sound on dell Inspiron 1545

[linuxjohan]

i recently changed from fedora 9 to OpenSuse 11.1 on
a dell Inspiron 1545, sound card
828011 (ICH9 Family) HD Audio controller according to yast.
configured as sound card nr 0, driver= snd-hda-intel.
I played around with settings, but have no sound.
I have no clue where to look, i'm lost.
thanks for any advise this
johan

[oldcpu]

Now the general advice I give for sound problems is to start trying to work your way through the openSUSE audio troubleshooting guide: SDB:AudioTroubleshooting - openSUSE .

Do NOT use the startup system sound as your criteria for stating sound does not work. Also be certain to check your mixer. Its not uncommon for a mixer setting (master, pcm or speaker) to be muted upon boot. In KDE your mixer is "kmix" (the small speaker in right hand corner). In Gnome your mixer is "alsamixer".

Note, when testing if you have sound, please copy and paste the following speaker-test into a Gnome terminal or a kde konsole:

speaker-test -Dplug:front -c2 -l5 -twav

Note Linux is case sensitive, and “D” is not the same as “d”. To stop the above test, while the konsole/xterm has the mouse focus, press <CTRL><C> on the keyboard. Note you should check your mixer settings (kmix if using KDE, and alsamixer if using Gnome) to ensure that PCM and Master Volume are set around 95%. Once you have basic sound established you can back off to lower volume levels. Note the test for surround sound is different.

If that test yields errors (and its not uncommon to get errors there), try instead this more simple test:

speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

You should hear a female voice saying 'FRONT LEFT', 'FRONT RIGHT' five times. Its quite common that one of those speaker tests will work and one will NOT work, so don't be distressed if that is the case. IF that test gives sound, stop now, post that the sound test gives sound, and we will look at other possible causes for your applications not giving you the sound you want (such as missing codecs, using the wrong packaged version ... etc ... ).

Or alternatively, for testing the simple playback, use aplay program. Prepare a WAV file and simply run like:

aplay -vv somefile.wav

With the option -vv, aplay shows the verbose information of the PCM device, and a VU-peak meter during playing the file.

Try those speaker-tests as both a regular user, and also with root permissions. If you have a headset, try with your headset plugged in, and also with your headset not plugged in (for speakers).

Assuming no sound, can you provide more very detailed information so a good recommendation can be given? For openSUSE-11.1, you can do that, with your laptop connected to the internet, by opening a gnome-terminal or a kde konsole and twice copy and paste the following into that terminal/konsole

/usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh

Run it the 1st time with root permissions. It will ask if you wish to do an update of the script. Select YES.

Then run it again (as either a regular user or as root). This time it will diagnose your PC's hardware and software configuration for audio, and it will post its output on the Internet/web. It will give you the URL of the web site. Please post that URL here. JUST the URL.

If you are not using openSUSE-11.1, please advise.

Also, please copy and paste the following commands one line at a time into a gnome-terminal or a konsole and post here the output:

rpm -qa | grep alsa
rpm -qa | grep pulse
rpm -q libasound2
uname -a
cat /etc/modprobe.d/sound

... with that information I may be able to make a recommendation.

Also, do NOT waste too much time on this. Simply post on our forum if you get stumped, and continue to look for help that way.

[linuxjohan]

hey,
thanks for helping me out.
i AM running OpenSuse 11.1

kmix is at 100 %

i ran all the tests, output 1st one is same for user as root.

On the 2nd one i hear nothing, not from speaker of headset.

here's the output:

linux-g1qz:~ # speaker-test -Dplug:front -c2 -l5 -twav

speaker-test 1.0.18

Playback device is plug:front
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
Buffer size range from 64 to 262144
Period size range from 32 to 131072
Using max buffer size 262144
Periods = 4
Unable to set hw params for playback: Invalid argument
Setting of hwparams failed: Invalid argument

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

speaker-test 1.0.18

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
Buffer size range from 2048 to 16384
Period size range from 1024 to 1024
Using max buffer size 16384
Periods = 4
was set period_size = 1024
was set buffer_size = 16384
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 2.673493
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.050160
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 2.986735
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.007959
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.008100

linux-g1qz:~ # speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

speaker-test 1.0.18

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
Buffer size range from 2048 to 16384
Period size range from 1024 to 1024
Using max buffer size 16384
Periods = 4
was set period_size = 1024
was set buffer_size = 16384
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 2.685850
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.008087
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.007941
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.008248
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 3.029036ne

Your ALSA information is located at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=70...0eb0f2a835d8d8

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> rpm -qa | grep alsa
alsa-1.0.18-8.12.1
alsa-firmware-1.0.17-1.42
alsa-oss-1.0.17-1.37
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.18-6.12
alsa-utils-1.0.18-6.4
alsa-plugins-1.0.18-6.12
alsa-tools-1.0.18-1.13
alsa-devel-1.0.18-8.12.1

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> rpm -qa | grep pulse
pulseaudio-lang-0.9.14-2.2.1
libpulse-browse0-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-module-lirc-0.9.14-2.2.1
libpulse0-0.9.14-2.2.1
libxine1-pulse-1.1.15-23.3.3
pulseaudio-module-jack-0.9.14-2.2.1
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.18-6.12
pulseaudio-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-module-x11-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-utils-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-module-zeroconf-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-module-bluetooth-0.9.14-2.2.1
libpulse-mainloop-glib0-0.9.14-2.2.1
pulseaudio-esound-compat-0.9.14-2.2.1

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> rpm -q libasound2
libasound2-1.0.18-8.12.1

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> uname -a
Linux linux-g1qz 2.6.27.37-0.1-pae #1 SMP 2009-10-15 14:56:58 +0200 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

jvermeulen@linux-g1qz:~> cat /etc/modprobe.d/sound

options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
# u1Nb.NSQVSWdGjjE:82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel

hope this is suficient
j

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by linuxjohan

i ran all the tests, output 1st one is same for user as root.

On the 2nd one i hear nothing, not from speaker of headset.

I do not understand your english.
Does this mean you heard sound with the 3rd "aplay" ?

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by linuxjohan

Your ALSA information is located at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=70...0eb0f2a835d8d8

Thankyou. For this I note a 32-bit openSUSE-11.1 with the 2.6.27.37 kernel and 1.0.17/1.0.18 of alsa (which was built for an earlier kernel).

I suspect your alsa needs to be updated, and I can explain how to do that. But I also note your mixer is setup to completely BLOCK all sound. I assume that is an oversight on your part. Specifically

!!Amixer output
!!-------------
!!-------Mixer controls for card 0 [Intel]
Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf6afc000 irq 21'
Mixer name : 'IDT 92HD71B7X'
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
Mono: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
Front Left: Playback 25 [39%] [-29.25dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 25 [39%] [-29.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-51.00dB]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-51.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-48.00dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-48.00dB] [on]

Your PC has speaker volume control at 0% GUARANTEEING no sound. Your PC also has PCM volume at 0% GUARANTEEING no sound. Your PC also has headphone volume at 39%, which is so low it is HIGHLY unlikely you can hear any sound even IF it was present.

As an NNTP user, you may not be able to read how I marked up your mixer settings. If so, then you need to go here to view them:
sound on dell Inspiron 1545 - openSUSE Forums

Now its likey turning up those levels will not help, as I suspect your PC needs to have alsa updated (and as noted, I can help there) but first, before we update you alsa, please test with good mixer settings.

[hejimar]

Same computer, same problem, same actions, and same results

finally after the indications from oldcpu, about the output

"Your PC has speaker volume control at 0% GUARANTEEING no sound. Your PC also has PCM volume at 0% GUARANTEEING no sound. Your PC also has headphone volume at 39%, which is so low it is HIGHLY unlikely you can hear any sound even IF it was present."

I realize that whem you display the kmixer it has a "mezclador" button (spanish)

in preferences, select "configurar canales" (or the equivalent in english) the select the IECXXX (I select all) and there it is the IECXXX'silence is select, all you need to do is unselected and is ready.


Thanks for show us the direction oldcpu

[linuxjohan]

hejimar, oldcpu,
i also found the "mezclador" button - like that word, hejimar.
i have a lot to learn, oldcpu.

but where exactly did you find the mentioned settings -....hejimar?
i now have sound when running the left-right test.

maybe for good mesurement, you can tell me how the update the alsa,
oldcpu?

thank you very much
johan

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by linuxjohan

maybe for good mesurement, you can tell me how the update the alsa, oldcpu?

The guide for updating is here: Alsa-update - openSUSE

Note in your case you would need to install alsa-driver-kmp-pae (but NOT the unstable nor default drivers) and also update alsa, alsa-firmware, alsa-oss, alsa-plugins-pulse, alsa-utils, alsa-plugins, alsa-tools, and alsa-devel.

[anters]

I had the same problem on a new inspiron. The fix was just to reset the mute on Kmix (icon on bottom right of task panel). Thanks for the help.