ALSA suddenly stopped working.

Optimistic · 05-22-2008, 08:25 AM

At some point I no longer had sound. I'm not sure if it was after an update or what. I've since updated to the most recent packages in Testing, and gone up to kernel 2.6.24 (old was 2.6.18) and I still don't have sound.

Using a .asoundrc file, alsaplayer gives:

Code:

opti@linuxbox:~$ alsaplayer 
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:996:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
snd_pcm_open: No such file or directory (default)
Failed to initialize plugin!
Failed to register plugin: /usr/lib/alsaplayer/output/libalsa_out.so
Failed to load output plugin "alsa". Trying defaults.
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:996:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
snd_pcm_open: No such file or directory (default)
Failed to initialize plugin!
/usr/lib/alsaplayer/output/libalsa_out.so failed to load
NOTE: THIS IS THE NULL PLUGIN.      YOU WILL NOT HEAR SOUND!!

Without using a .asoundrc file I get no sound and no output.

In alsamixer my card shows up as:

Card:Intel 82801DB-ICH4
Chip: Analog Devices AD1981A

The levels are configurable and everything, ostensibly seems to be working.

lsmod | grep snd output:

Code:

opti@linuxbox:~$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_intel8x0           32028  0 
snd_ac97_codec         92932  1 snd_intel8x0
ac97_bus                2176  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss            38272  0 
snd_mixer_oss          15296  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                71780  3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              21092  1 snd_pcm
snd                    48612  6 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore               7552  1 snd
snd_page_alloc         10056  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm

Any ideas?

Stéphane Ascoët · 05-22-2008, 10:00 AM

I'm faced with a similar problem...

Pearlseattle · 05-22-2008, 11:13 AM

And what happens when you run alsaconf?

Optimistic · 05-22-2008, 11:22 AM

When I run alsaconf it detects the card and everything goes through like normal, but there still isn't sound---even after a restart.

alan_ri · 05-22-2008, 11:35 AM

Is sound working with the old kernel,if you still have one?

Optimistic · 05-22-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan_ri

Is sound working with the old kernel,if you still have one?

Nope. It didn't work with 2.6.18 and it doesn't work with 2.6.24.

Pearlseattle · 05-22-2008, 01:03 PM

Damn.
What about "/etc/conf.d/alsasound"? Everything set to "yes" in there?
And what if you just do a "cat" of any big file you have somewhere and send it to the dsp? E.g. "cat mybigexcelfile.xls > /dev/dsp" - do you hear a big mess coming out of the speakers?

alan_ri · 05-22-2008, 02:19 PM

See if this will work

Code:

# alsaplayer -d default

Optimistic · 05-22-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearlseattle

Damn.
What about "/etc/conf.d/alsasound"? Everything set to "yes" in there?
And what if you just do a "cat" of any big file you have somewhere and send it to the dsp? E.g. "cat mybigexcelfile.xls > /dev/dsp" - do you hear a big mess coming out of the speakers?

I don't have a /etc/conf.d/alsasound. Maybe Debian keeps that somewhere else?

cat bigfile > /dev/dsp makes a racket in the motherboard speaker---that little one that beeps.

alsaplayer -d default

Doesn't work either.

Pearlseattle · 05-22-2008, 04:20 PM

And do you have a file called "/etc/modules.d/alsa"? Mine contains the following:

Code:

alias /dev/mixer snd-mixer-oss
alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss
alias /dev/midi snd-seq-oss

# Set this to the correct number of cards.
# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.14 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel
alias sound-slot-0 snd-hda-intel

Optimistic · 05-23-2008, 02:16 AM

/etc/modules.d/alsa

Doesn't exist on my system. I don't know where the Debian equivalents are kept.

makuyl · 05-23-2008, 07:57 AM

Try /etc/modprobe.d/sound

Optimistic · 05-23-2008, 08:32 AM

/etc/modprobe.d/sound is there.

Code:

opti@linuxbox:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/sound 
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
options snd-intel8x0 index=0

makuyl · 05-23-2008, 09:20 AM

Try changing snd-intel8x0 to snd-intel8x0m
Then blacklist snd-intel8x0 in /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base-blacklist

Edit: Me wonders if teh modem driver gives sound though. Perhaps instead remove the comment from snd-intel8x0m in alsa-base-blacklist.

alan_ri · 05-23-2008, 11:04 AM

You should have etc/alsa directory and in etc/modprobe.d there should be alsa-base and some related files,so check them out and look for any errors.Also have a look in var/log for errors related to sound.If you didn't try to reinstall alsa,then you should try it.You should also visit AlsaProject for more info.