Edinburgh Linux CafeMar 22
Hello! We are Edinburgh Linux Cafe, joining Mastodon was something we meant to do for a while but never got around to. We are a small but dedicated group helping people to install Linux on their laptops. Our interests are Linux (obviously), repair, reuse, and bicycles. Amazing to see that we have actually been mentioned already (👋 @DoomsdaysCW )!
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 28

@edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW _Wonderful_ what you say about helping people install Linux on their laptops! Here is something-- after having installed it on two different Asus laptops, one inexpensive Vivobook and one expensive gaming laptop, and one inexpensive HP, as of past 12 months:

The internal Wifi/Bluetooth is unstable in today's newest Debian Linux'es (and on some inexpensive HP Bluetooth doesn't even start). On Asus and some HP it can be repaired: my script
https://yoga6dserver.org/setup_for_install-bt-stability-for-mint.txt

Show threadPeter van Heusden (he/him) 🗿Mar 29
@i_dont_like_ai @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW I've got something very similar happening with my Windows 11 Asus TUF Gaming 15, especially after playing games (thus GPU enabled, more power consumption). I'm not inclined to run scripts from the Internet but reading the script gave me some ideas of what settings to tweak - now to find out how to do so on Windows! :|
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 29

@pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW Perfect!

I spent like many dozens of hours of research on this before I wrote the final version at Stackexchange here
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/804068/linux-mint-22-3-bluetooth-finds-no-devices-and-is-not-discoverable/804220#804220

..and in the process I realized that despite Microsoft saying they 'love' Linux, it seemed to me to be consistent that Intel, the main source of most Linux-unstable Wifi/Bluetooth cards, consciously avoid presenting the _full_ information that could easily make them work at once at all Linuxes; forcing dongles.

Linux Mint 22.3 Bluetooth finds no devices and is not discoverable

I'm using Linux Mint 22.3 and today when I went into Bluetooth, I suddenly encountered a screen like the one attached. While Bluetooth is on, it doesn't see other devices and isn't seen by other de...

Unix & Linux Stack Exchange
Show threadLinux and praxis: part of the resistance 🇵🇸 ☮️

@i_dont_like_ai @pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW

The only time I've needed a dongle for Linux is for a Lenovo thin edge. My kit from PCSpecialist and Novatech works just fine with wifi.

Mar 29 at 2:26pmWeb
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 29

@linuxgnome @pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW

Right, glad to hear Linux works.

[Btw: I am just about to update my answer at https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/804068/linux-mint-22-3-bluetooth-finds-no-devices-and-is-not-discoverable/804220#804220 with a comment with a fix for a 2024 Lenovo Wifi that I was sent from @diversetechgeek.bsky.social Anthony Dean and found to work on Mint and other linuxes]

Linux Mint 22.3 Bluetooth finds no devices and is not discoverable

I'm using Linux Mint 22.3 and today when I went into Bluetooth, I suddenly encountered a screen like the one attached. While Bluetooth is on, it doesn't see other devices and isn't seen by other de...

Unix & Linux Stack Exchange
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 29

@linuxgnome @pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW

The last lines of this link, according to the mentioned contact, works on Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and Pop!OS for his Thinkpad to cure Wifi, and this is a three-year old solution so it means that this is a gem of a solution to archive for Linux install experts:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=290480

[SOLVED] RTL8852BE firmware keeps crashing / Kernel & Hardware / Arch Linux Forums

Show threadLinux and praxis: part of the resistance 🇵🇸 ☮️Mar 30

@i_dont_like_ai @pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW

I have a 14-yr-old laptop from PCSpecialist running Kali and occasionally TAILS from a usb stick - no problem with the wifi. Just for info. No dongle needed for that.

Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 30

@linuxgnome @pvanheus @edinburghlinuxcafe @DoomsdaysCW That's wonderful, and it is a healthy ecological perspective on putting old laptops to new use via Linux; like you, I often find that it works perfectly well.

For all students who are about to buy a new laptop, where is the 'canonical' list that says--do not by that HP but buy such and such Asus instead if you wish to run such and such Linux--but tune it this way? Ubuntu tried to make such a list for a while. Idea: make a Wiki or so for it.

Show threadEdinburgh Linux CafeMar 30
@i_dont_like_ai @linuxgnome @pvanheus @DoomsdaysCW that would be an extremely useful list! Where I think it could get complicated is that some devices work well with some distributions but not others. Think of the device compatibility list of the relatively small list of open source Android ROMs, applied to the much more diverse range of Linux distributions. I don't have the spoons to take on this task, worthwhile though it would definitely be.
Show threadEdinburgh Linux CafeMar 30

@i_dont_like_ai @linuxgnome @pvanheus @DoomsdaysCW Having said that, would be happy to setup a wiki somewhere (codeberg?) if there was enough potential contributors. There are also some existing communities (Rebel Tech Alliance, Tech Reclaimers) who might be interested.

EDIT: the Tech Reclaimers are on the fedi! @TheBulletin and https://video.infiniteloop.tv/c/techreclaimers_channel/videos

techreclaimers_channel

Reclaim your tech with us! You have the right to control your data, devices, and services. We coordinate, develop and foster communities of Reclaimers who want digital independence. Together, let's...

InfiniteLoop.TV
Show threadDoomsdaysCWMar 30
Oooooh, @edinburghlinuxcafe ! Good to know @TheBulletin is here!
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 30
@edinburghlinuxcafe @linuxgnome @pvanheus @DoomsdaysCW @TheBulletin Perfect I have just followed Tech Reclaimers and also written to them; I think such a Wiki about compatibilities between this and that Linux and this and that new and old PC would attract followers if it is clean, have a good name, is not too ambitious technically but simple to grasp, and somebody had a strong moderation hand on it so it isn't filled up with copy-paste stuff. I would gladly be a contributor & add some funds too
Show threadi_dont_like_AI a_programmerMar 30

@edinburghlinuxcafe @linuxgnome @pvanheus @DoomsdaysCW Yes! But this is exactly what Wiki's have shown themselves good at sometimes, if the moderation and set up is good. The quest is to be so moderate it is accurate:

E.g., somebody could submit:
"I got Linux such-and-such version .. to work with Asus laptop bought in 2026 & this is its type number.. perfectly / or: not perfectly, for Bluettooth was instable and such-and-such fix was required and now it is perfect / or: works with Wifi dongle"