How to reinstall Ubuntu drivers using CD-ROM ISO while I'm offline

pedyram

10/15/23, 6:06 AM

What I'm stuck at

My physical network devices (Wi-Fi and Ethernet) are not available in Kubuntu 22.04 (unavailable in ip link and nmcli device, available in lshw -c network)
The additional drivers tab in software-properties-qt is empty, although I've mounted and added the Kubuntu ISO as a repository, disabled online repositories, and did apt clean and update
Any try to install another alternative kernel to include alternative boot options with drivers included fails because of "no installation candidate" in the ISO file which doesn't have "Release" file.
It's a failure in a bunch of drivers. Even my touchpad doesn't work anymore.

How did I manage to cause this mess?

I tried to install nvidia proprietary drivers, but the boot was failing.
I did some Nvidia package removing and apt clean/autoremove which apparently has broken my alternative kernels.
I changed a 2 to 0 in an auto-generated nvidia config to bypass Nvidia card and load Kubuntu using my onboard Intel Graphics card.

What I think I need

I want my network connection back to access online repositories and fix the mess.
I'd appreciate any hints for after accessing the network.
I prefer to avoid reinstallation of OS and reconfiguration.

0 + 5

apt

nvidia

networking

drivers

guiverc

10/15/23, 6:59 AM

I don't understand what you're after sorry, but you mention a Kubuntu ISO, so if you've applied any upgrades since your initial install; the ISO won't help you unless you're using the current *jammy daily* & not your installation media. You can also re-install without loss of data or user configs (*I have 3 installs on this box that I never apply upgrades; as a QA or Quality Assurance test, I upgrade my packages via re-install weekly & ensure my manually installed packages got auto-reinstalled, my music & data files were untouched as part of the QA test!*).

pedyram

10/15/23, 7:16 AM

Thanks. Is reinstall possible without loss of "data, user config" **and installed applications**? If so, could you provide a link to the exact procedure? (I've already did bad in trial and error!)

guiverc

10/15/23, 8:07 AM

I've written about it on this site 30+ times, but I have trouble finding answers that have less than 9 upvotes, so I'm not going to look. It's just using Manual Partitioning/Something-else, re-use existing partitions and **not formatting** them (*the lack of format [esp. /] triggers the repair installation*). I've written about it [here](https://discourse.lubuntu.me/t/testing-checklist-understanding-the-testcases/2743) where Lubuntu call it "*Install using existing partition*" though that was written for QA-testers not end-users. It's intended for Ubuntu repository software (not 3rd party)

guiverc

10/15/23, 8:12 AM

... As always backup first (*for starters it's easy to forget the format! as it's the default*), it works with Ubuntu Desktop & all *flavors*, doesn't deal well with server applications (where config files can be stored in system directories which get wiped; desktop apps don't do that as they're in $HOME) and works with current Desktop ISOs using `ubiquity` and `calamares` (*two flavors including Lubuntu use `calamares`). I've not used it successfully with the *canary* installer, but is likely to be added there [in due course] and return to being a Repair Installation menu item like long ago

pedyram

10/15/23, 1:56 PM

Thanks. It succeeded eventually. For the record: It was booting to busybox initramfs prompt with some *"ALERT! UUID=? not found"* message when I entered `exit` there. I did some searching and finally found out that because the kernel version in the installation media (ISO) was behind my latest version, I had to select an older alternative Ubuntu boot option. After that, I did some updates and upgrades in aptitude and all is fine except those packages which I'd installed manually or using snap, which I have to re-install.

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