sound card problem : /dev/dsp doesn't exist

Gzou · 04-06-2006, 02:16 PM

Hello Everyone, I'm Gzou. A beginner in the world of Linux.

After being praised about the benefints of linux by a few people that i've met, I decided to try it out ! So I downloaded Kubuntu 5.10 for PC (i386) and installed it. Result : WOW ! hey, my computer doesn't crash as much ! I've even almost got an equivalent to all the programs that I used the most in Windows. I was really excited to learn more about Kubuntu and Linux, except that a problem came up :

The sound doesn't work !

When I log onto Kubuntu and the Desktop appears I get this message :

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device /dev/dsp can't be opened (No such file or directory)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

Hey, that's strange, the sound worked in Windows though. So I went looking on Google a bit and came up on your site where people had similar problems, and a few results came up on this site. So I looked through the threads a bit, tried a few things that they proposed as solutions, yet no results.

Here's what happens when I use lspci, lsmod, and try to get into alsa :

Code:

gregory@oscar:~$ su
Password:
root@oscar:/home/gregory# lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598 [Apollo MVP3] (rev 04)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598/694x [Apollo MVP3/Pro133x AGP]
0000:00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/A/B PCI-to-ISA [Apollo VP] (rev 47)
0000:00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 02)
0000:00:07.3 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B ACPI (rev 10)
0000:00:09.0 Communication controller: 5610 56K FaxModem USR 56k Internal WinModem
0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL AGP 2X (rev 27)

root@oscar:/home/gregory# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
rfcomm                 34972  0
l2cap                  22404  5 rfcomm
bluetooth              43012  4 rfcomm,l2cap
cpufreq_userspace       4444  0
cpufreq_stats           5124  0
freq_table              4484  1 cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_powersave       1920  0
cpufreq_ondemand        5916  0
cpufreq_conservative     6820  0
video                  16004  0
tc1100_wmi              6916  0
sony_acpi               5516  0
pcc_acpi               11392  0
hotkey                  9508  0
dev_acpi               11396  0
i2c_acpi_ec             5760  0
button                  6672  0
battery                 9604  0
container               4608  0
ac                      4996  0
analog                 10528  0
ns558                   5508  0
gameport               14472  3 analog,ns558
floppy                 52692  0
pcspkr                  3652  0
rtc                    11832  0
i2c_via                 4100  0
i2c_algo_bit            8584  1 i2c_via
i2c_core               19728  2 i2c_acpi_ec,i2c_algo_bit
pci_hotplug            24628  0
via_agp                 9472  1
agpgart                32328  1 via_agp
nls_cp437               5888  1
ntfs                   92016  1
dm_mod                 50364  1
tsdev                   7616  0
evdev                   9088  0
psmouse                26116  0
mousedev               10912  1
parport_pc             31812  1
lp                     11460  0
parport                32072  2 parport_pc,lp
md                     40656  0
ext3                  115976  1
jbd                    48536  1 ext3
thermal                13192  0
processor              23100  1 thermal
fan                     4740  0
8139too                23552  0
8139cp                 18432  0
mii                     5248  2 8139too,8139cp
uhci_hcd               28048  0
usbcore               104188  2 uhci_hcd
ide_cd                 36996  0
cdrom                  33952  1 ide_cd
ide_disk               16128  4
ide_generic             1664  0
via82cxxx              12188  1
ide_core              125268  4 ide_cd,ide_disk,ide_generic,via82cxxx
unix                   24624  280
vesafb                  8088  0
capability              5000  0
commoncap               6784  1 capability
vga16fb                12232  1
vgastate                8320  1 vga16fb
softcursor              2432  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbimgblt               2944  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbfillrect             3840  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbcopyarea             4480  2 vesafb,vga16fb
fbcon                  34176  72
tileblit                2560  1 fbcon
font                    8448  1 fbcon
bitblit                 5248  1 fbcon


root@oscar:/home/gregory# alsamixer

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory
root@oscar:/home/gregory# alsaconf
bash: alsaconf: command not found
root@oscar:/home/gregory# alsactl names
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 0 failed: No such device
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 1 failed: No such device
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 2 failed: No such device
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 3 failed: No such file or directory

As you can see, there aren't any sound cards listed in pci, no evident sound modules, and alsa says that I don't have any sound cards.

Even after removing and reinstalling alsa with apt-get, it still didn't detect any sound card, and alsaconf doesn't work as root.

My sound card is a Creative Sound Blaster 16-bit (WDM)

So, if anyone knows anything useful, or knows what to do to fix the problem, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !

P.S. I wasn't too sure if this post should have been in the Hardware section of the Newbie Secion, but since i'm new to linux, and the forum, I put it here.

bosewicht · 04-06-2006, 02:29 PM

try
sudo -s
modprobe snd-sbawe;modprobe snd-pcm-oss;
modprobe snd-mixer-oss;modprobe snd-seq-oss

Gzou · 04-11-2006, 11:23 AM

Hello Again (sorry for the delay, I was Indisposed)

Here's the result of the modprobes:

Code:

gregory@oscar:~/home/gregory$ sudo -s
Password:
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# modprobe snd-sbawe
FATAL: Error inserting snd_sbawe (/lib/modules/2.6.12-9-386/kernel/sound/isa/sb/snd-sbawe.ko): No such device
FATAL: Error running install command for snd_sbawe
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# modprobe snd-pcm-oss
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# modprobe snd-mixer-oss
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# modprobe snd-seq-oss
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598 [Apollo MVP3] (rev 04)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598/694x [Apollo MVP3/Pro133x AGP]
0000:00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/A/B PCI-to-ISA [Apollo VP] (rev 47)
0000:00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
0000:00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 02)
0000:00:07.3 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B ACPI (rev 10)
0000:00:09.0 Communication controller: 5610 56K FaxModem USR 56k Internal WinModem
0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL AGP 2X (rev 27)
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
snd_seq_dummy           3844  0
snd_seq_oss            29440  0
snd_seq_midi            8608  0
snd_seq_midi_event      6656  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                44688  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_opl3_lib            9856  0
snd_sb16_dsp            9856  0
snd_pcm_oss            46368  0
snd_mixer_oss          16128  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                78344  2 snd_sb16_dsp,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              21764  3 snd_seq,snd_opl3_lib,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc         10120  1 snd_pcm
snd_sb16_csp           18304  0
snd_sb_common          14336  2 snd_sb16_dsp,snd_sb16_csp
snd_hwdep               8608  2 snd_opl3_lib,snd_sb16_csp
snd_mpu401_uart         6784  0
snd_rawmidi            22816  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device          8204  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq,snd_opl3_lib,snd_rawmidi
snd                    48644  14 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_opl3_lib,snd_sb16_dsp,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_sb16_csp,snd_sb_common,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore               9184  1 snd
ipv6                  217408  6
nls_utf8                2176  1
vfat                   12288  1
fat                    46492  1 vfat
sd_mod                 17424  2
usb_storage            64704  1
scsi_mod              124872  2 sd_mod,usb_storage
rfcomm                 34972  0
l2cap                  22404  5 rfcomm
bluetooth              43012  4 rfcomm,l2cap
cpufreq_userspace       4444  0
cpufreq_stats           5124  0
freq_table              4484  1 cpufreq_stats
cpufreq_powersave       1920  0
cpufreq_ondemand        5916  0
cpufreq_conservative     6820  0
video                  16004  0
tc1100_wmi              6916  0
sony_acpi               5516  0
pcc_acpi               11392  0
hotkey                  9508  0
dev_acpi               11396  0
i2c_acpi_ec             5760  0
button                  6672  0
battery                 9604  0
container               4608  0
ac                      4996  0
analog                 10528  0
ns558                   5508  0
gameport               14472  3 analog,ns558
floppy                 52692  0
pcspkr                  3652  0
rtc                    11832  0
i2c_via                 4100  0
i2c_algo_bit            8584  1 i2c_via
i2c_core               19728  2 i2c_acpi_ec,i2c_algo_bit
pci_hotplug            24628  0
via_agp                 9472  1
agpgart                32328  1 via_agp
nls_cp437               5888  2
ntfs                   92016  1
dm_mod                 50364  1
tsdev                   7616  0
evdev                   9088  0
psmouse                26116  0
mousedev               10912  1
parport_pc             31812  1
lp                     11460  0
parport                32072  2 parport_pc,lp
md                     40656  0
ext3                  115976  1
jbd                    48536  1 ext3
thermal                13192  0
processor              23100  1 thermal
fan                     4740  0
8139too                23552  0
8139cp                 18432  0
mii                     5248  2 8139too,8139cp
uhci_hcd               28048  0
usbcore               104188  3 usb_storage,uhci_hcd
ide_cd                 36996  0
cdrom                  33952  1 ide_cd
ide_disk               16128  4
ide_generic             1664  0
via82cxxx              12188  1
ide_core              125268  5 usb_storage,ide_cd,ide_disk,ide_generic,via82cxxx
unix                   24624  380
vesafb                  8088  0
capability              5000  0
commoncap               6784  1 capability
vga16fb                12232  1
vgastate                8320  1 vga16fb
softcursor              2432  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbimgblt               2944  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbfillrect             3840  2 vesafb,vga16fb
cfbcopyarea             4480  2 vesafb,vga16fb
fbcon                  34176  72
tileblit                2560  1 fbcon
font                    8448  1 fbcon
bitblit                 5248  1 fbcon
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# alsamixer

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# alsaconf
bash: alsaconf: command not found
root@oscar:~/home/gregory# alsactl names
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 0 failed: No such device
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 1 failed: No such device
alsactl: for_each_card:51: No soundcards found...
alsactl: generate_names:522: probe 2 failed: No such device
root@oscar:~/home/gregory#

Well, at least the modules for the sound card are there ! Thanks for that ! But lspci still doesn't see my Sound card and Alsa doesn't work aswell. Any Suggestions ?

vmlinuz.gz · 04-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Try running

Code:

$ sudo apt-get install alsa-utils
$ sudo alsaconf
$ sudo alsamixer

and see what that does. Let us know if alsaconf gives you problems.

Gzou · 04-12-2006, 11:10 AM

I tried, alsa-utils was already installed. I tried removing it and reinstalling but nothing changed. when I type alsoconf, bash reports that the command is not found, and alsamixer still says :

Code:

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory

Gzou · 04-13-2006, 11:30 AM

Sorry to budge in, but I would really appreciate it if someone knew what the problem is with my sound card.
I'm guessing that since my sound card isn't listed on lspci that it isn't being detected. Any way to force the detection of it ?

icebyte · 04-29-2006, 05:59 AM

I have the exact same problem now, but with an intel based soundcard. I have tried nearly everything to get it to work and then i mean for example:
- upgrading alsa
- upgrading the kernel (to 2.6.16.11)
- loading serveral modules
- reading docs / forums and almost gone crazy (

)
- been running alsaconf serveral times but it doesnt find my card
- alsamixer doesnt work and i get the same error messagesd as Gzou
- gone to intels website and checked for linux drivers
- gone to asus to check for drivers there

I did get the sound to work in debian with this sound card for some time ago, but now it seems like its just somehow impossible. im been working my ass off to get it to work but just cant. any more solutions ?

It still cant even find my sound card and i get the same error messages as Gzou. it works fine in windows, but windows is not an option. i run debian sarge and since ubuntu is based on debian i guess we kinda have the same problem.

Gzou · 05-01-2006, 11:25 AM

Hi icebyte

After a bit of searching I found out that my sound card is not, PCI-based but an ISA card. That's why it didn't show up in lspci. So what i did was to run

cd /dev
sudo ./MAKEDEV audio

Then loading the sound modules for my card, and typing dmesg after to check that The computer could detect it. After that I was able to play Music CDs Through the KDE CD player (although when I restart the computer It doesn't work anymore)
So Maybe the problem is that your card is ISA based.

Now my problem is that each time I restart the computer the sound doesn<t work anymore and I have to redo the MAKEDEV trick. Anyone know what to do to reslve this problem ?

icebyte · 05-01-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gzou

Hi icebyte

After a bit of searching I found out that my sound card is not, PCI-based but an ISA card. That's why it didn't show up in lspci. So what i did was to run

cd /dev
sudo ./MAKEDEV audio

Then loading the sound modules for my card, and typing dmesg after to check that The computer could detect it. After that I was able to play Music CDs Through the KDE CD player (although when I restart the computer It doesn't work anymore)
So Maybe the problem is that your card is ISA based.

Now my problem is that each time I restart the computer the sound doesn<t work anymore and I have to redo the MAKEDEV trick. Anyone know what to do to reslve this problem ?

Hi

Trying at 2.6.16.8 kernel

Thanks for answering. I have tried you makedev trick and it seemed like it now has the modules up, but when i try running alsamixer i get this message "alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device". I load in the modules and it seems to work to load them but i still get no sound and when i run alsaconf it cant fin the card at all.

Trying at 2.6.8-2-686 kernel

I tried you makedev trick with this kernel too and it seems like it got the modules up. When i run alsaconf i doesnt find the card. I try to open the volume manager i get the same message as above which is: "alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device". I here get to load the module "snd-hda-intel" which is the module i think, but when i try to load modules i get the message:

Code:

WARNING: Error inserting snd_page_alloc (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-page-alloc.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd
WARNING: Error inserting snd_timer (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-timer.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error inserting snd_page_alloc (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-page-alloc.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd
WARNING: Error inserting snd_timer (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-timer.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd_pcm (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-pcm.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd_pcm
WARNING: Error inserting snd_hda_codec (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/pci/hda/snd-hda-codec.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error inserting snd_page_alloc (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-page-alloc.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd
WARNING: Error inserting snd_timer (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-timer.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error inserting snd_page_alloc (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-page-alloc.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd
WARNING: Error inserting snd_timer (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-timer.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd_pcm (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/acore/snd-pcm.ko): Invalid module format
WARNING: Error running install command for snd_pcm
WARNING: Error inserting snd_hda_codec (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/pci/hda/snd-hda-codec.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error inserting snd_hda_intel (/lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686/kernel/sound/pci/hda/snd-hda-intel.ko): Invalid module format
FATAL: Error running install command for snd_hda_intel

Gzou

How about writing a simple script that executes those commands on startup? For example put the script in rc.local, then they will run at startup.