Wifi activation problem - HP 2000

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Sat, May 11, 2013 at 11:44:30PM -0400, Christopher Browne wrote:
> I finally got around to properly struggling with the wifi issue with my
> new-ish laptop, and it's looking likely that there's a tough-to-surmount
> problem there.
> 
> Initially, there was some question as to whether the apropos drivers were
> in place; I'm reasonably satisfied that I have all that I ought to need in
> the form of Debian + Linux 3.8 kernel + firmware-ralink package.
> 
> The following thread on OpenSuSE describes the issues kind of relevant to
> it, from an OpenSuSE perspective; what's notable is that it appears to
> describe precisely my model, down to the exact model numbers and such in
> lspci output.
> 
> http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/wireless/480447-ralink-wirless-driver-help.html
> 
> My kernel knows about the network adapter, and indicates it has a driver
> prepped:
> 
> root at hpaq:~# lspci -v | grep -10 01:00.0 | tail -11
> 01:00.0 Network controller: Ralink corp. Device 539b
>         Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 18ed
>         Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
>         Memory at c2500000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
>         Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
>         Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/32 Maskable- 64bit+
>         Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
>         Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
>         Capabilities: [140] Device Serial Number 00-00-7b-66-63-31-17-a4
>         Kernel driver in use: rt2800pci
> 
> In that discussion thread, it was observed that earlier versions of the
> rt2800pci driver did not recognize this model of network adapter ("539b");
> since the kernel driver is indicated to be in place, it sure seems like I'm
> on an apropos version of kernel such that it is recognized.
> 
> Unfortunately, there's one more step, and I'm not seeing a resolution to
> it.
> 
> I have added config to /etc/network/interfaces, but iwlist has a complaint:
> 
> root at hpaq:~# iwlist wlan0 scan
> wlan0     Interface doesn't support scanning : Network is down
> 
> The most relevant link found in spelunking was this one:
> http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/ubuntu-63/wireless-became-disabled-how-do-i-enable-858357/
> 
> Indications are that there is a "hardware lock" in place, deactivating the
> adapter.  On many systems, such a "lock" exists as a visible, togglable
> hardware switch.  I used to see similar on the Thinkpad X60s that I use at
> work.
> 
> Sadly, on my machine, the lock is handled via a "soft-key", essentially via
> running Windows, and pressing "Fn-F12", which would cause a little LED that
> is presently orange to switch to blue, and allow a different output than
> rfkill is showing:
> 
> root at hpaq:~# rfkill list 1
> 1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
>         Soft blocked: no
>         Hard blocked: yes
> root at hpaq:~# rfkill unblock 1
> root at hpaq:~# rfkill list 1
> 1: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
>         Soft blocked: no
>         Hard blocked: yes
> 
> I don't have any Windows install around, so can't reboot there to do a
> switcheroo.  I see some suggestions that one might muss around in BIOS and
> find an option that would force wifi to stay on; that does not appear to be
> the case with this particular system.
> 
> It is looking pretty likely, as consequence, that I'll need to grab a USB
> wireless adapter for those times I want wireless, which is unfortunate, but
> not too totally disastrous.
> 
> If there is some mechanism other than rfkill (in the rfkill package) to
> switch that "hardware switch" (that isn't truly a hardware switch), 'twould
> be nice.
> -- 
> When confronted by a difficult problem, solve it by reducing it to the
> question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"

Any chance this crazy system works:

http://www.rubyops.net/fixing-wireless-on-the-hp-folio-13-when-using-linux

-- 
Len Sorensen
--
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