DebianThis forum is for the discussion of Debian Linux.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.