Arch Linux

jmorgan

Member

Registered: 2016-12-01

Posts: 3

[Solved] - Disable internal wifi card

I just setup my first arch install on a Asus N53SM.  The laptop has a problem (physical I think) with the internal wifi card.  I'm using a usb wireless card and that is working fine, but I am having trouble figuring out how to stop the internal card from loading.  If I set iwconfig txpower off on the internal card it kills Network Manager and the working usb card drops until I manually reconnect.

Long story short can anyone give me any hints on how to unload (or even better not load in the first place) the driver for that device?

Last edited by jmorgan (2016-12-01 02:28:44)

jasonwryan

Anarchist

From: .nz

Registered: 2009-05-09

Posts: 30,426

Website

Re: [Solved] - Disable internal wifi card

Blacklist the module: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ke … acklisting

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JohnBobSmith

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2014-11-29

Posts: 804

Re: [Solved] - Disable internal wifi card

I would like to add that finding correct module for the wifi card can be tricky. In most cases, lspci -k, lsmod, and some googling can help. In my case, I have my rt3290 wifi card blacklisted:

[jbs@dmb-gaming-laptop ~]$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf 
...
#Blacklist the wifi (remove and reboot when needed)
blacklist rt2800pci
[jbs@dmb-gaming-laptop ~]$ 

This is the same driver from the output of lsmod. lspci -k should have a "kernel driver in use" line which, if you see that the correct driver is present, means the card is recognized by the system. If you see this after blacklisting the driver AND rebooting, you blacklisted the wrong module. You can also use modprobe/rmmod to investigate module-related problems.

Hopefully this helps!

EDIT: You can also use modprobe to enable the card on the fly or on an as-needed basis. In such cases, a reboot will disable the card again provided you've blacklisted everything correctly.

Last edited by JohnBobSmith (2016-12-01 01:48:44)

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jmorgan

Member

Registered: 2016-12-01

Posts: 3

Re: [Solved] - Disable internal wifi card

That did the trick.  Thanks.

Texbrew

Member

From: The Lone Star State

Registered: 2016-02-09

Posts: 580

Re: [Solved] - Disable internal wifi card

@JohnBobSmith, Do you ever feel under appreciated? I guess you can take comfort in a "Thanks".

I know, I know, not my business.

tex