Alsa Sound Problems

hosler · 01-27-2006, 08:46 AM

I compiled the 2.6.15.1 kernel a while back, im pretty sure I had alsa built in and selected my sound card as a module. Now when I type aslamixer in console I get this error:

Code:

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device

OSS works, so i can still listen to music, but I would like to get Esound working, and that requires alsa. Here is my lsmod:

Code:

i915                   15104  1 
drm                    55956  2 i915
snd_pcm_oss            41632  0 
snd_mixer_oss          14336  1 snd_pcm_oss
pcspkr                  1668  0 
intel_agp              17948  1 
i2c_i801                7052  0 
i2c_core               15248  1 i2c_i801
snd_intel8x0           25756  0 
snd_ac97_codec         79008  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_ac97_bus            1920  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm                69128  3 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer              18564  1 snd_pcm
snd                    40420  6 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
snd_page_alloc          7688  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
eepro100               23952  0 
orinoco_cs             14472  1 
agpgart                25800  3 drm,intel_agp
psmouse                29956  0

I have looked at the other threads about this topic, but nothing seemed to help.

wrj · 01-27-2006, 09:19 AM

have you tried running alsaconf?

hosler · 01-27-2006, 10:09 AM

Yeah, I ran alsaconf and selected my sound card. Alsaconf did its thing, but I still get the same error.

rickh · 01-27-2006, 10:16 AM

I have the same problem with Kernel 2.6.15 on Debian Sid. lsmod looks fine, alsaconf appears to run successfully, but no 'normal' sound. Some programs will play music, but the quality is poor. I assume they're using something other than the ALSA drivers.

What configuration program can I run from a terminal to get the basic sound card set-up that runs when you first install Linux?

rickh · 01-27-2006, 12:01 PM

OK. ... Ignore my post. My problem was that I had (perhaps inadvertantly) created an /etc/modprobe.conf file. The only thing in it was an alias for my wireless lan card (another problem). I deleted that file, and presto! sound is working again.

wrj · 01-27-2006, 03:48 PM

after running alsaconf did you try:
alsactl store
to store the current driver state.

hosler · 01-27-2006, 05:39 PM

Yeah, but that didnt work.

dive · 01-27-2006, 07:00 PM

You must reinstall alsa after a kernel compilation. Best thing is read up on alsa site about installation and kernel options

hosler · 01-27-2006, 10:12 PM

So I need to download alsa-lib and asla-utils and install those?

dive · 01-28-2006, 12:53 AM

alsa-driver is the main one but I would reinstall all

MS3FGX · 01-28-2006, 03:11 AM

If you compiled your own sound card drivers as modules, then you don't want alsa-driver, the package should be removed. Though, technically they won't do anything but waste space, as you aren't running the kernel version that either alsa-driver package corresponds to.

You would first want to make sure you compiled the right modules, and if you have, then check around online to make sure they don't need to be loaded with any special parameters.

The drivers for my old laptop had to be loaded with special IRQ and DMA arguments, or else the only thing that played audio were audio CDs, and not any digital media.

hosler · 01-30-2006, 09:27 AM

I actually have ALSA compiled as a module in my 2.6.15.1 kernel. From what I understand, I should remove alsa and recompile it. How do I do this? Which alsa packages should I use?

dive · 01-30-2006, 10:42 AM

If I remember the readme correct, you only need compile kernel with sound support. Do not compile alsa or oss at all as modules or builtin.

Then install the alsa libs, driver, utils, tools if you want them.

Might need a reboot to work.

At least thats the way I did it

hosler · 01-30-2006, 11:58 AM

Ok thanks. that worked