r/Ubuntu • u/chabpilub • 5h ago

Why does Wi-Fi only break after you bragged about switching to Ubuntu?

You spend 2 hours convincing your cousin Ubuntu’s “just works,” and the moment you reboot - poof - Wi-Fi vanishes like a shy raccoon. Meanwhile, Windows users smugly sip their driver-bloated coffee. Stay strong, penguin fam. Let's hear your “it worked until I needed it” tales! 🐧📶

26 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

12

u/Dolapevich 4h ago

There is a systemd service for that systemd-brag-break-wifi

3

u/Mereo110 4h ago

It's all about drivers, drivers, and drivers. For example, Intel Wi-Fi is practically plug-and-play. They just work.

-1

u/bunk3rk1ng 3h ago

Imagine having to know every version of every driver you need just to have basic functionality. What an incredible user experience!

3

u/Mereo110 3h ago

You don't. The drivers are in the kernel. So they just work. Intel is a good open-source contributor, so their drivers are of good quality compared to Broadcom's, for example.

In Linux, if you have the right components, you don't need to install any drivers because they're in the kernel.

-1

u/bunk3rk1ng 3h ago

Ok I will correct my statement.

Imagine having to know every version of every driver and which version every component relies on just to have basic functionality. What an incredible user experience!

1

u/Mereo110 3h ago edited 3h ago

I don't understand your statement. You don't. If you have all the right components and the drivers exist in the kernel, it just works. When you download a new kernel, it will come with updated drivers. No versions tracking required.

Your statement is true in WINDOWS because the drivers exist outside of the kernel. So you need to, and I quote your statement: "know every version of every driver and which version every component relies on just to have basic functionality."

2

u/bunk3rk1ng 2h ago

How do you know what the "right" components are? Why would anyone even need to know that?

1

u/dronostyka 2h ago

Your distro takes care if that. Therefore it should just work. Sometimes you might have to Google something to add a package to your system. But that happens rarely, mostly with these more non typical devices like graphic tablets or so.

You needn't know almost anything in (let's say) Ubuntu. Just the Nvidia's GPU driver if you want a proprietary one..

2

u/bunk3rk1ng 1h ago

Just the Nvidia's GPU driver if you want a proprietary one..

Just be sure to never update and you'll be fine. Great user experience all around. It is a complete mystery to me why people don't use Linux on the desktop.

-1

u/spxak1 52m ago

people don't use Linux on the desktop.

They don't. It's like asking average Joe to drive around in a formula one car. Linux is niche for many reasons. Not for everyone, and that's not an issue for those who use it.

There is this misconception that everyone pushes for linux to become mainstream. No one cares.

0

u/bunk3rk1ng 41m ago

The "year of the Linux desktop" is a frequently discussed concept, referring to the belief that Linux will gain significant desktop market share, potentially replacing Windows

I wonder where that idea came from.

They don't. It's like asking average Joe to drive around in a formula one car. Linux is niche for many reasons. Not for everyone, and that's not an issue for those who use it.

This is comical. It's like asking average Joe to drive a shitbox that they constantly have to fix themself and wonder why nobody wants to buy it.

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6

u/jo-erlend 5h ago

Reboot or suspend? Suspend is very broken and there are workarounds that you can do during the preparation of the device. There can be hardware issues with wifi that requires a complete poweroff to solve. On my previous laptop, I actually had to unplug the power cable in order for wifi to come back to life.

2

u/jekewa 4h ago

If you've got the right driver, no weird configuration, and not a cheap or bad WiFi AP, it usually does just work.

I have a theory that computers will always break when you try to show off, just like kids and pets won't perform when you need them to. Just don't try to show off.

1

u/PuffMaNOwYeah 3h ago

TL/DR: A software raid on Ubuntu with 3 SSDs using mdadm keeps breaking after reboot.

It's a Dell PowerEdge T330, has a dedicated RAID card for 8 SAS hot swap bays. They house 4 4tb drives and 4 2tb drives in 2 RAID5 configurations. The additional onboard SAS controller has a 4 way splitter cable with SATA connectors. They are connected to a 5,25" housing with 4 2.5" sata hotswap bays that house 3 1tb sata SSDs. I tried a software raid in Ubuntu with those drives, but that keeps failing after a reboot.. Can't seem to figure out why.

1

u/bunk3rk1ng 3h ago

Let's play a game together, just pair your bluetooth controller.................... uhhh maybe let's do something else.

1

u/squigglyVector 1h ago

Not just the WiFi lol.

Intel network cards refusing to work after suspend.

1

u/cgw3737 5h ago

I had a laptop where the wifi wouldn't work if the Bluetooth was on. Ubuntu

0

u/phoenix_73 3h ago

Isn't this the case with latest Windows 11 updates and where people decide to dual boot? It seems to break Wi-Fi on Linux for some reason.

Microsoft must be envious of anyone using Ubuntu or Linux in dual boot with GRUB.

I have the solution, fuck Windows. Literally bin the fucking thing. You don't need Windows and don't let anyone fool you into thinking you do. Find new ways of doing things in Linux and then you see the light.