I'm trying to move from Windows to Linux, but I can't get networking to work in any distribution I've tested, including Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, and Bazzite. The system detects the network card and correctly identifies its model, but it never becomes usable. At the moment, my only way to get online is tethering through my phone over USB. The motherboard is an MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4, and its firmware is fully up to date. What could be causing this, and what steps should I try to fix it?
2 Answers
More details would help narrow this down: the exact network controller model, which interface name appears in the system, and any errors from commands such as `ip link` or `lspci -k`. Since several distributions show the same behavior, checking the driver and firmware status is probably more useful than switching to another distro.
If you’re testing from a live USB, the image may not include the required proprietary driver. Connect the computer directly to your router with Ethernet if possible, then let the installer or running system download any missing firmware or drivers. You can also use the phone’s USB tethering temporarily for the same purpose.
That makes sense, especially if the live environment is missing firmware. I’ll try installing the driver packages while connected through USB tethering or wired Ethernet before assuming the hardware is faulty.