode) make sure WiFi is not switched off.
Puppy Linux does not automatically turn it on.

See if it is turned on

To determine if it is Hard Blocked. In a terminal (console):

Code: Select all

 rfkill list all

wlan0 is usually the wifi

If it indicates it is hard blocked.
There is a switch on the laptop that turns it off/on.
Press that switch and rerun

Code: Select all

 rfkill list all

to see if it worked to stop the hard block.

Fossipup64 has several programs for setting up a network connection using WIFI.

This is one of them, that is a little involved in steps to do, but if some step does not work, we know exactly where the problem is.

menu->Setup->Internet Connection Wizard->Wired or wireless LAN->Network Wizard

Network Wizard wireless connection steps.

1. Select Network Wizard
2. Select wlan0 (your network card may have a different description)
3. Select Wireless in the Configure wireless network box.
4. Select Scan and your ESSID (WIFI router) should come up.
5. Select your ESSID and OK
6. Give a name to your profile. It should already be what you selected in step 5.
7. Encryption. Most people use WPA/TKIP - select it or WPA2.
8. A box will open for you to write the WPA password. It is called a Shared Key. Enter the password.
9. Leave the other boxes as they are. Rarely do these need adjustment.
9. Select Save
10. Select Use This Profile
11. A box will appear showing Puppy trying to connect
12. A box will come up “REPORT ON TEST 0f wlan0CONNECTION” if says connection successful.
13. Select Auto DHCP in the Configure interface box and it will go through a handshake routine. and declare itself successful
14. Select done

Select to use this setup on reboot.
Select to use this as default.

If something does not work.
What step?
You do what?
You see what?

Also make sure your system's time zone setting is correct - if not, many website's certificates then act as if they are expired, and the webpage won't display.

[vkaotic]

Nothing worked, but I'm determined so I kept poking around. I found where to change the channel the wifi card uses. I picked the one that said USA as that's where I lived, and I was able to run the set up Wizard. Awesome! I closed the laptop for a while and came back to it. The screen wouldn't come back on when I opened it, no power to the usb mouse either. I can hear the loud fans inside, running. Not sure what was going on, I did a hard reboot and loaded puppy back up.

Unfortunately, nothing I did saved. The welcome window came back up and said this is your first time running Fossapup64. I am not sure why nothing I did saved. I'm booting from a hd now. I installed from usb, used gparted, and just followed the prompts. I made one large 150 gig ext4 partition and installed puppy on it. After several attempts, puppy just acts like it's the first time its booted every time.

[bigpup]

How exactly did you do the install?
Details?

When you do the first shutdown, it should be asking if you want to make a save. Any changes, settings, additions go into the save.

Are you being asked and are you making a save file/folder?

If you have made a save.

When you see the boot menu with selections for how to boot Fossapup64.

Choose the first entry.
That is normal boot.

Do not choose an entry that says RAM only.
That tells the boot process to not use the save file/folder.

[vkaotic]

No, but that must be because of the hard shut offs from the screen not coming back issue. I'll re set everything up and shut down normally to see if it prompts me to save.