I am finding that installing the tp-link wireless usb adapter to be a big hassle. I am back to downloading drivers to make it work. I think I am better off just finding the drivers to make the wireless adapter that is on my desktop work. To make matters worse I had to drive fifty miles to find a store that sold it. I live in a little town that does not have all the high tech gear on hand, especially on a Saturday.

Did you try plugging it into Mint - just to see what happened?
Linux comes with many drivers available and ready to go.

I did try to make it work in Mint. Maybe I don't know how to make it function, but I saw no sign of it, working or not.

My little search skill brought up this



But a solution was posted

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1071...n-ubuntu-18-04

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1067...found-in-18-04

Problem with my post? The solution may/probably will, be too hard for the skill set of the OP. So;

OTTB support

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=273918

What a kind way to say I am to dumb to use this OS <too hard for the skill set of the OP.>
I will need to learn more apparently. Thank you.

Most things in Linux are straight-forward these days.

However, there are ways of doing things which involve loading extra software, compiling source code and hand-editing configuration files etc.
It's possible to make mistakes which interfere with the proper operation of your OS.

If you were using your laptop as a learning platform, then please go ahead - but there are risks involved!

If you stick to installing packages from the repositories - as 99.9% of my software is, then you will automatically receive updates of drivers and software etc.

Jeremy, actually putting Mint on my 11 year old laptop was a test to see if I could do it. It worked perfectly so I went ahead and partitioned my hard drive on my new desktop for a dual boot system. I had Ubuntu on dual boot on the laptop for many years. I never used the terminal. The auto software system worked fine. My issue is related to the lack of wifi. I imagine it is a simple problem to solve for those who know what they are doing. I am not opposed to learning new things about computers but right now I just want this thing to work so I can go back to learning new things about music. I am using the internet to study by. I am involved with an online community of musicians at jazzwire.net. I think there is even on guy from the UK there.
Well that was off topic. Back to my problem. What to do next? Maybe I should just use Ubuntu again. I am told by another helping member of this site that it should work right out of the box.

Thanks again for your help
Cheers

I just realized that you are the guy from Texas not the one from the UK.

Part of the problem I have, I am just now realizing as I look back on all the posts, is that I can't just scroll through the thread because it has many parts to it. That is why I am just now replying to your post. I plugged in the WiFi dongle and entered lsusb. I got back data that shows the dongle, I think. I am not sure though. It's hard to tell what it all means. What do I do with this info?

That is useful information as to Linux experience & intended application use.

lsusb:-
Would only indicate that Mint has some basic recognition that some wifi hardware on the USB port.
If nothing useful is shown, it probably indicates that this is not worth pursuing.

Ubuntu won't come with the wifi driver built-in - you will still need to follow the instructions given earlier in one of those links to make it work.

Personally I prefer Mint's user interface - but loading Ubuntu does seem to be your best course.

Personally I prefer Mint's user interface - but loading Ubuntu does seem to be your best course.[/QUOTE]

I am on the verge of doing just that. Giving up on Mint, for the time being, and installing Ubuntu. I suppose I can just reformat the USB stick and use it to transfer Ubuntu to my desktop?

Of course.

The fun starts when you start getting Ubuntu to recognise that wifi.
I would keep copies of the wifi procedure and the software as you will presumably need to repeat this procedure after some of the system updates/upgrades.