Hello, I am relatively new to Zorin, and just purchased a replacement laptop. Its an LG Gram 17 Model 17Z90TL-H.AUB7U1. I have Zorin 17.3 installed on several other older laptops without any issues.
The integrated wireless card (supports the Bluetooth as well) is an Intel® Wireless-BE201 Wi-Fi 7 + BT 5.3 card. I have internet access by using a USB dongle, but it's not ideal for this machine.
Anyway, not sure what to do here, I've updated everything I can, and still stuck. Does this need a kernel update or something to get it going?
BTW, I'm pushing myself really hard to get away from Microsoft Windows - I"m not doing recall, and just tired of all their B.S. in general. Done with it. I feel so free with Linux. Instead of "dabbling" with it, I forced myself to use it as my primary machine OS, and I'm actually making it my daily driver, and loving it so far! Can't see me ever going back to Windows. I've already replaced 5 machines with Linux so far, and plan on keeping the pace going.
This is the first real roadblock I've come across. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Wifi7 is relatively new. Maybe it isn't supported yet. Did You take a Look in the ''Additional Drivers'' Tab in Software & Updates if there is a Driver for Your Card offered?
You could also take a Look at the Manufactirer's Website if there is maybe a Linux Driver offered.
Intel says the drivers are included in kernel version 6.14
Checked my Kernel Version: uname -r
6.8.0-60-generic
Found latest LTSC listed 6.12 as an option:
So...not sure if my next move is to just get a USB wifi/bluetooth combo for now, and wait it out, or try and update, but 6.12 isn't the version Intel said would support this hardware as it is currently.
In any case, I'm not sure how to go about upgrading the kernel in Zorin. Mint made it too easy. 6.12 might not get me there anyway.
Thanks @Aravisian for the input. I attempted to install 6.14 using Mainline - seemed to work just fine, but once I tried to boot, it stalled with "Loading Linux 6.14.11", then "Loading initial ramdisk..." - goes no further. I can reboot and still load 6.8 and get back in, but that's as far as I can go with this. Not sure what to do to fix this. Secure boot is turned off.
EDIT: I can boot into 6.14.11 if I use grub recovery choice. I went through every option it gave me to repair, and then "resume" boot into the OS - it puts me into 6.14.11, but still no wireless or bluetooth. I also have to go through the recovery every time to boot into the OS, or else it just stops at the "Loading initial ramdisk" or gives me a blank screen altogether. Sigh...
So... The claim is that support for Wifi7 is now included in the 6.14+ kernel. I do not know how stable this is, much less accurate.
But given the experience you describe (Of a driver addition that is very new), it sounds unstable.
What this means for you is that this is not a distro specific issue as much as that GnuLinux needs to backport the latest drivers, behind the bug guns that get dibs.
And where anything is proprietary - it becomes a bigger headache.
One option may be to purchase hardware - A wifi dongle that you plug in that is GnuLinux compatible.
The other is to distrohop very late or rolling releases, seeking one that has integrated patched and very new drivers...
I think you're right, and I've come to the same conclusion. I love the LG laptop because it's so feather light, and the screen is very nice and large as well. I'll have to watch the return policy on the purchase as to dates.
Any recommendations on a good wifi/bluetooth combo that's nearly flat to the machine? If not, no worries. Not my first rodeo. I'll find something.
I hate to give up a USB port, but it's worth it if I can stay away from Windows, AND keep this sweet hardware.
As much as I like Zorin, it is arguably the worst choice for new hardware with its slooow-moving base Have you tried live-booting Ubuntu 24.04.2 from a USB stick? That should give you a good idea of what the next major Zorin version will support.
Personally this applies to even rolling release distros. While they do generally support newer hardware sooner, it still takes time to get it implemented properly. And even then, if it does get implemented, it may be buggy and require some workarounds, and possibly will be intermittent until all those bugs get worked out.
Any time any new piece of hardware comes out, I always say it'll be at least a minimum of 1 year before it gets properly, bug-free (mostly) implemented into OSs. Then generally, you will see stable releases get backports to bring that functionality to an older base, which often isn't much longer.
In my opinion, it should help people to stop living in the FOMO age and realize hey, my stuff is working presently, maybe I don't need the brand new thing that costs a boatload of money right away. Maybe it's fine that I wait a little while and just enjoy what I currently have. It's a hard curve to get around for a lot of people, but going from last gen to current gen, generally is so minor that there's no reason for most people to upgrade. Maybe every 2-3 gens, but it's completely dependent on what you do.
@applecheeks37 Couldn't agree more. I hated to get a new laptop, but I have been kind of forced to. My 5 year old HP is coming apart at the hinges, literally. The hardware works fine, great in fact, but that screen is going to completely detach from the body at some point. Internals are fine, it's the absolutely ■■■■■■ choice of plastic that HP used that caused the issue, others have reported it as well, so not alone, and I already disassembled it, and glued/screwed it all back together - still continues to break down. I haven't dared to even try to close or even adjust the lid for 3 years now to any angle for fear it will just fall off completely. I call it "Frankenstein" now...but it works perfectly well...until it won't.
Have you tried live-booting Ubuntu 24.04.2 from a USB stick? That should give you a good idea of what the next major Zorin version will support.