Cinnamon "lost' WiFi?

[IbChristian]

I guess my original post got lost in the Xenforo debacle. To review, after posting here last night I shut down my laptop. When I rebooted today there was no internet connection. I tried reconnecting, but Linux said my wired connection was unplugged. I have never used a wired connection with this computer, always WiFi. Furthermore, there wasn't even a WiFi option listed to connect to. Anywhere! It was as though Mint didn't even know I had WiFi (My wife was using it at the time, so I know there was nothing wrong with it or the router.

I finally had to reinstall Cinnamon and all my programs (AGAIN!), ran the update manager and everything is fine now. I made a snapshot with TimeShift of the computer in this state, But I don't want to have to depend on that.

Has anyone else had this problem? Cinnamon "forgetting" that WiFi even exists? If so, how did you solve it?

 

[CaffeineAddict]

but Linux said my wired connection was unplugged. I have never used a wired connection with this computer

Every computer has LAN port, so you'll always have wired connection but not connected if there's no cable.

there wasn't even a WiFi option listed to connect to

When this happens run:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

If it doesn't work run ip link and note your wi-fi NIC name, then replace wlan0 below with your NIC name and run commands:

sudo ip link set wlan0 down
sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
sudo ip link set wlan0 up

Should restart wifi

 

[KGIII]

Did you install or uninstall applications in the session you were in before you rebooted to find wireless has gone missing?

And, on behalf of Linx.org, sorry for the hassle. Sometimes, crap just happens.

 

[IbChristian]

OK, in order I installed:
1. Linux Cinnamon 22.3
2. After prompted, new update manager and all current updates
3. Installed Proton VPN and Brave Browser, both from their own website.

Oh, and CaffeineAddict: Thanks for the possible fix (I hope I never have to find out if it works or not). BTW what I meant was that I had never used a wired connection with this laptop; I know it has LAN connections.

 

[KGIII]

OK, in order I installed:

Nothing there looks suspicious. When you install software, it can sometimes install other packages that change things. When you remove software, it may remove files along with the package you're removing.

This can (rarely) be a problem, which is why I asked.

Of all of them, the only thing close to suspicious would be the VPN. However, I've installed that VPN and had no issues with it. I've even done so on Mint. Well, I've only done so on Mint. I have my own VPN that I pay for and use.