Fixing Boot Errors, Wi-Fi Problems, and More

Ubuntu is a favorite among Linux enthusiasts for its stability, security, and user-friendly interface. But let’s face it, even the most reliable systems have hiccups. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to solve boot errors, Wi-Fi problems, or other quirks, these tips should help.

Ubuntu won’t boot

Boot issues on Ubuntu can manifest in various ways, such as black screens, GRUB errors, or messages like “initramfs” or “BusyBox.” These problems often stem from misconfigured bootloaders, corrupted file systems, or hardware compatibility issues.​ A good starting point is to check system logs using:

journalctl -b

This command displays logs from the current boot session, which can help identify where the process is failing. For issues related to GRUB or the bootloader, tools like Boot-Repair can be invaluable:

        sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y boot-repair
boot-repair
    

This utility can automatically fix common boot problems by repairing or reinstalling GRUB.​ To learn more, check out my full guide to fixing Ubuntu boot problems.

Wi-Fi Problems

Wi-Fi issues in Ubuntu are often due to driver incompatibilities, power management settings, or hardware not being recognized. Symptoms include the inability to detect networks, frequent disconnections, or slow speeds.​ First, ensure that your wireless adapter is recognized:​

nmcli device

This command lists network interfaces and their statuses. If your Wi-Fi adapter is listed but not connected, it might be a driver issue. Installing or updating drivers can resolve this:

        sudo apt update
sudo apt install 
    

If that doesn’t cover it, take a look at a full breakdown of Ubuntu Wi-Fi fixes.

Software Installation Issues

Installing software on Ubuntu can be smooth—until it isn’t. You might see dependency errors, broken packages, or failed Snap installs. When something doesn’t install properly, I usually start by running:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

That clears up a surprising number of problems. If you’re dealing with a .deb package and get a dependency error, run:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

Also, check for conflicting package managers. Snap, Flatpak, and apt don’t always play nice together, and trying to install the same app via multiple methods can cause issues.

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Graphics Driver Problems

If your screen looks off, has a glitchy resolution, no hardware acceleration, or screen tearing, it’s often a graphics driver issue. This shows up most often with NVIDIA cards, but even Intel and AMD setups can run into trouble. I usually check the “Additional Drivers” tab in Software & Updates first. Ubuntu often detects your GPU and lists proprietary drivers if they’re available. If nothing shows up or performance is still bad, try this command for NVIDIA systems:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

You’ll need to reboot afterward. If you’re not on NVIDIA, you can still try switching from the open-source driver to the vendor’s option (if available).

Slow Performance

Ubuntu can slow down for a bunch of reasons, especially if you’re running a full desktop environment like GNOME on older hardware.

Start with:

htop

htop gives a live view of CPU, RAM, and process usage. I look for anything consistently eating resources (like tracker-miner-fs or a browser running wild). Also, check what’s launching on startup. Go to Startup Applications and disable anything you don’t need right away. If performance is still lagging, consider switching to a lightweight desktop like XFCE or MATE. These use far fewer system resources and can breathe life into older machines.

External Device Not Recognized

Plug in a USB or SD card and—nothing? First, I check if the system even sees it with:

lsblk

Or for more detail:

dmesg | tail

If the device shows up but doesn’t mount, the issue could be a missing filesystem driver. For example, if you’re using an exFAT-formatted drive, make sure support is installed:

sudo apt install exfatprogs

Sometimes it’s a power issue, especially with external drives. Try a different port or cable. If the device still isn’t recognized at all, test it on another machine to rule out hardware failure.

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Audio Not Working

Sound issues can be annoying, especially after an update. First, I open:

pavucontrol

This shows output devices, input sources, and volume levels. Ensure the right output is selected—I’ve had HDMI output steal audio from my speakers before. If everything looks fine, and you still don’t hear anything, check alsamixer:

alsamixer

Unmute channels (use M), and raise volumes with the arrow keys. Ubuntu 22.10 and newer use PipeWire, but older versions still rely on PulseAudio. If you’re unsure, try restarting audio services. For PulseAudio:

pulseaudio -k 

For PipeWire:

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse

Still no luck? A reboot sometimes brings it back.

System Freezes or Crashes

If Ubuntu locks up randomly, the cause is often a driver issue or overheating. I check system logs first:

journalctl -p 3 -xb

That shows critical errors from the last boot. If the freezes started after a kernel update, select an older kernel from the GRUB menu when you boot up. You can also test your RAM using Memtest86+ (available from the GRUB menu), and make sure your hardware isn’t overheating using:

sensors

If you’ve got an NVIDIA card and suspect the driver, switching between Nouveau (open-source) and proprietary drivers can sometimes stabilize things.

Most Ubuntu issues have a solution. You just need to know where to start. Whether it’s fixing display problems, speeding things up, or getting sound and external drives working again, a few terminal commands can often save you a lot of frustration. And if you ever hit a wall, the Linux community is one of your best resources. Forums, wikis, and Q&A sites like Ask Ubuntu are full of people who’ve run into the same problems and found creative fixes. Don’t hesitate to lean on that support. It’s a big part of what makes Linux so adaptable.