Debian 13: How to Fix: "No Wi-Fi Adapter Found" - Lenovo Z50-70

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Hello Friends

I got my sister laptop, it is a Lenovo Z50-70, It was formatted and Debian 13 Trixie was installed
The problem is that there is no WIFI, taking as reference almost the same experience for a HP Pavilion G4 with Debian 12 Bookworm I did do the following:

lspci -vq | grep -i wireless
<it shows nothing>
inxi -Nn
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    driver: r8169
  IF: enp1s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <somecode>
  Device-2: Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n driver: N/A

Installed Synaptic

apt install synaptic

The /etc/apt/sources.list file was edited to:

#deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 13.2.0 _Trixie_ - Official amd64 DVD Binary-1 with firmware 20251115-11:05]/ trixie contrib main non-free-firmware

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie contrib main non-free-firmware non-free
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie contrib main non-free-firmware non-free
...

Where was added contrib and non-free

Thanks for the edition of the mentioned file now through Synaptic was possible install the following packages:

b43-fwcutter
bluez-firmware
broadcom-sta-common
broadcom-sta-dkms
broadcom-sta-source
firmware-b43-installer
firmware-b43legacy-installer
firmware-bnx2
firmware-bnx2x
firmware-brcm80211
ibverbs-providers
libbcm2835-dev

Through Synaptic is confirmed through the broadcom-sta-dkms package appears the BCM43142 term. It about Properties

But the problem from the beginning is the following: at “Settings” (through gnome) does not appear the WIFI item listed in the vertical menu in the left, but if is used the “Search” approach with the “wifi” term, appears in the Wifi screen but the following message:

BTW at the top of the same screen is possible On/Off the Airplane Mode
And even more, apart in “Bluetooth” item, once shown its screen, is not possible turn on through the “circle” icon

Question

  • How to Fix correctly the “No Wi-Fi Adapter Found” situation?

Note: the laptop had windows and the wifi worked in peace

Thanks in advance

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Horrible horrible horrible hardware…

I suspect you will need to get the source code for the WiFi chipset and build it… I haven’t done this for years now… Last time I had issues with WiFi on a ThinkPad - I replaced the WiFi PCIe card/chip with an Intel one instead of horrible horrible Broadcom… Broadcom are a truly horrible company too…

Also - why not install Ubuntu or Mint for your sister? I’ve always found them better at installing drivers than Debian… I assume this device is for your sister to use? Or did she give it to you?

That stuff about broadcome-sta-source and “dkms” means your kernel doesn’t support it…

You’ll probably have to build the driver - AND the kernel module - which means you’ll need the kernel source… Please don’t ask me to explain further - look it up on the intertubes yourself… and then you might run into further issues along the way when your kernel gets patched with an update…

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It would be easier to use Win, and run Linux in a VM.

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But still no wifi ?

Easy option buy a wifi usb key and replace existing one. Something like net gear that are known to work on linux, usually marked on box.

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No, Win has drivers for the Wifi adaptor.
Assuming the Wifi is used for a network link, the VM can be linked into that with a virtual network and some routing.

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Sounds complicated a cheap adapter is much easier and why save windows

But just my Linux bias showing

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I agree. You can get tiny ones that would not obtrude on a laptop.

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Why not try Ubuntu or Mint as @daniel.m.tripp suggested?

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Hello Friends

Thanks for the replies

The laptop is now mine, I am going to test Ubuntu as Live mode to see if it detects the Wireless/WIFI card in peace.

Stay tune :nerd_face:

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Hello Dan

Horrible horrible horrible hardware…

Why are you saying that?

I suspect you will need to get the source code for the WiFi chipset and build it… I haven’t done this for years now… Last time I had issues with WiFi on a ThinkPad - I replaced the WiFi PCIe card/chip with an Intel one instead of horrible horrible Broadcom… Broadcom are a truly horrible company too…

The other HP laptop has a Broadcom too and works fine

Also - why not install Ubuntu or Mint for your sister? I’ve always found them better at installing drivers than Debian… I assume this device is for your sister to use? Or did she give it to you?

Now is mine, I installed Debian to play with it as a 2nd machine, first time in my life I have this case, so I see it as an opportunity to learn more about drivers etc… and I am going to test Ubuntu as Live mode to see if it detects the wireless card in peace

That stuff about broadcome-sta-source and “dkms” means your kernel doesn’t support it…

Understood, BTW it was installed in the HP (Debian 12) and in an Acer (Perppermint OS)

You’ll probably have to build the driver - AND the kernel module - which means you’ll need the kernel source… Please don’t ask me to explain further - look it up on the intertubes yourself… and then you might run into further issues along the way when your kernel gets patched with an update…

Understood and thanks for the advice, in fact previously to create this post I started a research, there are many commands to execute (modprob for example), but to cross data (mostly experience) I created this post

Thanks for your answer

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