IBM thinkpad 600e type 2645 Fedora 10 no audio
 

I've tried everything I could find in other forums, usually having to do with modprobe, BIOS configuration, ALSA, and boot parameters. I've even tried other distributions (DSL, Ubuntu Xubuntu, Knoppix and others) without coming up with a way to get the audio to function. Interestingly, when I run the live Knoppix 6.0 I hear the shut down message when I shut it down. That suggests that there is nothing wrong with this laptop. Also, I've tried many of the same things on my other ThinkPad 600e 2645 with the same results (I haven't tried Knoppix on it, though).

I know that the audio is being mis-identified by the BIOS, so I'm looking for a cookbook method to try. I would be most satisfied if I could get this working with either Fedora or some flavor of Ubuntu. Everything else works on this machine and it's such a tank that I would hate to just throw it on the recycle wagon. It's been very useful for me because it now allows me to work in a Linux environment at home for the purpose of expanding my knowledge of Linux (been using Solarix Unix for about 20 years).

Thanks.

-Robert

Hi,

welcome to LQ!


Did you stumble upon the Linux on laptops page?
The 2nd entry on the 600E (for debian, but chances
are it will work for you, too) looks quite promising.


Cheers,
Tink

Yes, welcome to LQ.

linux-on-laptops
 

Tried that some time ago. Doesn't seem to be compatible with FC10. Trying ALSA for CS4232 chip. Tried CS46xx and CS4236 without sucess.

-Robert

And what about Ubuntu? You said in your first post "either Fedora or Ubuntu". With Ubuntu being
a Debian derivative one would hope that description takes?


Cheers,
Tink

I have had some problems with FC10 getting sound to work and it always amounted to the mixer settings. Run alsamixer and play with the settings there, unmute some things that are muted by default. In case you aren't familiar with alsamixer the m key mutes/unmutes.

Fedora 10 on Thinkpad 600e no sound
 

Tried that after, spending about 6 hours downloading, configuring, making and installing the latest ASLA alsa-driver-1.0.21, alsa-lib-1.0.21a and alsa-utils-1.0.21 files. There were some problems with missing applications which added a couple hours to this exercise, but in the end everything install without error. I thought, after all that, I might be home free. No such luck. I know that the sound card is fine because Knoppix 6.0 issues an audio message upon shutdown (that was a startling surprise from my mute TP600e).

The alsamixer shows PulseAudio as the card. I don't know where that comes from because the Lenova site indicates that the audio chip in the ThinkPad 600E is a CS4239, and that it is supported by the standard CS4232 audio driver. The bios is known to misidentify the card as the CS4610 so there must be some additional magic I still need to perform. Perhaps there is someone who has succeeded where I have failed and will reply with the special tricks.

Does Knoppix use Pulseaudio? I had to remove Pulseaudio from my FC10 because of it wouldn't work half the time. Since then it works fine.