Can Not Get Wireless Working on Alienware-17-R2 Laptop

[Fringe Wizard]

I've tried applying this solution and it never worked: http://blog.hyperexpert.com/how-to-get- ... th-ubuntu/

Relevant information below:

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fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: fringe-Alienware-17-R2 Kernel: 3.16.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.8.2) 
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.6.13  Distro: Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela
Machine:   System: Alienware product: Alienware 17 R2 version: A04
           Mobo: Alienware model: Alienware 17 R2 version: X04 Bios: Alienware version: A04 date: 04/14/2015
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-4720HQ CPU (-HT-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 20785.9 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 2606.601 MHz 2: 2607.921 MHz 3: 2810.031 MHz 4: 2721.570 MHz 5: 3060.078 MHz 6: 2681.757 MHz 7: 2742.187 MHz 8: 2761.078 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0 
           X.Org: 1.15.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.1.3 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 
           Card-2: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.16.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: alx port: d000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros Device 003e bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: N/A state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
           Card-3: Atheros usb-ID: 003-003
           IF: N/A state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1126.0GB (0.6% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: HGST_HTS721010A9 size: 1000.2GB 
           2: USB id: /dev/sdb model: DataTraveler_3.0 size: 125.8GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 380G used: 5.0G (2%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 17.06GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 69.0C mobo: 29.8C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 224 Uptime: 18 min Memory: 820.1/15934.4MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.11) inxi: 1.9.17 

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fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ sudo lshw -class network
[sudo] password for fringe:
  *-network              
       description: Ethernet interface
       product: Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet Controller
       vendor: Qualcomm Atheros
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       logical name: eth0
       version: 10
       serial: 34:e6:d7:69:62:2a
       size: 1Gbit/s
       capacity: 1Gbit/s
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm pciexpress msi msix bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
       configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=alx duplex=full ip=192.168.1.210 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=1Gbit/s
       resources: irq:50 memory:f7400000-f743ffff ioport:d000(size=128)
  *-network UNCLAIMED
       description: Network controller
       product: Qualcomm Atheros
       vendor: Qualcomm Atheros
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
       version: 20
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:f6800000-f69fffff
fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ sudo dpkg --install /home/fringe/Downloads/ath10k-dkms_1.0_all.deb
(Reading database ... 164518 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../ath10k-dkms_1.0_all.deb ...
 
-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module:  ath10k
Version: 1.0
Kernel:  3.16.0-38-generic (amd64)
-------------------------------------
 
Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
 
mac80211.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - Archived original module found in the DKMS tree
   - Moving it to: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
cfg80211.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - Archived original module found in the DKMS tree
   - Moving it to: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath10k_core.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - Archived original module found in the DKMS tree
   - Moving it to: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath10k_pci.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - Archived original module found in the DKMS tree
   - Moving it to: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - Archived original module found in the DKMS tree
   - Moving it to: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
compat.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
 
 
Running the post_remove script:
depmod.....
 
Removing original_module from DKMS tree for kernel 3.16.0-38-generic (amd64)
 
DKMS: uninstall completed.
 
------------------------------
Deleting module version: 1.0
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Unpacking ath10k-dkms (1.0) over (1.0) ...
Setting up ath10k-dkms (1.0) ...
Loading new ath10k-1.0 DKMS files...
First Installation: checking all kernels...
Building only for 3.16.0-38-generic
Building for architecture amd64
Building initial module for 3.16.0-38-generic
Done.
 
mac80211:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - Found /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//mac80211.ko
   - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/ath10k/original_module/3.16.0-38-generic/amd64/
   - Archiving for uninstallation purposes
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
cfg80211.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - Found /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//cfg80211.ko
   - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/ath10k/original_module/3.16.0-38-generic/amd64/
   - Archiving for uninstallation purposes
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath10k_core.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - Found /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//ath10k_core.ko
   - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/ath10k/original_module/3.16.0-38-generic/amd64/
   - Archiving for uninstallation purposes
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath10k_pci.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - Found /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//ath10k_pci.ko
   - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/ath10k/original_module/3.16.0-38-generic/amd64/
   - Archiving for uninstallation purposes
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
ath.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - Found /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//ath.ko
   - Storing in /var/lib/dkms/ath10k/original_module/3.16.0-38-generic/amd64/
   - Archiving for uninstallation purposes
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
compat.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel//
 
Running the post_install script:
 
depmod....
 
DKMS: install completed.
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.103ubuntu4.2) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-38-generic
Warning: No support for locale: en_CA.utf8
fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $

Note: I was able to get wireless working in Zorin OS by doing the above. I do not know why it doesn't work in Linux Mint.

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fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ sudo /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintWifi/mintWifi.py
[sudo] password for fringe: 
-------------------------
* I. scanning WIFI PCI devices...
  -- Qualcomm Atheros Device 003e (rev 20)
      ==> PCI ID = 168c:003e (rev 20)
-------------------------
* II. querying ndiswrapper...
-------------------------
* III. querying iwconfig...
eth0      no wireless extensions.

lo        no wireless extensions.

-------------------------
* IV. querying ifconfig...
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 34:e6:d7:69:62:2a  
          inet addr:192.168.1.210  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0
          inet6 addr: fe80::36e6:d7ff:fe69:622a/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:82487 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:47834 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:111621279 (111.6 MB)  TX bytes:5009707 (5.0 MB)
          Interrupt:18 

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:65536  Metric:1
          RX packets:1437 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:1437 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:164755 (164.7 KB)  TX bytes:164755 (164.7 KB)

-------------------------
* V. querying DHCP...
RTNETLINK answers: File exists
-------------------------
* VI. querying nslookup google.com...
Server:		192.168.1.1
Address:	192.168.1.1#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.97
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.98
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.101
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.99
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.96
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.104
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.102
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.103
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.105
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.100
Name:	google.com
Address: 173.194.43.110

fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ 

[JeremyB]

Try

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sudo modprobe -v ath10k_pci

Report any errors and also check

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dmesg | tail

after running the first command

[Fringe Wizard]

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fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ sudo modprobe -v ath10k_pci
[sudo] password for fringe: 
insmod /lib/modules/3.16.0-38-generic/updates/kernel/mac80211.ko 
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'ath10k_pci': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ dmesg | tail
[   22.613825] ACPI Warning: \_SB_.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20140424/nsarguments-95)
[   22.613853] ACPI Warning: \_SB_.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20140424/nsarguments-95)
[   23.143904] init: plymouth-stop pre-start process (1573) terminated with status 1
[   23.453549] ACPI Warning: \_SB_.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20140424/nsarguments-95)
[   24.040158] vgaarb: this pci device is not a vga device
[   35.136229] FAT-fs (sdb1): Volume was not properly unmounted. Some data may be corrupt. Please run fsck.
[   57.850718] alx 0000:02:00.0 eth0: Link Down
[   82.972663] alx 0000:02:00.0 eth0: NIC Up: 1 Gbps Full
[  438.182525] mac80211: Unknown symbol backport_skb_clone_sk (err 0)
[  438.182669] mac80211: Unknown symbol backport_skb_complete_wifi_ack (err 0)
fringe@fringe-Alienware-17-R2 ~ $ 

[JeremyB]

I looked at the bug report again and Adam Lee does have an updated version of the reported fix out http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~adamlee/lp138 ... .1_all.deb

You could try it and if it doesn't work you might have to update the kernel to 3.19.0-26 using the Mint Update Manager

[Fringe Wizard]

Updating the Linux Kernal to 3.19.0-25 has fixed the problem.

I have a new problem to tackle though concerning audio not playing through the headset no matter that I have my headset plugged in.

Note: I also changed some blacklist files. Also forced load driver modules.

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<badbodh> step1 remove blacklist, step2 force load driver modules step 3 use newer kernel for module compatibility
<badbodh> fringe, ^^ that's the drill

<badbodh> fringe, the modules you added in step 2 comes from your driver installation pastebin. it mentions all the modules that were installed.
19<badbodh> fringe, then i used 'lsmod' command to check if they were indeed loaded or not. two of them loaded, 4 others didn't and one of them was blacklisted.
<badbodh> so step1 and 2 basically make sure those modules are loaded and running.
<badbodh> step3 (kernel update) needs to be done to support additional hardware.