[SOLVED] Chinese laptop no brand fn keys problem hard blocked

louvois · 07-29-2012, 07:08 AM

Hello,

I have bought a laptop (no brand):
http://www.myefox.fr/intel-atom-n570...o-rom-p-165078
Intel Atom N570 Windows 7 dual-core Netbook 14.1 pouces LCD WIFI 3G externe 160Go ROM

Under Windows Seven, every thing works fine. But recently, i installed first Kubuntu 12.04, and then Fedora 17. I have the same problem with wifi network.

The combination of keys "FN+F1" is not working under linux. So the command rfkill list show :

rfkill list
0: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: yes

I try to use the setkeycodes... but failed too.

There are no options in the BIOS of this laptop to activate or deactivate wifi

After each reboot, the "Hard blocked: is no", but when I restart or configure the wifi thru the NetworkManager, the "Hard blocked: becomes yes"

The driver used is ath5k

And the wifi hardware is AR2425

Thank you for your help

edbarx · 07-29-2012, 07:38 AM

Maybe this link can help you.
http://madwifi-project.org/

TB0ne · 07-29-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louvois

Hello,
I have bought a laptop (no brand):
Intel Atom N570 Windows 7 dual-core Netbook 14.1 pouces LCD WIFI 3G externe 160Go ROM Under Windows Seven, every thing works fine. But recently, i installed first Kubuntu 12.04, and then Fedora 17. I have the same problem with wifi network.

The combination of keys "FN+F1" is not working under linux. So the command rfkill list show : I try to use the setkeycodes... but failed too. There are no options in the BIOS of this laptop to activate or deactivate wifi After each reboot, the "Hard blocked: is no", but when I restart or configure the wifi thru the NetworkManager, the "Hard blocked: becomes yes"

The driver used is ath5k And the wifi hardware is AR2425

The "hard blocked" means the device is physically switched off. No matter what, the radio is disabled, so until you remove the 'hard block', it won't work. You can try "sudo rfkill unblock all", which MAY work (depending on your hardware). If you boot into Windows first, this may be causing your problem. Have you tried booting a live Kubuntu/Fedora DVD (after a complete power-off, including removal of the battery), and see if it works there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbarx

Maybe this link can help you.
http://madwifi-project.org/

No...it won't. Has nothing to do with the driver. The OP posted that the device was disabled, so until it is enabled, NO driver will detect or work with it.

louvois · 07-29-2012, 12:47 PM

Hello,

I have already tried "sudo rfkill unblock all", but there is no way to switch the wifi "ON". The problem still remains.

When I reboot, or booting a live CD Kubuntu or Fedora, the WIFI is ON, but unable to detect the wireless network. So if try to configure with NetworkManager, the Wifi fall in "OFF or Blocked"

PS: As installing Linux, i have deleted Windows Seven.

edbarx · 07-29-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbarx

Maybe this link can help you.
http://madwifi-project.org/

No...it won't. Has nothing to do with the driver. The OP posted that the device was disabled, so until it is enabled, NO driver will detect or work with it.

That is precisely why I used the word maybe.

louvois · 08-02-2012, 06:58 PM

Hello,

I solved my problem by installing a windows XP driver via ndiswrapper. Now my Kubuntu 12.04 works fine; And I blacklisted the Ath5k module. By the way, it works only with a fresh or latest ndiswrapper package. The package from Kubuntu is buggy.

Thanks,

edbarx · 08-03-2012, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louvois

Hello,

I solved my problem by installing a windows XP driver via ndiswrapper. Now my Kubuntu 12.04 works fine; And I blacklisted the Ath5k module. By the way, it works only with a fresh or latest ndiswrapper package. The package from Kubuntu is buggy.

Thanks,

So after all, it was a driver problem as I correctly indicated in one of my earlier posts in this thread.