Sound won't work in Sarge
 

I'm at wit's end. I installed Debian Sarge on an older machine several days ago, and I still can't get sound to work. I downloaded ALSA, but it threw unresolved symbol errors when configured. I downloaded OSS, but couldn't install it either, it had to recompile the kernel and failed because something was missing, but I couldn't figure out from the messages what else I needed. I've had RedHat before, now running Mandriva on a newer box with no problem at all, but I can't seem to get sound running on Debian. The ALSA packages and kernel are both Sarge release versions, I've not updated them at all. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm about ready to give up on Debian altogether until I've gained more experience, but I don't want to unless I have to.

Thanks,
akempo

hi,

Did you run 'alsaconf', so that alsa can detect your soundcard ?

If not you have to do it, because alsa won't do it itself. ;)

Also, if you do that (assuming you haven't yet), you need to run

'alsactl store', other wise you'll have to do the alsa detecting each time you

reboot. Oh, all these as root, of course.

Hope that could help. Sorry if you have already done that.

cheers

EDIT :have you got an unusual sound card ? Perhaps that could be the problem.

If ALSA works on RedHat & Mandriva, it will work also on Debian. Did you boot the Sarge installer with "linux26"? If not, then you need to upgrade to the 2.6 kernel that has in-built ALSA support.

Check with "uname -r" which kernel version you have. Then check the available kernel images with "apt-cache search kernel-image" and pick a 2.6 version that seems to match your current kernel, install it and reboot. Then install alsa-base, alsa-oss and alsa-utils. Then run (as root) alsaconf. Then run alsamixer and unmute Master, PCM, CD (and maybe PC Speak) by pressing "m". Exit alsamixer by pressing "Esc". Then run "alsactl store".

I did what you told me, it appears to have worked... too bad the box is just too underpowered for dvd playback. Not enough memory. I'll keep the Debian install, I really like the Synaptic package manager much better than Redhat's rpm, even more than Drakconf, although it is similar in that it's a gui to the package manager. Thank you for your help.

akempo

Audigy Works
 

Audigy Sound Card works in Debian Testing!

Performing a "sudo alsaconf" and selecting the card, then "sudo alsactl" works, but when I rebooted, I also had to go into the BIOS under my 'integrated peripherals" and disable AC 97 for the settings to remain after a reboot. The OS was dropping the creative audigy for the card on the mainboard. So far, that has solved my sound problem.

Also, turning up the volume via a "sudo alsamixer" command and muting IEC958 didn't hurt either. (another thread)

Just remember to perform a "sudo alsactl" and save your work!