On Thu 28 May 2020 at 00:15:50 (+0000), Matthew Campbell wrote: > The netinst CD leaves a lot to be desired. I had to download a nonfree wifi > firmware package with my tablet and install it just to get the Linux system > on the laptop to recognize the wifi adapter. I still can't get the wifi to > work which makes installation impossible. Many of the network related > commands do not exist. I cannot just download a package without being able to > connect the laptop to the Internet which is impossible if I can't get a wifi > connection. I am using Debian 10.4 Buster on a laptop that uses an Intel > Centrino Duo CPU. My wifi adapter is registering as wlp3s0. Each "package" to > be installed requires the single use of a blank DVD to transfer the file to > Linux. I have a very limited number of blank DVDs. It is up, but down, > according to ip addr. It says no carrier. The wifi is on and available. The > signal strength is sufficient. It is presently offering an open wifi access > point. The ssid is correct. How do I fix this? I cannot connect a phone or > any other device to the laptop to help "get it started," nor should I need > to. The netinst CD should have everything a new user could need to get things > working.
If I understand your situation, which I might not, try putting this in the /etc/network/interfaces file: allow-hotplug wlp3s0 iface wlp3s0 inet dhcp wpa-ssid YOUR-WIFI-SSID wpa-psk YOUR-WIFI-PASSWORD which may get the wifi working for you. (Reboot if necessary.) Cheers, David.