No sound with Linux 17.2

mksthl · 07-12-2015, 12:20 PM

Hello all,

My name is mike, I'm and old goat, I'm new to Linux, and I'm posting this because it was suggested I do so.

I've not yet viewed FAQs, but I will do that immediately after posting this. If I am unable to locate a cause/reason for my difficulty, I'll be back with a proper question.

Just for the record, speakers are on and connected, and volume is up.

Thanks to all,
mike

Weapon S · 07-12-2015, 12:43 PM

There's no thing as Linux 17. (The Linux kernel is at version 4 or something.) You are probably referring to an Ubuntu version number?
The steps might differ depending on which exact software you have installed. A good starting point for configuration problems are the Arch Linux wiki at http://wiki.archlinux.org/ and the Ubuntu Documentation project at https://help.ubuntu.com/ (But like I said the installed software might differ from what they assume you have.)
You likely want to get sound via software named ALSA.
The most likely defect is that the volume is turned down via software. See if you can find a "mixer" to adjust the sound levels. Report back.

mksthl · 07-12-2015, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the feedback. To be more precise, what I downloaded is Linux Rafael Mate, 17.2, 32 bit. I will look for the software named "ALSA" and try that.

This computer was running XP this morning, and the sound worked. Too, sound works in the new computer I replaced this machine with, and that computer runs Windows 8.1.

This was an impulse decision to download Linux in this old machine. I have certainly heard of Linux, and always been curious, and putting it on this machine seemed like a good choice to try Linux, and to make sure everything was erased from the original setup.

From what I've seen thus far, I really like Linux, but I do want sound.

Thanks again,
mike

Ztcoracat · 07-12-2015, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mksthl

Thanks for the feedback. To be more precise, what I downloaded is Linux Rafael Mate, 17.2, 32 bit. I will look for the software named "ALSA" and try that.

This computer was running XP this morning, and the sound worked. Too, sound works in the new computer I replaced this machine with, and that computer runs Windows 8.1.

This was an impulse decision to download Linux in this old machine. I have certainly heard of Linux, and always been curious, and putting it on this machine seemed like a good choice to try Linux, and to make sure everything was erased from the original setup.

From what I've seen thus far, I really like Linux, but I do want sound.

Thanks again,
mike

Welcome to Linux Questions!

I'm not familiar with the distro that you have installed but I have a fix for alsamixer.
That is provided alsamixer is the sound driver for your distro.

Open a command-line terminal and type alsamixer.
Use the arrow keys to go to each column and raise up the volume on each.

If you see a double m like this, mm that means that it's muted.
Type an m one time and that will unmute each column.

After you have raised the volume on each column and umuted each one exit the alsamixer by pressing the ESC key and see if you have sound.

https://we.riseup.net/refeman+radio/alsa-jack-ardour

Hope that helps.

Aia · 07-12-2015, 01:29 PM

Linux is just the kernel of the Operating System. The software that provides management to the hardware resources. In Microsoft Windows it would be an executable named ntoskrnl.exe

It appears you have downloaded and installed a version of a distribution named Mint. A distribution is a collection of software packages and a kernel bundle together in a specific arrangement to provide a user experience. The Mint distribution version you downloaded is code named Rafaela and you got the MATE desktop environment.

In the Mint forums I found a thread related to "no sound". Perhaps it would be of value to you to peruse and see if is applicable to you.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=184577

Weapon S · 07-12-2015, 02:40 PM

For Linux Mint almost everything from the Ubuntu help pages should apply. The Arch Linux wiki does provide some step-by-step troubleshooting for some cases, though.
I have run into an issue with a hidden volume control, that I eventually solved with

Code:

amixer set 'PCM',0 100

If setting the software volume knobs doesn't work, it will be very helpful to determine the exact model of your soundcard.

mksthl · 07-12-2015, 03:10 PM

To: Ztcoracat & Aia,

Thanks to both. I managed to get sound through the left speaker---have no idea what I did to cause that---but not the right. I'm going to shut down, and reconnect the new computer just to ensure that the right speaker still works. I feel sure it does, but I need to check.

Thanks again,
mike

frankbell · 07-12-2015, 10:06 PM

What is the sound card in this machine? Running the command lspci in a terminal should reveal that.

Here's a example from this here computer:

Code:

# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Haswell DRAM Controller (rev 06)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Device 041e (rev 06)
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Haswell HD Audio Controller (rev 06)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Lynx Point USB xHCI Host Controller (rev 05)
(snip the rest)

ondoho · 07-13-2015, 05:24 AM

@mksthl:
there's some hidden settings in alsamixer that allow you to adjust volume channels seperately (i.e. left and right) - maybe you accidentally hit that. has happened to me as few times, and i always find it unintuitive and difficult to find my way out of.

if you can do screenshots, it would help to show us your current mixer settings.

it would also help if you always remember & describe steps you have taken (whether they succeeded or not) in as much detail as possible.

some additional info about your setup is also required (have we established the fact that you're using linux mint?).
please read the first link in my signature.