this is an attempt to help everyone that posts messages about sound...

run /sbin/lsmod, post the output
run /sbin/lspci, post the output
run alsamixer, does it work? Press ESC to quit
Is External mixer unmuted?
Is Master unmuted? At a reasonable level, other than 0%?
Is PCM unmuted? At a reasonable level, other than 0%?
What is your laptop model, if applicable?
what is your sound card model?
Does "cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp" work? Press CTRL+C to quit.
Is your sound knob on the side of the computer/speakers turned up reasonably?

Include this in your posts, please... I think I'll bookmark this post and repost this on all messages concerning sound that don't have the information asked above.

Thanks for the info! I saw this before and lost track of it until now. Any chance this could be made sticky so us No0bz can find it easily?

It'd be really useful to have things like this posted in an easy-to-find place, like a troubleshooting topic. Have this one for sound, one for video, one for partitioning, etc. Kinda like an FAQ, but specify what tests/diags to include in posts for each subsystem/topic/whatever.

Moderators, any thoughts? (Gee, you think I should suggest this in the Suggestions thread?)

-Alan

Actually, there is such a thing. When a member gathers enough information, he can make an article about it ^-^

An article or a Tutorial. Just because there is an excellent thread about posting generally () doesn't mean that there can't be another which "drills down" into particular issues. Some of the above, for example, reads true for other hardware posts.

hehe... true... Someone should make an article, about how to troubleshoot hardwae in general... is there already one? Or should one of us (amoung members) write one?

Well, you have started it already. Take a look at my tutorial and at the other "Linuxquestions.org Tutorials" and see what's needed. The tutorials are written by the members and don't just have to be technical.

Feel free to add to the existing list.

Ah, you think it's worth it to expend on that little post and make it an article?

Why not? My tutorial really just takes a few basics and pads them out with examples and explanations.

A tutorial can be as long or as short as is needed. As long as it is clear, well laid out and explains things clearly.

In that case... I'll get my favorite editor out and start typing something good