I am just dipping my toes into Linux. I have dual booted Ubuntu on my main machine. Right now I don’t have access at all to a wired connection. I have a TP link archer T2U usb Wi-Fi adapter that I have used and works (on my windows half). However, I can’t use the Wi-Fi adapter because I am missing the drivers on Linux and can’t even install the packages to install the drivers because I am not connected to the internet. My motherboard does not support Wi-Fi so I have to have the adapter and feel stuck without just buying a new adapter that would work innately with Linux.
Use a USB drive or otherwise download this on the Win side and get it over to your Ubuntu side: linky Install that package and you should be able to build your kernel module using dkms.
Maybe try booting with Linux Mint and see how far you get with that. Just download the ISO and you can run it in a live environment to see what works and does not. I am sure you can find a cheap USB adapter on Amazon that will do the trick though.
A new usb Wi-Fi adapter is the way I am leaning I think. I might just be a little in over my head trying to make the one I have work. There is just so much I need to learn but can’t since I can’t change anything without internet. I can’t even play with DEs without a connection.
Get the most generic one you can
Suggestion if you duel booted with Ubuntu, you may want to wipe and go pure debian. And for reference, I’ve been using Ubuntu since 16.04 great OS it’s been great to me but a lot of the advantages it provided over base debian have been eroded.
I the reason I have started with Ubuntu is there is so much information easy for me to find on it. Is Debian the same way? Is it pretty easy for a person really new to Linux?
Debian predates Ubuntu by a long time. Ubuntu was actually started as a repackaged/modernized version of Debian (yes, I know, it’s a gross approximation, live with it). You WILL find anything you need on documentation on debian. Also, you can download the DVD version that has pretty much anything, including dev tools (like gcc and kernel sources) that you can use to build the driver from source (when you download it via windows for example).
As a personal note: trying to add wifi connectivity to linux is also how I cut my teeth on linux 20+ years ago. It is hard if you don’t know what’s going on, but don’t despair: the knowledge you’ll get will be useful for years to come.
