Wireless network cannot be enabled for Sony VAIO E series

Question

I cannot use the wireless network from my Sony VAIO E series laptop. My OS is Ubuntu 12.04. Please help.

Answer 1

I had the same problem. My wireless option was grayed out in network manager.

Solution: Blacklist mac80211 and voilà!

Ubuntu 12 and sony vaio e 14 series

Answer 2

This is not invented by me, but credited to answers from others in the web. Thanks to them.

Initial problem:

Bought new Sony Vaio E Series. Installing using CD, Ubuntu 12.04. During installation wireless worked. After reboot NO!. Can not enable wireless.

http://www.dkvermalinux.in/2012/05/ubuntu-1204-lts-wifi-problem-hardware.html?showComment=1337448079507#c2311451036067978243

I found there:

rfkill list all

rfkill unblock all

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rfkill list all, works, and show: soft blocking in 'acer-wireless: Wireless LAN, soft blocked: yes'

rfkill unblock all does not manage to change. After another rfkill list all, same status remains.

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Then I learned from How to unblock something listed in rfkill?. Thanks, Leckensteyn.

sudo modprobe -r acer_wmi

It works. Wireless Networks works 'normal' as it should be.

Thanks everybody.

Regards,

Toni Ridwan