Sound issue - "Couldn't open mixer device /dev/sound/mixer"

zsejk · 08-11-2003, 07:56 PM

Right... so as to the first of my questions...

I just installed Slackware 9.0 on a Compaq Armada 1500c which is very old (from 1997 I believe), and everything seems to be working fine except a few minor things. One of these minor (if you can call it that) things is the fact that my sound doesn't work. Now when xwindows starts (running "startx" from the prompt) I get an error window stating that: "Couldn't open mixer device /dev/sound/mixer". Now I looked for this device, and it appears there is no such directory as /dev/sound. There is, however, a mixer file in the /dev directory proper.

So my question... how do I get xwindows to look in the right place for this mysterious mixer file at startup? If that is the way to fix this that is. If someone knows of another way to solve this problem I would be very very grateful indeed.

Thank you VERY much!!!

-zsejk

Tinkster · 08-12-2003, 02:50 AM

It's not really a xwindows question :}

Give us the output of
lsmod
and
lspci
please

Cheers,
Tink

zsejk · 08-12-2003, 12:57 PM

I gathered as much reading through the various posts on this subject...

Let me start up my Linux and give you those outputs.

-zsejk

SDSkyle · 08-12-2003, 01:24 PM

Did you compile a kernel with support for your hardware? When installing the free version of Slackware 9.0, it only comes with minimal kernels. It's likely that you'll need to compile a new kernel with support for your hardware.

If you have comiled your own kernel, ignore these directions.

1. Download the latest stable release of the linux kernel (2.4.21) from http://www.kernel.org/
2. Follow the directions for compiling the kernel at this link:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...threadid=49035

P.S. It is wise to know a lot about your hardware before you make xconfig. I'd gather information about your motherboard, chipsets, soundcard, ethernet card, modems, and anything else in the computer so you can add support for it right from the kernel. Oh, and make sure you are careful in configuring it. It's okay to make mistakes, but you'll have to compile again if you forget something because the kernel won't boot. Oh, and don't expect to get it right the first time. I compiled a kernel four times before I got it right.

Good luck.

zsejk · 08-12-2003, 01:38 PM

I did indeed only install the free Slackware...

But anyway... lsmod and lspci, to get things started.

Code:

bash-2.05b# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by    Not tainted
ppp_synctty             6016   0  (unused)
ppp_async               7520   1
ppp_generic            15452   3  [ppp_synctty ppp_async]
slhc                    5040   0  [ppp_generic]
soundcore               3332   0  (autoclean)
uhci                   24560   0  (unused)
usbcore                58144   1  [uhci]
3c589_cs                8708   1
ds                      6568   2  [3c589_cs]
yenta_socket            9632   2
pcmcia_core            38112   0  [3c589_cs ds yenta_socket]
ide-scsi                8048   0


bash-2.05b# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (AGP disabled) (rev 03)
00:07.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
00:07.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:07.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
00:07.3 Bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 02)
00:08.0 VGA compatible controller: Chips and Technologies F69000 HiQVideo (rev 64)
00:11.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1225 (rev 01)
00:11.1 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1225 (rev 01)

Thanks again for all the help!!!

-zsejk

Tinkster · 08-12-2003, 02:17 PM

Rrrrright :)

Machine doesn't seem to have a
PCI soundcard ... now the putput
of pnpdump, please :}

Cheers,
Tink

zsejk · 08-12-2003, 02:45 PM

Yeah, it looked that way to me too... but I do have one... I had fabulous sound on Windows with this machine... honestly!

Anyway... the putput (

) of pnpdump:

bash-2.05b# pnpdump
# $Id: pnpdump_main.c,v 1.27 2001/04/30 21:54:53 fox Exp $
# Release isapnptools-1.26
#
# This is free software, see the sources for details.
# This software has NO WARRANTY, use at your OWN RISK
#
# For details of the output file format, see isapnp.conf(5)
#
# For latest information and FAQ on isapnp and pnpdump see:
# http://www.roestock.demon.co.uk/isapnptools/
#
# Compiler flags: -DREALTIME -DHAVE_PROC -DENABLE_PCI -DHAVE_SCHED_SETSCHEDULER -DHAVE_NANOSLEEP -DWANT_TO_VALIDATE
#
# Trying port address 0273
# Trying port address 027b
# Trying port address 0283
# Trying port address 028b
# Trying port address 0293
# Trying port address 029b
# Trying port address 02a3
# Trying port address 02ab
# Trying port address 02b3
# Trying port address 02bb
# Trying port address 02c3
# Trying port address 02cb
# Trying port address 02d3
# Trying port address 02db
# Trying port address 02e3
# Trying port address 02eb
# Trying port address 02f3
# Trying port address 02fb
# Trying port address 0313
# Trying port address 031b
# Trying port address 0323
# Trying port address 032b
# Trying port address 0333
# Trying port address 033b
# Trying port address 0343
# Trying port address 034b
# Trying port address 0353
# Trying port address 035b
# Trying port address 0363
# Trying port address 036b
# Trying port address 0373
# Trying port address 037b
# Trying port address 0383
# Trying port address 038b
# Trying port address 0393
# Trying port address 039b
# Trying port address 03a3
# Trying port address 03ab
# Trying port address 03b3
# Trying port address 03bb
# Trying port address 03e3
# Trying port address 03eb
# Trying port address 03f3
# No boards found

Now if you want I can also see what the messages are before and after I start xwindows, 'cause there are a few (though none seems to really relate to sound besides maybe the message that dev/dps or summin' does not exist or something like that).

Thanks again!

-zsejk

Zb7 · 08-12-2003, 05:45 PM

What would you know I was just coming here with the same problem: here is the output of my lsmod and lspci

Module Size Used by Not tainted
soundcore 3332 0 (autoclean)
usb-uhci 22220 0 (unused)
ehci-hcd 14632 0 (unused)
usbcore 58144 1 [usb-uhci ehci-hcd]
ide-scsi 8048 0
tg3 42632 1
root@slackhost:~# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3340 (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3341 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #1) (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #2) (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #3) (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB EHCI Controller (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (rev 81)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 24cc (rev 01)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 24ca (rev 01)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio (rev 01)
00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Modem (rev 01)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R250 Lf [Radeon Mobility 9000 M9] (rev 01)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5702 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 02)
02:01.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc.: Unknown device 7113 (rev 20)
02:01.1 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc.: Unknown device 7113 (rev 20)
02:03.0 Network controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 1043 (rev 04)

I don't think this is a supported hardware problem so much as it is a not installed package one maybe? I installed Slack9 yesterday and the sound worked fine, but after I reworked some partitons this afternoon and reinstalled it with the programs that I selected in expert install mode, then when i rebooted to gnome, it crashes with that /dev/sound/mixer error, and KDE gives an error message about /dev/dsp. Help me too please.

zsejk · 08-12-2003, 07:56 PM

See... but this

"00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio (rev 01)"

... is where you have me beat.

-zsejk, who couldn't get the sound to work on SuSe LiveEval 8.2 either...

Zb7 · 08-12-2003, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zsejk
See... but this

"00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio (rev 01)"

... is where you have me beat.

-zsejk, who couldn't get the sound to work on SuSe LiveEval 8.2 either...

Really I think our problem is might be a missing package when we installed or maybe a library. I installed Slackware using full install and it worked fine. But today when I went to trim out some stuff I really didn't need, it gave me this error. This might be the problem. It's probably not too hard just to go reinstall slackware again, I've done it like 4 times already just to get it right. Let me know what happens with yours.

zsejk · 08-13-2003, 02:14 AM

You're probably right... I *should* just get the official CDs with everything on it and stop bitching about things.

But anyway... in absence of lspci working... I opened up my laptop (and no, I don't recommend it, however much fun it was) and discovered my sound card is a...

(drumroll)

ESS Audiodrive ES1869 S

Hurrah!

So if anyone has any idea why it's not even being picked up by lspci... the sharing of that information would go highly appreciated.

-zsejk

zsejk · 08-13-2003, 10:17 PM

Ok... got the newest kernel, got ALSA, compiled everything.... still... nada.

If anyone also has an ESS AudioDrive ES1869 lemme know... I am *dying* to find out how to get this crap to work.

For now...

-zsejk

zsejk · 08-14-2003, 12:46 AM

Ok, now it's starting to piss me off.... the sound works *perfectly* with all Windows (95, 98, XP), but doesn't work *at all* with either Slackware 9.0 or SuSe 8.2 LiveEval. What the HELL??? In Windows the card is even recognized as an ESS AudioDrive, but when I install that... nothing!

-zsejk

zsejk · 08-14-2003, 07:22 PM

Heh... I'm gonna make this into my own little sound-log.

I tried Debian, and no sound there either. I don't really have the energy to go through the ALSA hell again (especially since my DSL connection is not going up in Debian, so no downloading of asla-* files), so I guess I'll wait until the OFFICIAL SLACKWARE 9.0 CD (hurrah!) arrives, and try with that.

-zsejk, who's gonna have a drink now to reward self for days of tedious sound searching

itsjustme · 08-14-2003, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zsejk
Now I looked for this device, and it appears there is no such directory as /dev/sound. There is, however, a mixer file in the /dev directory proper.

How about creating a directory /dev/sound and put a link in there for the mixer in /dev?

mkdir /dev/sound
ln -s /dev/mixer /dev/sound/mixer (that might be backwards

)

regards....