Need to resolve these Issues when using Ubuntu 16 LTS

crytoadvice

Im trying out Ubuntu 16 LTS from a USB stcick on my Windows Hp G6 laptop.

Issue 1
The secreen is constantly Dimming and freezing. I unticked the Dim screen to save power tickbox but its still happening and is becoming unusable at this stage.

Issue 2
I also cannot type in the email at sign from my Laptop Keyboard. I can type it from Linux's Virtual keyboard.

Issue 3
I am using a huawei Modem to connect to the Internet by Wifi.
The Modem only connects to the Laptop when its connected by the USB cable. Why does it not connect when not attached by cable.

In Linux's Network Settings it says I have a wired connection even though im using wifi.

Can anyone help with these issues.
Thank you

I

Johnboy1951

2. I would guess you have an incorrect layout setting for you keyboard ...... the @ key on English keyboards is near the Enter key, while on USA layout it is on one of the numerical keys on the row of keys over the letters .... Shift+2 I believe.

crytoadvice

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

2. I would guess you have an incorrect layout setting for you keyboard ...... the @ key on English keyboards is near the Enter key, while on USA layout it is on one of the numerical keys on the row of keys over the letters .... Shift+2 I believe.

I dont see any option to change the country setting in Keyboard>preferences>Layout
All i see in the Layout section is Core Layouts and Contributions

I definetly need to get the dim problem sorted cos atm putting up with Windows Updates is more preferable than this

bonzodog2

If you are running from a USB stick, it may not be able to save changes, due to the boot media being mounted read-only. What program do u use to create the stick? Some allow to create another partition for persistence

crytoadvice

bonzodog2 wrote: »

If you are running from a USB stick, it may not be able to save changes, due to the boot media being mounted read-only. What program do u use to create the stick? Some allow to create another partition for persistence

I think I used universal USB Installer. It is a Persistent USB

niallb

crytoadvice wrote: »

Issue 3
I am using a huawei Modem to connect to the Internet by Wifi.
The Modem only connects to the Laptop when its connected by the USB cable. Why does it not connect when not attached by cable.

In Linux's Network Settings it says I have a wired connection even though im using wifi.

You are wired to the modem using the USB cable.
If you haven't configured a wireless connection, you're not using wifi.

Some Huawei modems configure a virtual ethernet card on USB when connected to a computer. A lot of android phones allow for the same function too. Very handy and keeps it charged up too.

Can you see any wireless networks from the laptop at all?
If not, you'll need to download some firmware for your network card.
Luckily you should be able to do that via your USB ethernet connection.

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

You are wired to the modem using the USB cable.
If you haven't configured a wireless connection, you're not using wifi.

Some Huawei modems configure a virtual ethernet card on USB when connected to a computer. A lot of android phones allow for the same function too. Very handy and keeps it charged up too.

Can you see any wireless networks from the laptop at all?
If not, you'll need to download some firmware for your network card.
Luckily you should be able to do that via your USB ethernet connection.

I cant see any wifi netwroks from the surrounding area. Usually theres around ten networks that show up.

From what you said above Im tethering the modem. Is that Correct?

The Network Dialog box shows one Wired Connection with two arrows and one Wired connection saying Netwrok cable unplugged.
The one with the two arrows is the working one which im using now.
When i boot using Windows it says "No Network Connections Available". I cant access any networks at all, even when i connect the modem by USB.

Do you mean firmware for the modem or laptop? Where do i download it from?

Thanks for your help

niallb

So when you boot with windows you can't see any wireless networks either?
Any chance there's a wifi on/off switch on the laptop anywhere?

If you install the huawei drivers you'll get a network connection under windows too.
Linux comes with driver support for a huge amount of equipment built in :-)

crytoadvice

I can't see any WiFi on Windows. The icon on taskbar is in red and says no network connections available.

My Huaweei app says theeir are no updates needed for the modem.

Do you mean I need to install drivers on my laptop?

BTW I have tried to fully install Ubuntu alongside Windows. The installation completed but didn't boot. At the end of the process I got this message on a black screen saying

"A start job is running for ubuntu"

niallb

That start job could be because it has no network connection.
How long have you waited for it to complete? It may even give you a countdown.

Have you ever been able to connect to WiFi with this laptop?
Have you looked for a wireless icon on your keyboard? Most laptops have a switch or key combination to turn off wireless completely.

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

That start job could be because it has no network connection.
How long have you waited for it to complete? It may even give you a countdown.

Have you ever been able to connect to WiFi with this laptop?
Have you looked for a wireless icon on your keyboard? Most laptops have a switch or key combination to turn off wireless completely.

The Ubuntu job sad it had a 1min 40 limit. I left the laptop on for another hour or so and went back to it and it had shut down. I started it and it just booted to Windows, there was no option for Ubuntu.

Laptop has a WiFi button that toggles between airplane mode icon and a no networks available icon in red with an x. It has an orange light

I was using WiFi on it for ages until Saturday.

I'm actually using the wifi modem now with my mobile phone to post this

crytoadvice

I just checked a post on the Ubuntu forum in link below Im able to access Ubuntu by pressing F9 and power button at start up. It's not ideal but it's a start. Apparently HP violates UEfi standard

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2385361

niallb

Did anything happen the laptop on Saturday? Even a small knock?

Any chance you've switched the settings on the WiFi modem to 5GHz?

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

Did anything happen the laptop on Saturday? Even a small knock?

Any chance you've switched the settings on the WiFi modem to 5GHz?

I cant recall but its possible i might have knocked or dropped it in the last week or so. I havent gone near the wifi settings

niallb

What model is the modem?
Depending on which Huawei model it is it might have a screen on it. If so, you should see a 2G or 5G mark on it.
If it's transmitting at 5GHz, your laptop won't see it. Your phone should tell you which band it's connected to too.

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

What model is the modem?
Depending on which Huawei model it is it might have a screen on it. If so, you should see a 2G or 5G mark on it.
If it's transmitting at 5GHz, your laptop won't see it. Your phone should tell you which band it's connected to too.

Huawei E5577 2.4GHz

niallb

If there's a wireless light on your laptop what colour is it?
Does it change colour when you press F12 (or hold FN down and press F12 )?
If you can get it to go white while you're in Windows can you see any WiFi?

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

If there's a wireless light on your laptop what colour is it?
Does it change colour when you press F12 (or hold FN down and press F12 )?
If you can get it to go white while you're in Windows can you see any WiFi?

Im in Ubuntu now and the modem is connected by usb. The colour of the wireless light is orange. When i press F12 it stays the same colour.

When im in windows the wireless button toggles between Airplane mode and No networks available. i think the airplane colour was white and the No netwroks icon was red with an X through it. When i was in windows no wifi from the surrounding area showed up at all

niallb

That's a common bug with your laptop, and the only way people seem to have fixed it is by updating the bios.
Check HP's site and download the latest BIOS for your model. It's worked for many people over a period of a few years. Good thing you have internet in Ubuntu at least! You'll probably have to copy the file over to windows or a USB and run it from there.

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

That's a common bug with your laptop, and the only way people seem to have fixed it is by updating the bios.
Check HP's site and download the latest BIOS for your model. It's worked for many people over a period of a few years. Good thing you have internet in Ubuntu at least! You'll probably have to copy the file over to windows or a USB and run it from there.

Thanks for that. Do you have a link for info on that bug or the name of the bug so i can search for it.

Wonder why its only showing now. Ive had the laptop 3-4 yrs although I didnt use wifi until the last 6 months

niallb

Google it.

Include the words disabled and airplane in your search.

The symptom is that the F12 key starts to shift straight from disabled to airplane mode without going through enabled.

Always worth looking at bios updates for your laptop. They usually list what was fixed in each version and if you see a familiar problem in there it's likely a necessary part of the solution.

crytoadvice

niallb wrote: »

Google it.

Include the words disabled and airplane in your search.

The symptom is that the F12 key starts to shift straight from disabled to airplane mode without going through enabled.

Always worth looking at bios updates for your laptop. They usually list what was fixed in each version and if you see a familiar problem in there it's likely a necessary part of the solution.

Cant find anything relating to a bug causing the No Network Connections Message. There is some info about a bug that causes the wifi toggle to be stuck permanently on airplane mode but thats not my problem.

I think i need to bring it to a tech specialist and get them to loo at it. Can you recommend anyone. I bought it in PC World but they are very slow and expensive. Whenever theres a problem they have to send the laptop to the uk to fix it.

Johnboy1951

Maybe use
rfkill

to try to determine the state of it.

rfkill --help

Usage:
 rfkill [options] command [identifier ...]

Tool for enabling and disabling wireless devices.

Options:
 -J, --json             use JSON output format
 -n, --noheadings       don't print headings
 -o, --output <list>    define which output columns to use
 -r, --raw              use the raw output format

 -h, --help             display this help
 -V, --version          display version

Available output columns:
 DEVICE      kernel device name
 ID          device identifier value
 TYPE        device type name that can be used as identifier
 TYPE-DESC   device type description
 SOFT        status of software block
 HARD        status of hardware block

Commands:
 help
 event
 list   [identifier]
 block   identifier
 unblock identifier

For more details see rfkill(8).

crytoadvice

Ill try and use rfkill later after i read through the notes on what to do

In the meantime I have installed drivereasy on windows and scanned windows using offline mode.

I saved the results on a USB. I will have to access another pc/laptop that has internet and install drivereasy on it to upload the scan results and then download the required drivers(presuming the file has recommended drivers)

I there any way I could access the scanned drivereasy file in Ubuntu and download the drivers for windows?

niallb

Go to HP's website and download the latest drivers for your laptop model from there.
I can't be any more specific because as far as I can see, you've only identified your laptop as HP G6.
You'll need the more specific model number to match the right hardware.

Those downloads can be done under ubuntu.
While you're at it, take a look at the notes on the bios updates, particularly if you've updated your OS from what shipped with the computer.

It would be easier to run whatever driver script you like if you have an internet conection under Windows.
Look in your file manager when you have the modem attached to windows by USB.
Do you see any drive there called Huawei...? If you do, install the software on that partition - autorun or whatever.
It should then be able to detect the modem over USB after a restart.