[SOLVED] No audio/mic on front computer (Mint 17.2)

Wiz22 · 11-12-2015, 01:40 AM

Hello, I made a post here not long ago about not having sound (fixed now) and I asked on Linux Mint Forums this question I'm posting now and no reply for a week so I try here :3

I made the discovery that the front audio and mic on my PC doesn't work! But the back ones do! The thing is is that I don't have a mic because even on Windows 7 (dual boot) the back mic-jack doesn't work! Only the front one does!

So how do I get these two front audio/mic plugs to work? The links show info but I will post here also:

inxi -Fxz

Code:

System:    Host: wiz-Dell-XPS420 Kernel: 3.16.0-38-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.8.2) 
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.6.13  Distro: Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela
Machine:   System: Dell product: Dell XPS420
           Mobo: Dell model: 0TP406 Bios: Dell version: A02 date: 11/12/2007
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo CPU E6850 (-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 11970 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 2992.498 MHz 2: 2992.498 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G92 [GeForce 8800 GT] bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.15.1 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau) Resolution: 1440x900@59.9hz 
           GLX Renderer: GeForce 8800 GT/PCIe/SSE2 GLX Version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 340.93 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Creative Labs SB X-Fi driver: snd_ctxfi port: cce0 bus-ID: 04:04.0 Sound: ALSA ver: k3.16.0-38-generic
Network:   Card: Intel 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e ver: 2.3.2-k port: eca0 bus-ID: 00:19.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (25.6% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HD501LJ size: 500.1GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 70G used: 40G (60%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 4.22GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 43.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:75C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 162 Uptime: 1:04 Memory: 1015.4/3981.6MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.11) inxi: 1.9.17

lspci

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82X38/X48 Express DRAM Controller
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82X38/X48 Express Host-Primary PCI Express Bridge
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82X38/X48 Express Host-Secondary PCI Express Bridge
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network Connection (rev 02)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 92)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801IR (ICH9R) LPC Interface Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA Controller [IDE mode] (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G92 [GeForce 8800 GT] (rev a2)
04:04.0 Audio device: Creative Labs SB X-Fi
04:0a.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB22A IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link) [iOHCI-Lynx]

lsmod | grep snd

Code:

snd_ctxfi              87047  3 
snd_pcm                87194  2 snd_ctxfi
snd_seq_midi           13324  0 
snd_seq_midi_event     14475  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            25722  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                56592  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_device         14137  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer              28648  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd                    66670  11 snd_ctxfi,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore              14599  1 snd

cat /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

Code:

# autoloader aliases
install sound-slot-0 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-0
install sound-slot-1 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-1
install sound-slot-2 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-2
install sound-slot-3 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-3
install sound-slot-4 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-4
install sound-slot-5 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-5
install sound-slot-6 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-6
install sound-slot-7 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-7

# Cause optional modules to be loaded above generic modules
install snd /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-ioctl32 ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }
#
# Workaround at bug #499695 (reverted in Ubuntu see LP #319505)
install snd-pcm /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-pcm $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-pcm-oss ; : ; }
install snd-mixer /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-mixer $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-mixer-oss ; : ; }
install snd-seq /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-seq $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-oss ; : ; }
#
install snd-rawmidi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-rawmidi $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; : ; }
# Cause optional modules to be loaded above sound card driver modules
install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-emu10k1-synth ; }
install snd-via82xx /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-via82xx $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }

# Load saa7134-alsa instead of saa7134 (which gets dragged in by it anyway)
install saa7134 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install saa7134 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist saa7134-alsa ; : ; }
# Prevent abnormal drivers from grabbing index 0
options bt87x index=-2
options cx88_alsa index=-2
options saa7134-alsa index=-2
options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
# Ubuntu #62691, enable MPU for snd-cmipci
options snd-cmipci mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
# Keep snd-pcsp from being loaded as first soundcard
options snd-pcsp index=-2
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd_ctxfi model=auto

What I've dont so far: Uninstall pulseaudio (bad idea), added audio to user groups, and added "options snd_ctxfi model=auto" too /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf, I have used gentoo before so I managed avoiding a disaster with the pulseaudio uninstall thx to good old ctrl+alt+F1 (it uninstall cinnamon and other important things). But as this is not an emergency I rather use caution now and lower my google-fu because I don't want to mess up anything important!

OFF-TOPIC:
This computer is a 32-bit and it's getting old, I'm thinking of giving it away to my parents and so far pretty much everything is working! (including most windows apps/games with wine), I am thinking of going 100% mint on this machine because microsoft is just getting more evil!

Well, I have yet to experiment with their mobile-phones and printers but it should be no problem. Only the audio/mic issue on front pc remains now (specially mic), hopefully it can be solved, thank you in advance!

ardvark71 · 11-12-2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz22

OFF-TOPIC:
This computer is a 32-bit and it's getting old, I'm thinking of giving it away to my parents and so far pretty much everything is working! (including most windows apps/games with wine), I am thinking of going 100 mint on this machine because microsoft is just getting more evil!

Hi...

Just as a thought, if you give this system to your parents, give them the option of what OS they would like. They may need Windows for certain things that you don't use.

From what you described here and your thread on the Linux Mint forum, if I'm understanding correctly, you are experiencing the opposite affects on what jack works depending on the OS you're booted into. Is that correct?

At this point, I don't have an answer as to why this is happening but is this an onboard chip or an actual sound card that you can remove from the motherboard? What is the brand and model (and model number) of the PC?

Regards...

ondoho · 11-13-2015, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz22

I made the discovery that the front audio and mic on my PC doesn't work! But the back ones do!

good news: sound works!
it seems theÿ́re wired differently; you have to open the machine and take a look at that. usually the plugs on the mobo are labeled to give you an inkling about their function; what does it say for the front?

Wiz22 · 11-13-2015, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark71

Hi...

Just as a thought, if you give this system to your parents, give them the option of what OS they would like. They may need Windows for certain things that you don't use.

From what you described here and your thread on the Linux Mint forum, if I'm understanding correctly, you are experiencing the opposite affects on what jack works depending on the OS you're booted into. Is that correct?

At this point, I don't have an answer as to why this is happening but is this am onboard chip or an actual sound card that you can remove from the motherboard? What is the brand and model (and model number) of the PC?

Regards...

Hello! Thank you for reply! I just finished opening and dusting off inside my computer. My computer is a Dell XPS 420 and the soundcard is a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi (as inxi -Fxz shows). I don't know any more than that...the inside is very compact as I will show with pics below.

There is a wire with a model number connected to the soundcard, is that it?

Again, everything works under Windows 7 apart from the mic on the back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

good news: sound works!
it seems theÿ́re wired differently; you have to open the machine and take a look at that. usually the plugs on the mobo are labeled to give you an inkling about their function; what does it say for the front?

Well, only the mic on the backside doesn't work but everything else works under Windows 7, I checked and I am clueless what I'm doing (apart from cleaning it from dust). Anyway I took pictures, how does it look?

Postimg url

The first pic shows the soundcard.

Second pic is overview of the whole thingy.

Third pic shows the plugged in wires black/orange/blue(?)/green, they connect to that big bass behind there and that connects to another output and that sound is the working one under Mint (but no mic in both Linux/Windows). If I plugin any headphone directly to the green port it will work but any mic I plugin to the orange one doesn't work. (I tried experimenting with the mic like crazy with using the blue port (which I have no idea what it is) and various other things, if it doesn't work on Windows than I have no idea.)

The fourth pic shows how the front jacks are connected but I cant get a better picture, too little space. (terrible pic)

The last shows the mic/sound plugins on front (don't work under Mint).

Hope this was useful info :<

ardvark71 · 11-13-2015, 11:56 AM

Hi....

Thank you for including the snapshots of your system, I can see they are very sad, very "blue."

Some thoughts here: Do you know if your particular system has an onboard (integrated) sound chip? According to this page, your model does. If yours does and it's switched off in the BIOS (because of the SB add-on card,) that might explain or have something to do with why you are unable to use the front ports in Linux. Please have a look in the BIOS to see if you have an onboard chip but don't turn it on (at least yet.) Tell us what you see. However, this may or not be relevant to resolving the issue.

Also, where do the wires from the port assembly in front of the system (where you plug your microphone into) lead to? Do they plug directly into the sound card or the motherboard? I couldn't quite discern this from your second photo.

Regards...

Wiz22 · 11-13-2015, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark71

Hi....

Thank you for including the snapshots of your system, I can see they are very sad, very "blue."

Some thoughts here: Do you know if your particular system has an onboard (integrated) sound chip? According to this page, your model does. If yours does and it's switched off in the BIOS (because of the SB add-on card,) that might explain or have something to do with why you are unable to use the front ports in Linux. Please have a look in the BIOS to see if you have an onboard chip but don't turn it on (at least yet.) Tell us what you see. However, this may or not be relevant to resolving the issue.

Also, where do the wires from the port assembly in front of the system (where you plug your microphone into) lead to? Do they plug directly into the sound card or the motherboard? I couldn't quite discern this from your second photo.

Regards...

Hello! Thank you for helping! Yes there was a bios option like that!! I turned it on!

Postimg link

Now I received more options in "sound options" menu, now I have "Inbuilt sound" Analog output and "Inbuilt sound" Digital output.

I experimented with several options with the new inbuilt option in pavucontrol too but no luck. Still no sound/mic on the front. Damn, I got hyped when I saw that option but I suppose its not that easy :<

EDIT: Tried on auto but nothing changed

ardvark71 · 11-13-2015, 04:34 PM

Hi...

You weren't supposed to turn it on. Unless you removed the SB card, it's not going to work right with two audio devices working at the same time. Please go back and turn it off for now.

Also, please answer my second question: "...where do the wires from the port assembly in front of the system (where you plug your microphone into) lead to? Do they plug directly into the sound card or the motherboard? I couldn't quite discern this from your second photo."

Regards...

Wiz22 · 11-14-2015, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark71

Hi...

You weren't supposed to turn it on. Unless you removed the SB card, it's not going to work right with two audio devices working at the same time. Please go back and turn it off for now.

Also, please answer my second question: "...where do the wires from the port assembly in front of the system (where you plug your microphone into) lead to? Do they plug directly into the sound card or the motherboard? I couldn't quite discern this from your second photo."

Regards...

Hello! Again thank you for helping! (Had to sleep)

So I am not sure at all but this black wire that connects to the soundcard (marked with red) Postimg connects to some kind of card-looking thing that connects everything else (mic/audio), I don't think that the soundcard is connected to moderboard because there is space between there, the card is attached to that blue tetris looking thingy.

Also I turned off that integrated audio thingy.

Any hope? :<

OFF-TOPIC: Rip those who died in Paris today. These are dark times

ondoho · 11-14-2015, 04:29 AM

if your mobo is anything like mine, then you cannot use both built-in soundchip and sound card at the same time.

you have to make a choice.

- if you choose the inbuilt, you might just as well remove the sound card completely (it might be easiest to just reinstall mint after that. i take it this is a fresh install?).

- if you choose the card, you might be able to rewire the front connectors to the sound card.

if, however, it is possible to use both cards, again, a reinstall (after enabling onboard sound) is in order, and with a little luck it will work. if not, you have some work ahead of you.

Wiz22 · 11-14-2015, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

if your mobo is anything like mine, then you cannot use both built-in soundchip and sound card at the same time.

you have to make a choice.

- if you choose the inbuilt, you might just as well remove the sound card completely (it might be easiest to just reinstall mint after that. i take it this is a fresh install?).

- if you choose the card, you might be able to rewire the front connectors to the sound card.

if, however, it is possible to use both cards, again, a reinstall (after enabling onboard sound) is in order, and with a little luck it will work. if not, you have some work ahead of you.

Hi! Thanks for your help! I can try reinstalling then with integrated audio set on ON and see if that works , strange I didn't think of it, but I will do it when I feel like I have enough time to go through all those things again (I have so many things installed right now).

I don't want to remove the card as I usually also need the speakers when guests arrive and such occasions...

Anyway, thank you all for helping! I feel this is the only option I have as I am aware not all hardware is supported by Linux, I will mark the thread as SOLVED and will update if it worked or not (for those of interest).

ardvark71 · 11-14-2015, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz22

So I am not sure at all but this black wire that connects to the soundcard (marked with red) Postimg connects to some kind of card-looking thing that connects everything else (mic/audio), I don't think that the soundcard is connected to moderboard because there is space between there, the card is attached to that blue tetris looking thingy.

Hi....

That's what I kind of thought. In this case no, the onboard audio device is not going to be of help here, since, as you mentioned, the front ports for your microphone and audio are connected to your SB card. You should leave the onboard device off, unless you want to try ondoho's suggestion. At this point, there is either an issue with the card itself (hardware) and/or a problem with how both operating systems are seeing/using the card. I'm not sure how to diagnose this other than to suggest perhaps trying a different sound card.

If, at some point, you would like to try that, I found this page which might be of help in that process.

Regards...

ondoho · 11-14-2015, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiz22

I feel this is the only option I have as I am aware not all hardware is supported by Linux

actually we haven't established yet whether this is a linux compatibility problem, since onboard audio was disabled in bios, wasn't it?
enable it, reinstall, then we'll see where we get from there.

(btw, this machine is pretty old, have you chosen a lightweight linuxmint alternative to install?)

Wiz22 · 01-20-2016, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

actually we haven't established yet whether this is a linux compatibility problem, since onboard audio was disabled in bios, wasn't it?
enable it, reinstall, then we'll see where we get from there.

(btw, this machine is pretty old, have you chosen a lightweight linuxmint alternative to install?)

Aye, I installed Mint 17.3 now with integrated audio ON, doesn't work. So no mic for me :<

But I installed Mint 17.3 on my laptop (dual-boot) and everything works just fine! So maybe in the future I will just change that sound-card on my desktop to a cheap alsa-supported one. My parents use their mobile-phone for skype/viber anyway so I think it will work out.

Anyway thanks for your help! I do love Linux Mint because I haven't touched windows since! All the games I want works on it and I had my frustrations, but in the end it's worth it. Also my desktop might be old but I can run Skyrim/Starcraft 2 on highest settings, runs D3 demo (wish I bought that and not SC2) on a bit lower settings and so on.

It's a shame not all games work on Linux yet, hopefully Vulkan (API) will change that, so as long as that's the case, I can't go full Linux but will mutli-boot. Anyway thanks! :d

oldtechaa · 01-20-2016, 07:26 AM

Don't you have onboard audio on the back panel of the motherboard? You should be able to take out the sound card and just use the onboard.

Wiz22 · 01-20-2016, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtechaa

Don't you have onboard audio on the back panel of the motherboard? You should be able to take out the sound card and just use the onboard.

Don't think I have that no. If I remove the soundcard I have nowhere else to plugin audio/mic cables (apart from front).