[SOLVED] No Beep, system bell

Radiotubes · 08-23-2016, 10:45 AM

OS: Slackware 14.2
machine: Lenovo ThInkPad 64bit CORE i5

I've been using Slackware for years. I'm very familiar with its features and configuration. I recently installed it on the machine above. I have it configured the way I like it accept the system bell / beep. Using a live distro (old version of Gparted) with a 2.6.* kernel, the system bell works fine. The following are the outputs of various messages showing all seems in order:

dmesg shows

Code:

bash-4.3# dmesg | grep pcs
[    7.416052] input: PC Speaker as /devices/platform/pcspkr/input/input6

lsmod shows

Code:

bash-4.3# lsmod | grep pcspkr
pcspkr                  2350  0

alsamixer does not have an option for "PC Speaker" or system bell (whatever they call it), so I don't believe that alsa is muting the beeper.

I checked inputrc:

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /etc/inputrc | grep bell
# Configure the system bell.  Options are none, visible, and audible.
# set bell-style none

no problems there.

I have exhausted all options at this point. Anyone else lost or doesn't have their beeper? ;P Any suggestions?

onebuck · 08-23-2016, 11:02 AM

Hi,

On my system there is a option for System speaker and I have mine set to max output <100>.

Try running 'alsamixer' from the cli to check the settings.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

Radiotubes · 08-23-2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onebuck

Hi,

On my system there is a option for System speaker and I have mine set to max output <100>.

Try running 'alsamixer' from the cli to check the settings.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

As stated in my initial post, alsamixer (cli) does not have an option for System speaker. Thnx

jmccue · 08-23-2016, 04:47 PM

Hi Radiotubes

You can issue this command to enable the speaker:

Code:

# /sbin/modprobe pcspkr

Seems some changes between 14.1/14.2

I would add this to file /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.local to activate it on reboot.

John

USUARIONUEVO · 08-23-2016, 05:03 PM

Quote:

/lib/modprobe.d/pcspkr.conf

have

##############################################################################
# Do not edit this file; instead, copy it to /etc/modprobe.d/ and edit that
##############################################################################

# PC Speaker support:
# This one is loaded by /etc/rc.d/rc.modules. If you don't like
# the beeps and buzz from speaker, edit /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.
blacklist pcspkr

im not sure if need de kernel module inside the initrd ..i think "yes"

Radiotubes · 08-23-2016, 05:48 PM

When I initially setup the machine I copied pcspkr.conf from /lib/modprobe.d to /etc/modprobe.d and commented out the part about blacklisting pcspkr. Otherwise the module would not load. Slackware has blacklisted pcspkr since about 13.* or so. Since I am one who has always enjoyed the beep and use tab completion often, I am familiar with this procedure.

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /etc/modprobe.d/pcspkr.conf 
##############################################################################
# Do not edit this file; instead, copy it to /etc/modprobe.d/ and edit that
##############################################################################

# PC Speaker support:
# This one is loaded by /etc/rc.d/rc.modules. If you don't like
# the beeps and buzz from speaker, edit /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.
# blacklist pcspkr

Once this file was in place and edited, the kernel automatically loads the pcspkr module. I did wonder if it would make a difference if the module were loaded sooner, or manually so YES I did edit rc.modules.local to this:

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.local 
#!/bin/sh

# /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.local

# The Linux kernel source is the best place to look for documentation
# for the many available kernel modules.  This can be found under
# /usr/src/linux-$VERSION/Documentation/.

# Almost all necessary modules are automatically loaded when needed,
# but there are a few exceptions.  Here's a (not all-inclusive) list,
# so uncomment any of the below entries or add others as needed:
# Note that you could also create/edit rc.modules-$version if you
# only wanted specific modules loaded for particular kernels.

#/sbin/modprobe tun            # Universal TUN/TAP device driver
#/sbin/modprobe sg             # Generic SCSI support for SATA DVD-RW
/sbin/modprobe pcspkr          # Activate the annoying "beep" from the computer :p

Loading it manually rather than having the kernel do it made no difference. All these things I tried prior to posting my question here.

USUARIONUEVO · 08-23-2016, 05:51 PM

2 ways

add module inside initrd
recompile kernel with pcspker Y --> then vmlinux can do

STDOUBT · 08-23-2016, 06:22 PM

Did you not try:

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /etc/inputrc | grep bell
# Configure the system bell.  Options are none, visible, and audible.
set bell-style audible

Also, surprised nobody yet mentioned: Slackware 14.2 defaults to pulseaudio.
ALSA is not used by default.

Radiotubes · 08-24-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STDOUBT

Did you not try:

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /etc/inputrc | grep bell
# Configure the system bell.  Options are none, visible, and audible.
set bell-style audible

Also, surprised nobody yet mentioned: Slackware 14.2 defaults to pulseaudio.
ALSA is not used by default.

Yes I did edit inputrc prior to posting my question, however if you look at my initial post, I quoted inputrc to show the default setting which will give an audible bell despite the "bell style" line being commented out. Additionally I did notice that pulseaudio was the default in a asound.conf. I'm not sure if it makes any difference, but I'll edit asound.conf and see what happens.

ndr · 08-24-2016, 03:38 PM

Please report back if you succeed, because I haven't been able to get the damn speaker to beep since after Slackware 12.2, and no amount of hacking fixed it.

Now I don't remember the details, but years ago I even tried modifying the source of the pcspkr module and recompiling it to get the stupid thing to work, all in vain: ALSA simply doesn't give me the "PC speaker" output any more. Maybe we're seeing ALSA developers' idea of progress.

Radiotubes · 08-25-2016, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USUARIONUEVO

2 ways

add module inside initrd
recompile kernel with pcspker Y --> then vmlinux can do

No love... I recompiled the kernel with pcspkr=y and still don't have my beeper

. I don't think the initrd will make a difference.

I edited asound.conf and removed pulse as the default as well. Still no workie.

I know this thing has a beeper as I mentioned it worked on an earlier distro with a 2.6.* kernel.

STDOUBT · 08-25-2016, 12:48 PM

Radiotubes,
This page gave me some clues.
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questi...c-speaker-beep

Apparently, running

Code:

echo -e "\a"

while the pcspkr module is loaded results in the old school speaker beep.
I am not sure if the above command line will work as a scripted element, but
it works from the command line.
Let us know what solution if any you settle on!

Actually just realized: subsequently reloading the pcspkr module results in activation of the system bell without having to re-issue the above echo command! Not sure why....if you figure that much out let us know please :-)

Another EDIT: I doubt it's relevant, but I'm using ALSA. BUT, I am quite sure it shouldn't matter since it seems pcspkr runs independently of the "sound system", i.e., I cannot change the system bell volume with either my on-board volume buttons (laptop) nor the alsamixer.

ndr · 08-25-2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STDOUBT

Apparently, running

Code:

echo -e &quot;\a&quot;

while the pcspkr module is loaded results in the old school speaker beep.

That's clearly not going to work, or there wouldn't be a problem.

STDOUBT · 08-25-2016, 01:25 PM

Quote:

That's clearly not going to work, or there wouldn't be a problem.

Well, that's pretty weird. Presumeably Radiotubes is using the same kernel as I am:

Code:

grep -i SPKR /boot/config-generic-smp-4.4.19-smp 
CONFIG_HAVE_PCSPKR_PLATFORM=y
CONFIG_PCSPKR_PLATFORM=y
CONFIG_INPUT_PCSPKR=m

Not sure what to make of it, but it's working here :-\

Radiotubes · 08-25-2016, 01:50 PM

Thanks guys for the suggestions,

Code:

bash-4.3# echo -e \\a

is my goto command to test the pcspkr. I also use a terminal quite often and the beeper beeps on tab completion (another simple test). When I'm in terminal (no X) I run the pine email program. It beeps when I receive a new email. It is like an old friend to me and useful in applications I use. Here are a few more experiments I have tried:

I disabled alsa altogether at boot time so it wouldn't load the daemon.
I changed setterm blength and bfreq (1000 and 250 respectively)
I removed the motherboard from the laptop to make certain there is in fact a beeper speaker.
I decided to consult a therapist, because I have spent WAY too much time on this problem

Its confounding....

My Kernel is the stock Slackware 14.2 huge kernel which is: 4.4.16
My test kernel has one change in the build where pcspkr is not a module, but built-in.

Code:

bash-4.3# cat /usr/src/linux/.config|grep -i pcsp
CONFIG_HAVE_PCSPKR_PLATFORM=y
CONFIG_PCSPKR_PLATFORM=y
CONFIG_INPUT_PCSPKR=y
# CONFIG_SND_PCSP is not set