I'm working on my first cuppa coffee. Then off to get USB stick. Music should be fun too but I stress out trying to get the theory of it all in my head. I need patience and I want it now damn it.
Oh another idea.. are memory cards like USB sticks. I have some of those lying about. Part of the reason I am freaking out is that this is a brand new puter that I've installed Mint on. I'm using the win 10 partition as I write this. I gave Mint the bulk of the hard drive but Win doesn't seem to mind. It's a one terabyte drive.

[QUOTE=treblemakerdave;5976692] on my PC shows Realtek ethernet cards that use r8169 drivers are extremely common, and always "just work". Assuming there are no problems with the cable/router etc, an ethernet connection should be reliable.
Does the Windows equivalent work?

[QUOTE=JeremyBoden;5976897]I get my internet connection via WiFi with a range extender. I had to go to the house to try connecting to Ethernet. I did not try using Windows. But I am using Win 10 now as I write this. It is working just fine on my sketchy hookup. I am off to the store to get another USB stick so I can post a record of my Mint system. I don't know why it worked perfect on my 11 year old laptop and not a brand new desktop.

Kernel modules have to built to keep up with new hardware. Until some firmware/driver developer builds it. You wait.

Kinda like buying a new car and finding the parts have not arrived at the dealer yet. But they got parts for your your older car.

1 members found this post helpful.

Well, I've got a new USB stick now. Now where to start? Your analogy makes sense.

Okay.. making progress.. I think. Got new USB stick. wrote results from doing the sudo lspci thing. Now to try posting it here.

$ sudo lspci -v
[sudo] password for treblemakerdave:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 1576
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0

00:00.2 IOMMU: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 1577
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 24
Capabilities: [40] Secure device <?>
Capabilities: [64] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/4 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [74] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Device 98e4 (rev da) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 34
Memory at e8000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
Memory at f0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=8M]
I/O ports at f000 [size=256]
Memory at feb00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [48] Vendor Specific Information: Len=08 <?>
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Capabilities: [270] #19
Capabilities: [2b0] Address Translation Service (ATS)
Capabilities: [2c0] Page Request Interface (PRI)
Capabilities: [2d0] Process Address Space ID (PASID)
Kernel driver in use: amdgpu
Kernel modules: amdgpu

00:01.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Device 15b3
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 36
Memory at feb64000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [48] Vendor Specific Information: Len=08 <?>
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:02.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157b
Flags: fast devsel

00:02.3 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157c (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 26
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000e000-0000efff
Memory behind bridge: fea00000-feafffff
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [c0] Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Capabilities: [c8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Capabilities: [270] #19
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:02.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157c (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 27
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff
Memory behind bridge: fe900000-fe9fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f0800000-00000000f08fffff
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [58] Express Root Port (Slot+), MSI 00
Capabilities: [a0] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [c0] Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Capabilities: [c8] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [100] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=010 <?>
Capabilities: [270] #19
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:03.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157b
Flags: fast devsel

00:08.0 Encryption controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 1578
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 255
Memory at f0900000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=128K]
Memory at fe800000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
Memory at feb6f000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at feb6a000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Capabilities: [50] MSI-X: Enable- Count=2 Masked-
Capabilities: [5c] HyperTransport: MSI Mapping Enable+ Fixed+
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features

00:09.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157d
Flags: fast devsel

00:09.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157a
Subsystem: Lenovo Device 364f
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 37
Memory at feb60000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:10.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH USB XHCI Controller (rev 20) (prog-if 30 [XHCI])
Subsystem: Lenovo FCH USB XHCI Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
Memory at feb68000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [70] MSI: Enable- Count=1/8 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [90] MSI-X: Enable+ Count=8 Masked-
Capabilities: [a0] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Latency Tolerance Reporting
Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd

00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 4b) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: Lenovo FCH SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 19
I/O ports at f140 [size=8]
I/O ports at f130 [size=4]
I/O ports at f120 [size=8]
I/O ports at f110 [size=4]
I/O ports at f100 [size=16]
Memory at feb6d000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [70] SATA HBA v1.0
Kernel driver in use: ahci
Kernel modules: ahci

00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH USB EHCI Controller (rev 49) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Lenovo FCH USB EHCI Controller
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 18
Memory at feb6c000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] Debug port: BAR=1 offset=00e0
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci

00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SMBus Controller (rev 4b)
Subsystem: Lenovo FCH SMBus Controller
Flags: 66MHz, medium devsel
Kernel driver in use: piix4_smbus
Kernel modules: i2c_piix4, sp5100_tco

00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH LPC Bridge (rev 11)
Subsystem: Lenovo FCH LPC Bridge
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0

00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b0
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b1
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b2
Flags: fast devsel

00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b3
Flags: fast devsel
Capabilities: [f0] Secure device <?>

00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b4
Flags: fast devsel
Kernel driver in use: fam15h_power
Kernel modules: fam15h_power

00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b5
Flags: fast devsel

01:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
Subsystem: Lenovo RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 255
I/O ports at e000 [disabled] [size=256]
Memory at fea00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=64K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [148] Device Serial Number 00-e0-4c-ff-fe-c8-21-01
Capabilities: [158] Latency Tolerance Reporting
Capabilities: [160] L1 PM Substates
Capabilities: [170] Precision Time Measurement
Capabilities: [17c] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0003 Rev=1 Len=054 <?>

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 0c)
Subsystem: Lenovo RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 32
I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
Memory at fe900000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at f0800000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Endpoint, MSI 01
Capabilities: [b0] MSI-X: Enable- Count=4 Masked-
Capabilities: [d0] Vital Product Data
Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting
Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 01-00-00-00-68-4c-e0-00
Capabilities: [170] Latency Tolerance Reporting
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

Well I'll be dipped in shit!- As my dad used to say- It worked. Juggling two mice and keyboards reminds me of trying to practice with both my horns- flute and tenor sax. The keys are just a bit different enough to cause me grief.

There are several ways in which you can select the appropriate block of text from that "sudo lspci -v" - but you can find out how to do that at a later date!

Hello Jeremy. I posted it so that others can check it for errors. It is a new install of Mint that will not let me connect to the internet. Is it a driver missing that is the problem?

What does this mean?
I/O ports at e000 [disabled] [size=256]

Yes - its a missing driver which makes it disabled.

There aren't any errors, as such - the penultimate entry is your wifi:-Note the lines that say "disabled".
Compare this with the last entry (your ethernet card).

I did a quick search for "RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter Linux" and nothing straightforward for Mint shows up.
This doesn't mean its impossible, but I might be inclined to use a USB Wifi connection - at least in the short term.
Obviously you want a recommendation before shelling out for a cheap USB WiFi.

[QUOTE=JeremyBoden;5976897]Well, it well could have been that the cable hook up was bad when I went to the house to try getting online. It does not matter though because I need the wifi to work where I live- 200 feet away from the house. As I mentioned, the driver for the wifi lists N/A. I assume that means there is no driver. Is that a correct assumption?

Yes.

I think I already own a cheap USB wifi device. I got it before puters started coming wifi cabable. Now to find it. I think I saw it just the other day.. somewhere. I bought a second USB stick today so I can transfer a driver update to the puter that will not connect. One such file was recommended to me. It lives at arch linux but I am too much of a dummy to know what to download.

That word- penultimate, is often misunderstood. I learned what it means when Rex Rice named his jazz jam 'the penultimate jazz jam. Most of us thought it meant the very best- nope, just next to last.

I found my old usb wireless device. I think it's broken. I get nothing when I plug it in and no light shows on the device. I used to live on a sailboat and I had a WiFi antenna on the top of my mast.

Does show anything meaningful?
It should a manufacturers description of anything plugged into a USB port, if its recognised.

I just returned from the store with a new wireless USB adapter. Now to see if I can install it. It came with instructions for installing on Mac OS or Windows. Once again I have to install a driver. I hope the CD that it came with makes this easy. Wish me luck.

Thanks for lending a hand. I do appreciate it.
Caio