I have tried everything from rebooting to use of some code provided by one of the Zorin facilators on this platform. I have NO idea why this appeared two weeks ago
This is a known Gnome Updater quirk. I recommend just using the terminal to bypass GUI shortcommings.
sudo fwupdmgr refresh --force
sudo fwupdmgr get-updates
sudo fwupdmgr update
You can hit y at any "yes" prompts as you go. A reboot is needed to apply the update, once they have installled.
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I am new to this so assume I try each script one at a time , not all at once?
Yes, one at a time.
I also agree, some commands can be grouped and these could be - but it is better to do one at a time because the next command depends on the previous command being successful.
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Sadly it failed as follows georgy@georgys-zorin:~$ sudo fwupdmgr update
WARNING: UEFI capsule updates not available or enabled in firmware setup
See PluginFlag:capsules unsupported · fwupd/fwupd Wiki · GitHub for more information.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Upgrade UEFI CA from 2011 to 2023? ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ This updates the 3rd Party UEFI Signature Database (the "db") to the latest ║
║ release from Microsoft.It also adds the latest OptionROM UEFI Signature ║
║ Database update. ║
║ ║
║ UEFI CA and all connected devices may not be usable while updating. ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Perform operation? [Y|n]: y
Writing… [****************************** ]
Successfully uploaded report
failed to write-firmware: failed to write DBUpdate3P2023.bin: failed to write data to efivarsfs: Error writing to file descriptor: Permission denied
georgy@georgys-zorin:~$
Well, then.
It seems your EFI (BIOS) Version does not allow updating by this method.* So it is not Gnome Updater, fwupdmgr (Or Zorin OS) that is the fault, but the EFI operating system itself.
In you BIOS Settings, do you see any options for Capsule, Manufacturer Updates, or similar?
If you are not dual booting with Windows OS, you also can consider solving the issue by disabling Secure Boot.
This is beyond my paygrade! I know little about systems and nothing about Zorin OS. How do I interrogate BIOS settings? can then comment on whats cited. No this was a full migration to Zorin done for me without much consent so no going back. Not sure what disabling secure boot entails? Sorry my background is purely in front end admin knowledge (KM) not coding or OS infrastructure
BTW I installed linux support as an app - can that be used to clean up my OS system?
Accessing the BIOS settings is manufacturer dependent. If you list what make and model computer you have, we can help look up the Keypress you need.
BIOS Settings are independent of the User Level Operating System like Windows OS or Zorin OS.
They are the Motherboard settings.
This catches me off guard. Without your consent?
I took the laptop - an Asus K55V which was v slow and using up 99% of both ram and HD to a repair outlet. He unilaterally migrated the laptop because he replaced the HD with an SSD and added 2G of RAM. Yes the laptop has a new life but I have been left behind as I never focused on Linux until now.
Meant to say v old laptop circa 2014 originally with W8 installed but migrated to W 10 before real issues with storage took off
Well, I dislike the idea of it being done without your consent.
That said, you now have a choice before you. Seeing your computer performance now, do you feel like sticking with this path is your best option?
Or would you prefer to install Windows OS?
Being new to GnuLinux is a state everyone on this forum has experienced. You do not need to know coding, or programming. Zorin OS is very easy to use. But with any computer, you can (and probably will) run into issues that are unfamiliar or tricky to fix - on any operating system.
Try holding down the F2 key as you power the computer on. This should get you into the BIOS Settings.
What I recommend:
This computer dates from about 2012 or 2014. You will not see EFI variable tables on it, much less a new firmware update.
So, I would suggest in your BIOS, turn Secure Boot to Disabled. While that may sound scary coming from Windows OS, Secure Boot is operated for and signed by Microsoft. It is primarily applicable to Windows OS which you are not using.
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In linux for good so no temptation to return to MS - Is there any way other than powering using the F2 key. If I mess up ....
The worst that can happen is it boots up normally. So there is zero danger or risk.
No, this is what the Asus documentation says to do. I have never owned this make and model, so I must go by what the book says on that keypress sequence.
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I appreciate the extra mile you have gone to 
- do you know how I select my wifi adapter - the original one is pretty useless ( qual atheros) so I bought a plug in with a rabbit ear which irritates me! I have an oldish TP-link AC600 usb - which I think has a driver embedded. Unlike windows> devices> wifi adaptor > enable disable , I cant find the settings in Zorin interface under networks. Can you advise? The tp link is geared towards MS and IOS so may not work
This one is not Plug n' Play, but it should work on Zorin OS.
You won't find an enable/disable option until the driver is installed.
The drivers here should work:
I am lifting the instructions from the link over to here.
under each
command
that you see, just copy that command and paste it into terminal one at a time.
This may seem like a lot of extra terminal work that you are not used to. THis can happen with older or non-standard hardware on either Windows OS or GnuLinux (Or Mac). Normally, your WiFi drivers are included in the kernel and you do not need to do anything.
If you see an error (watch the t erminal output) stop and relay it here.
First, ensure you have prerequisites installed:
sudo apt install linux-headers-generic build-essential git
Clone the rtw88 GitHub repository (This one is in a different markdown format, but you can copy and paste it the same way):
git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtw88
Build, sign, and install the rtw88 driver
cd rtw88
sudo dkms install $PWD
Install the firmware necessary for the rtw88 driver
sudo make install_fw
Copy the configuration file rtw88.conf to /etc/modprobe.d/
sudo cp rtw88.conf /etc/modprobe.d/
Thanks - I think what few grey cells were working have now gone. I was expecting ( lol) to be able to put a usb in and for the OS to recognise it. In Windows , navigate to device> wifi > adapters then disable the ones you don't want. The existing wifi dongle must have had built in driver which works,. The issue is I can't know what wifi adapter is in use as there isn't a way to view the adapters. It could be the OS has reverted to the built in one rather than the one on a usb - there is no way to tell. The usb one I think had a green light when on and I can't see it now but that doesn't mean its on or off. I haven't had a lot of fall outs so its guess work if the built in qual atheros wifi adapter is functioning well or if the usb one has replaced it without resorting to code in the terminal. I think its basics like this that are so time consuming and frustrating and make me wonder if its worth it. I don't have blue tooth on my laptop from way back and advice including AI is to simply buy a dongle usb - given the above I have no idea if it will work , what i have to do to make it work and if its worth doing in the first place. I apologise for sounding so negative but this has absolutely consumed me. BTW one the pros of Linux was no more intrusive updates. I noted one this morning and instructed it to remind me later. It didn't and my laptop rebooted itself suddenly and without warning 3 hours later ( 5 minutes ago) losing me some work and having to restore as an error my browser....
Sudden, unintended reboots are usually caused by GPU driver instability, faulty RAM or thermal throttling/overheating.
I've never experienced that with updates in Zorin.
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