Wifi Ralink R3290 disabled by default in ubuntu 16.04

[Shankey]

I have my personal laptop and it contains PCI Ralink r3290 wifi adaptor with bluetooth and when i have installed the fresh version of Ubuntu 16.04x64 it doesn’t work at all on boot up. The wifi is disabled by default and the it doesn’t activates even by pressing the key and when i go the network settings airplane mode is also enabled and when i try to disable airplane mode it switches back on. I dont know whats going wrong. Earlier my wifi works on ubuntu 15.04. I have tried almost every solution and none works in the latest LTS release.

Please help I am unable to use internet in ubuntu

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-21-generic 4.4.0-21.37 [modified: boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-21.37-generic 4.4.6
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-21-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: shankey 1536 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: shankey 1536 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun May 1 17:02:12 2016
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9fdda691-a6ae-4494-99e3-b76fde1f33a6
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-04-24 (7 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05c8:036e Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd (Foxlink) Webcam
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard Compaq 15 Notebook PC
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic root=UUID=609ae58a-a43f-4f7b-9a61-e21d3caf457a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-21-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-21-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/26/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde
dmi.bios.version: F.39
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 2211
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: 86.52
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Chassis Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsyde:bvrF.39:bd05/26/2015:svnHewlett-Packard:pnCompaq15NotebookPC:pvr0991100000000000000600087:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn2211:rvr86.52:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: Compaq 15 Notebook PC
dmi.product.version: 0991100000000000000600087
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

How can i fix this, I still cant use the wifi..its happening to few other WIFI Devices too. Please provide me any fix

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.6 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.6-rc6-wily/

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

As per your instructions i have installed the latest kernel 4.6rc6 but the bug still exists and i have tried several attempts but none works..Still the wifi is disabled..

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

This issue appears to be an upstream bug, since you tested the latest upstream kernel. Would it be possible for you to open an upstream bug report[0]? That will allow the upstream Developers to examine the issue, and may provide a quicker resolution to the bug.

Please follow the instructions on the wiki page[0]. The first step is to email the appropriate mailing list. If no response is received, then a bug may be opened on bugzilla.kernel.org.

Once this bug is reported upstream, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-reported-upstream'.

[0] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Shankey, could you please provide the full computer model as noted on the sticker of the computer itself (not from the Bug Description)?

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

I am having hp compaq 15-s001tu notebook. Rest of the details can be found on below link

http://www.91mobiles.com/hp-15-s001tu-g8d87pa-core-i3-4th-gen-4-gb-500-gb-dos-laptop-price-in-india-65546

When i use Ubuntu in this notebook everything works fine except the Ralink WIFI. It doesn't work or if it works somehow then it shows the weak signal strength under which it keep on disconnecting. I am compile the driver with the help of some forums. I have tried everything in ubuntu 16.04 none of solution works.

Last option for me is to revert back to old ubuntu release. Please help!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Shankey, could you please test the latest mainline kernel (4.7-rc4) and advise to the results?

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

I have tested the WIFI in latest mainline kernel(4.7-rc4) but still the same issue. WIFI is disabled.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Shankey, the next step is to fully commit bisect from kernel 3.19 to 4.4 in order to identify the last good kernel commit, followed immediately by the first bad one. This will allow for a more expedited analysis of the root cause of your issue. Could you please do this following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/KernelBisection ?

Please note, finding adjacent kernel versions is not fully commit bisecting.

Also, the kernel release names are irrelevant for the purposes of bisecting.

After the offending commit (not kernel version) has been identified, then please mark this report Status Confirmed.

Thank you for your help.

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

I've identified the kernel from where this issue occurred at first time its kernel 4.3 and after looking the above link i still cant get the exact meaning of bisection or how to bisect a kernel...

Kernel without issue http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/linux-3.19.y.z-review/

On last kernel(which i installed by myself) wifi worked is kernel 4.2 and distribution is ubuntu 15.04

I think something is wrong with network manager and rfkill as well in Ubuntu 16.04 i.e. the network manager doesn't load the interference name by itself I'll have to manually enter the command

sudo ifconfig interface-name up
sudo service network-manager restart

And if somehow after compiling the driver and executing the above wifi shows up then it doesn't detects any hotspots or available connections in ubuntu 16.04.

Also the rfkill shows the "hardware block: yes" it fails to unblock the device even by pressing the wifi key or by executing the command "rfkill unblock all". I had also reseted the BIOS but nothing worked.

Ralink r3290 having too much issues with ubuntu as compared to windows. We want any working driver for it.

[Alexandru Bancov (bankoff)]

The same problem was discovered at ASUS X5522LAV laptop. Ralink 3290. The same simptoms.

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

Unfortunately, the Bug still exists on Ubuntu 16.10...I don't know whats wrong with the R2800pci and even blacklisting the driver doesn't solves the issue...and i need to stuck on linux mint 17..just because of this issue.

Somehow if we manage to remove default PCI driver from linux kernel (as i don't know how to do that), i think rfkill issue would be solved i am not 100% sure about that will it work or not.

I have done everything googled every solution none of them worked. Thats the main reason why i refused to installed ubuntu 16.04LTS.

[Marian (mivr)]

Hi,

Writing here as I've recently faced the same issue with rt3290 on Ubuntu 16.04.
May I wonder if there are any information right now as last activity here was more than year ago?
Have anyone made some progress?

/M

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Is is the same one as LP: #1745636?

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

@marian , @Kai-Heng Feng - I have discovered a temporary workaround. All you have to do is to install old kernel 3.19 in Ubuntu and boot from it(after clean shut-down). Because ubuntu r3290 pci had worked perfectly on kernel 3.19. If you want to boot ubuntu from outdated or unsupported kernel you can simply do that by following link. Please make sure that you boot on same 3.19 if you boot on newer one you will experience same issue. In order to fix it you have to again shutdown and make a boot from same kernel.

For more information please visit this link https://webwiks.com/techcorner/get-ralink-r3290-work-linux-distribution/

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Can you find the first bad -rc* kernel in [1] that has this regression?

[1] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/?C=M;O=D

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

I don't have an perfect idea about that..But yes, as per my experience may be there is something wrong from v4.0 kernels because this problem started from the initial release of ubuntu 16.04 which came along with the kernel v4.2...The problem was ralink wifi "disabled by default"..when you go on to settings you find that airplaine mode is enabled by default and you cant disable it. Even when you compile another driver for this WIFI card somehow it shows up but still its useless because it doesn’t detect the wifi connections nearby....because its blocked.

Something is messing up with Ralink or there is some bug in kernel itself which preventing this wifi from activating.

This problem is still present in Ubuntu and its derivatives which are based from 16.04 to the present builds. #1745636 problem is same. the wifi key doesn't unlocks the wifi nor even Rfkill command. I have been filling this bug from last 2 year but still the problem exists.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Shankey, can you find the first bad -rc* kernel? It's easier to bisect if we can minimize the bisection range first.

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

@Kai-Heng Feng - I have no idea about kernel bisection....But yes there is a good news..this bug is finally fixed(don't know if further updates will cause WIFI issue again) in 18.04 release :) WIFI worked without any configuration. Please check with latest Ubuntu 18.04 Release in live mode if it works in live mode then surely it will work after installation as well. and let everyone know about this fix.

[vipan (vipan16116)]

No , i don't think that this bug is fixed in Ubuntu 18.Because i tried it in live mode and it didn't worked.I am getting the same error "Wifi is disabled use hardware switch to turn off ".I tried switching off the the Aeroplane mode but it didn't work.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Vipan, please file a new bug for this. This is platform specific.

[Shankey (shankeybisht3)]

Vipan - If you are live booting Ubuntu 18.04 please boot the live USB after you have turned off your machine completely. If you boot Live ubuntu 18.04 after restarting your machine from the previous Ubuntu version (where WIFI doesn't work) release then the WIFI will not work in Live mode. It's kind of weird but that's how it works in my case.

In short, To test your WIFI do not boot into Previous ubuntu release (which is installed on your computer). If somehow you have logged in Previous Ubuntu then shut down the Ubuntu and then boot into LIVE USB directly. It would show up your WIFI device.

If it doesn't show up then there could be something messing up with your kernel module.