sound stopped working

Hello,

I just installed Debian sid (from a new sarge installation). The problem is, no sound is no longer working and I dont know what to do. I remember it worked the first time I started kde; however, after that it no longer worked. I installed a lot of stuff and had rebooted a couple times before I noticed it had stopped. I am not sure how to proceed from here. How can I find what the problem is? Does anyone have any ideas what could have happened?

I'm sure KDE must have a section dedicated to sound. Look in there, make sure you have installed aumix, for volume, and you're a member of the audio group. Make sure your card's sound module is added with modconf, install and configure with
sndconfig. That sure cover most of the bases.

You can try with alsaconf too. I had the same problem before but now is ok (check the volume on the mixer too).

Originally posted by lord_shadow You can try with alsaconf too. I had the same problem before but now is ok (check the volume on the mixer too).

OK, I tried that. I ran alsaconf and selected my sound card as it told me to. However, alsaconf tries to run 'alsactl restore' as it should. But alsactl restore says:

alsactl: loadstate:1134: No soundcards found ...

Thus, the sound still doesn't work. Any ideas?

Ok, I didn't undertand very well. The alsaconf process comes to end or it gives you the error before? What kind of soundcard do you have?
If the problem is in alsaconf, then just try modconf and select your soundcard in the sound section. Type in a terminal lsmod and see if it talks about your soudcard in different lines. If the problem isn't in alsaconf you can try with alsamixer, alsactl store and then alsactl restore.

Sorry, my wording was confusing. Here is what happens step by step:

1. I run alsaconf
2. Alsaconf builds a card database
3. Alsaconf says the following cards are found my my system:

via82xx
legacy

4. I select via82xx
5. Alsaconf asks if I want to modify /etc/modutils/alsa-base, I say yes
6. Alsaconf says driver snd-via82xx is configured. It says: "Now I'll run 'alsa start', then I'll use amixer to raise the default volumes......."
7. I say OK
8. It says:

Running update-modules...
depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.4.26-01-NeTraverse-i686-UP-4GB/3rdparty/dazuko.o
Loading driver...
Starting ALSA.../etc/init.d/alsa: Error: alsactl restore failed with message 'alsactl: load_state:1134: No soundcards found...'.
done.
Setting default volumes...
Saving the mixer setup used for this in /var/lib/alsa/asound.state.
/usr/sbin/alsactl: save_state:1061: No soundcards found...

===============================================================================

 Now ALSA is ready to use.
 For adjustment of volumes, use your favorite mixer.

 Have a lot of fun!

9. Alsaconf exits

That is what happens in the order that it happens. I also noticed something else when I rebooted. Some of the boot messages included:

[snipped a bunch]
Via 686a/8233/8235 audio driver 1.9.1-ac3
via82cxxx: Six channel audio available
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 00:11.5 to 64
ac97_codec: AC97 Audio codec, id: ICE17 (ICE1232)
via82cxxx: board #1 at 0xE400, IRQ 12

[snipped some more]

VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy

[snipped more]

VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
via_audio: ignoring drain playback error -11
via_audio: ignoring drain playback error -11
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
via_audio: ignoring drain playback error -11
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy
VIA 82xx soundcard not found or device busy

[and this keeps repeating itself]

I am not sure what this means but appearently the card is detected at first but it is busy or something? Also note that alsaconf says there is a problem with a NetTraverse module. NetTraverse is Win4Lin, which I have installed. As I said in the OP, my sound was working when I first installed sid, but it stopped after I had installed a bunch of stuff. Do you think win4lin may have something to do with it?

Well anyways, I managed to destroy my linux partition again. I sure am learning alot though! This time I've installed Sarge, and the sound is working fine.

I have this EXACT same problem. I know because I googled it and found this

The ONLY difference I have (besides win4lin and the soundcard that he has) is that I am using sarge, not sid. My alsa doesn't work. My oss works, but totem gives me errors and other such junk when it tries to use alsa. My alsa worked when I had fedora core 2. Does anyone know what I could do? (I have run alsaconf and done everything here except have my sound working)

Originally posted by bdogg I have this EXACT same problem. I know because I googled it and found this The ONLY difference I have (besides win4lin and the soundcard that he has) is that I am using sarge, not sid. My alsa doesn't work. My oss works, but totem gives me errors and other such junk when it tries to use alsa. My alsa worked when I had fedora core 2. Does anyone know what I could do? (I have run alsaconf and done everything here except have my sound working)

I get the same problem too with sarge.

Alsaconf the first time recognized the card, then it fails like posted. Then alsaconf doesn't recognize the card anymore ( i don't know but it stores something somewhere ).

I'll post for anyone who is searching for this problem as well.

I formated two days ago, reinstalled everything, tried to run alsa, same error message appeared. I gave up.

But then I decided to log into gdm as root, and run alsaconf there. I did it, it saved my card, and then recognized it when finishing alsaconf, now alsa works. I then logged out and logged in as my normal user and 'su root' and ran alsaconf again and it worked again. I don't know, it seems to me some type of permissions bug, but then again I am not very experienced.

Long story short I now have alsa working.

If this helps anyone please reply, I would be interested if the whole logging in as root to gdm did the trick, or if some of my other tinkering did something to fix it. Let me know.

NOTE: When I did my install afresh aptitude told me that alsa-base conflicts with discover1, I don't know why, they are now both installed on my system, but I tend to listen to aptitude when it speaks to me, except in this case when I stuck it to the man.

I tried the gdm trick, but it doesnt work.

It must be something else.

What else did you do?

Originally posted by bdogg I'll post for anyone who is searching for this problem as well. I formated two days ago, reinstalled everything, tried to run alsa, same error message appeared. I gave up. But then I decided to log into gdm as root, and run alsaconf there. I did it, it saved my card, and then recognized it when finishing alsaconf, now alsa works. I then logged out and logged in as my normal user and 'su root' and ran alsaconf again and it worked again. I don't know, it seems to me some type of permissions bug, but then again I am not very experienced. Long story short I now have alsa working. If this helps anyone please reply, I would be interested if the whole logging in as root to gdm did the trick, or if some of my other tinkering did something to fix it. Let me know. NOTE: When I did my install afresh aptitude told me that alsa-base conflicts with discover1, I don't know why, they are now both installed on my system, but I tend to listen to aptitude when it speaks to me, except in this case when I stuck it to the man.

Thank you for the idea, but it hasn't solved the problem.

I have recompiled the kernel from source (2.6.8 ) and now it works.

Well, I know that it is stupid, but works...

I uninstall alsa and now my system only works with oss and I have sound.

I know that every one wants to config alsa, but if doesnt, try using only oss. Rhythmbox and xine are fine,

I hope it can help.

mtb > what options did you enabled/dissabled for your new kernel?

Originally posted by ApuX Well, I know that it is stupid, but works... I uninstall alsa and now my system only works with oss and I have sound. I know that every one wants to config alsa, but if doesnt, try using only oss. Rhythmbox and xine are fine, I hope it can help. mtb > what options did you enabled/dissabled for your new kernel?

I don't remember exactly but if you are interested in them send me a mail and i'll send you the config i used to build the kernel.