Linux wireless driver for HP 14-am100na notebook

[Nikaecywqnkuxiv]

This is a multiple question really. Just purchased the above notebook and tried to Install Linux under a dual boot. I have tried Mint 18.1 Cinnamon and Ubuntu 16.04.02 LTE. Neither is able to detect any wifi networks, and I have tried a whole load of options to reset the wireless chipset (which works fine on the Win 10 the machine came with), but to no avail. Going onto the HP website, I can't find the manual: after typing in the serial number I am presented with very little in the way of information so I have to assume there isn't a manual. I also can't find a detailed spec sheet so I can't find out what chipset is used in the wireless driver, therefore I can't search the Linux forums for a driver. So I'm stuck, which is both frustrating and a little embarrassing. 

So to summarise, is there a manual for my machine, a detailed spec sheet with the relevant details for the wireless chipset, and can anyone suggest how I can get this working under Linux?

Ta muchly, Nik

[Huffer]

Your specs which do not show the exact wifi chip:

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c05346381

Service manual:

Manual

See p. 4. You either have the Broadcom or the Realtek wireless + bluetooth adapter. 

If the Broadcom see here:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/765584/is-it-possible-to-use-broadcom-bcm43142-wifi-in-ubuntu-16-04

"

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source

And it worked immediately!!!"

If Realtek try this:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/635625/how-do-i-get-a-realtek-rtl8723be-wireless-card-to-work

You might want to run an apt-get dist-upgrade and try to get the latest kernel you can. Kernel 4.2 and higher "just works" with newer wireless adapters that were problems under older kernels. 

Post back with any more questions. Obviously I think you should run Ubuntu and I would even suggest running 16.10 as it has kernel 4.2 natively. 

Good luck 

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[Nikaecywqnkuxiv]

Thanks for the response. I have a couple of young kids at home, so bear with me, I don't have as much time as I used to.

OK, story coming up. The machine is brand new so I loaded Ubuntu 17.04 as a dual boot. This should already have the most up to date Kernal so should work fine. It doesn't. I now know the wifi chip set is Realtek RTL8723BE.

I checked it works on LAN. OK.

I tried the Realtek link you sent, and tried to load and install the driver from hanipouspilot as suggested. I got an error message, along the lines of the repository doesnt have a release file, Data from said repository cant be authenticated and maybe dangerous to use, therefore failed to fetch. So wouldnt install.

Next, I tried updating the kernal as per your suggestion (I know, but it was worth a shot). Ditto general updates. Again didn't work. There was also mention of secure boot being a problem, so I removed the secure boot from Bios as per instructions and did it all again. Nothing worked.

Given it is a new machine, I then thought maybe I should go with 16.04 as originally discussed then update it manually, as the new kernal doesnt work out of the box. I downloaded Kubuntu 16.04 (I like KDE) and installed it as a complete clean install wiping the whole disk, to make sure.

Again, LAN worked, wireless didnt. I ran all updates, installed the new Kernal successfully (at least I didn't get any error messages), and finally ran the Realtek installation as above. This time it seemed to work, until the final line: Error - bad return status for module build on kernal 4.8.0-49-generic (x86_64). At each stage I rebooted and checked if the wireless was working.

So now I'm stuck. I made a backup of the whole disk before I started so I'll put it back to manufacturer spec before going on, as I need Windows dual boot for the various devices I sync, and also to download any Linux distros, but I'd like to stick with Kubuntu if I can and will download the version you recommend. Problem then is how I get this wireless adapter working. Any thoughts?

Previously I had a Levovo, never had a peep out of it. Hey ho.

Ta, Nik