Can someone simplify how to install wifi drivers when there is no Wifi?
I have found topics to install the exact driver I am having trouble with, which is the rtl8821ce adapter on an lenovo 330 ideapad, but where are the installation packages coming from if there is no wifi?
And it seems like there was no solution.
MX Linux and Endeavor OS installs the driver but Zorin OS doesn't. I am currently using the MX Linux to post this question from said laptop, however, I prefer Zorin OS on the computer(my sister's laptop) as it is friendlier to use.
There are similar topics found by googling but the steps are a bit coded and unclear. I am looking for a brief description of each step so that I can understand the process a bit.
I can download from a different laptop and transfer to the laptop in question.
If your in zorin 15.3, you could always install 16 core and that driver will be included in the kernel. I know how much a pain it is to get it to work!
They aren't. An active connection is necessary. You raise a Really Good Point - that a disclaimer could be placed on some instructions pointing out you must use ethernet or mobile phone hot spot to follow the directions.
How can a hotspot be setup to be used? If the card can detect a hotspot won't it be able to detect WiFi? I turned on my cell phone hotspot but no detection happening. The MX can detect both the Wifi and the hotspot.
You can use MX Linux to download the files, then you can use a USB stick to transfer them to Zorin OS-
I am with 337 Harvey on this one. It should work out of the box. I wonder if something went wrong with the installation of Zorin.
Is there any options I should select during installation that I didn't select that can cause this? I have been installing back and forth several times with no luck. I also tried linux mint which didn't work either, but MX Linux and Endeavor OS is connecting to the WiFi fine.
How?
I clicked on the links on the page but I am only being asked to download adons I don't need. Kinda like I have to download one before I can download the other I need. Maybe I have to try it again.
To install the .deb file, you must use the dpkg tool within your OS.
APT install is for accessing .deb files contained within repositories, using Debians Advanced Package Tool. Your Linux distro comes with apt and apt-get, both of which are different from APT. APT supplies the packages, apt and apt-get call upon APT to supply the package.
DPKG is the installer.
So, your command is apt-get install - means apt-get call on APT to retrieve package and install calls upon dpkg.
To install from a local .deb on your computer, you need only call on dpkg directly. dpkg -i (package-name) - in your case:
Perform the above command from the Same Directory that the .deb package is in, otherwise it won't find it.
So, if you moved the .deb package into Downloads, then Change Directory to Download Folder first:
cd ~/Downloads
For ease- you can just move the .deb package right into your home folder, then open a terminal which defaults to home with ctrl+alt+t, then apply the above dpkg command straight away.
If the above .deb package is the only .deb package in that directory, you can save yourself some typing by instructing dpkg to install all .deb packages in that directory and since it is the only one, it will be the only one installed:
Sometimes manufacturer does a "stealth" update of their product without any explicit indication.
I have RTL8188CUS (version 2) which is the only chipset I managed to make work in Clear Linux white it was in the beta. (It might change after that though. I did not check.)
I will try this but for now the sudo dpkg -i *.deb works, but it worked on linux mint. I decided to try zorin 15.3 lite because I noticed it boots faster on this low performance laptop. However, there are dependency errors I am hoping can be fixed to get the WiFi adapter to work on the Zorin 15.3.
Before I try it I would like to explain that I am trying to get a faster boot time. Zorin 15.3 lite boots faster than Linux Mint Xfce, but Linux mint Xfce boots faster than Zorin 16, hence, before giving up on Zorin 15.3 lite, I would like to ask if it's possible to fix the dependency problem to get the Wifi working on the Zorin 15.3?
I think it is possible but you have to ask someone like @Aravisian who is more knowledgeable for such matters.
If you are looking at speed, I might suggest you to have a look at MXLinux. It uses XFCE desktop and because of the absence of systemD, it works very efficiently.
I would love to try the MX Linux xfce especially because MX Linux plasma was easier to setup but I am wondering how easy is it to find and install software. This is my sister's laptop and she is one of these people who have no patience to learn about computers. I find Zorin and Mint is like Microsoft Windows and is therefore more familiar and easier to use.