Periodically, I have experienced loss of sound. Sounds (system/notification and application) suddenly stop, usually after a boot recovering from a problem or suspend-to-disk. The recovery method was to “Reset All” in the Sound section (YAST → Hardware → Sound).
Just recently, following a security update, the system/notification sounds (such as “login”, “logout” etc) no longer function, while application sounds function normally. Amarok, Last/FM and Firefox-based sound applications such as YouTube all function normally. (The occasional loss of sound may still be recovered as above).
Nothing seems to return the system sounds, including "Configure Desktop → Notifications → System Notifications → KDE System Notifications. All notifications that should be set are indeed set.
During debugging, I looked at “Pulseaudio” (not currently installed). When selected for installation, the following conflict was presented:
Pulseaudio conflicts with:
patterns-openSUSE-kde4_pure-11.3.1.1.1.i586
Does this conflict indicate that I have (somehow) picked up an openSUSE 11.3 module/package/?? ? I believe that at least two (2) possibly-related problems are presented. First, the recurring, intermittent loss of all sound (recoverable via YAST), and the newer problem of loss of KDE system sounds. At this point, I have reached a dead stop.
As far as “Pulseaudio”, I just finished a problem with GNOME and the internal speaker(s) (aka PC speakers). I would prefer not to chase that goose in KDE
Did you look in the KDE notification section to see if the sound works there? It may just need a kick start.
The KDE notifications show “use the KDE sound system” (100%), and all the default sound settings. Clicking and/or changing any produce no sound(s) of any kind.
Well I don’t know.I figure you have your KDE configs messed up somehow. Try creating a new user log in as them and see if they also have the problem. Check the mixer and see if you PCM muted or turned down. As a pure work around you can tell KDE to use another application for system sounds (in notifications)
Try creating a new user log in as them and see if they also have the problem.
A newly created user has all sound (KDE, system, notifications and applications (Amarok and YouTube)) working correctly. <sigh>
Check the mixer and see if you PCM muted
Checked, and nothing is muted. I surmise that something in the KDE notification settings (or the KDE sound system) has been side-tracked. I will start over checking everything … I do not wish to spend unnecessary time configuring the new (test) user.
Other than “Configure Desktop –> Notifications –> System Settings”, where might I look for the gremlin(s) ?
BTW: One (new ?) finding: After running “Configure Desktop –> Notifications –> System Settings –> KDE System Notifications” and altering or testing any of the sounds, the sequence cannot be repeated. Subsequent attempts to click “Configure Desktop” present the “Configure” icon bouncing, then disappearing. Only a re-boot will return functionality. This leads me to believe that accessing the KDE notifications is leaving “something” in a pending state.
Subsequent attempts to click “Configure Desktop” present the “Configure” icon bouncing, then disappearing. Only a re-boot will return functionality.
A re-boot is not necessary … a “Logout” and “Login” will suffice. Also, “Configure Desktop” is not the only task affected. Any function launched via the “Kickoff Application Launcher” (lower left corner icon) hangs with its associated icon bouncing, then terminates. Functions such as Firefox and Dolphin (with icons adjacent) function correctly.
I would appreciate it if you would stop your policy of putting settings in bold. Its distracting and difficult too read. It definitely does NOT make it easier.
What KDE version do you have ? 4.3.5 ? 4.4.x ?
Linux applications do not share audio well between devices, and special tuning is often required to get this to work. What have you done there (if anything) to ensure this works?
As a last resort (but before rebooting and BEFORE going to YaST) did you try with root permissions “rcalsasound restart” (and then restart your mixer with regular user permissions)?
I apologize for the bold-facing in my posts. I shall minimize such.
KDE is 4.3.5.
As for sharing audio, the system sounds (login, logout, etc) are missing before any applications are executed. (I verified this by initiating an empty session in lieu of a restored session).
As for the applications, such as Amarok, Last/FM and YouTube, they all seem to play well together. The only sounds so far detected as missing are the KDE system notification sounds. These KDE sounds had coexisted up to several days ago, becoming absent following a security update.
As posted, the newly-created user functions correctly. I can customize that user’s Firefox and other settings. I am concerned that I might do something to repeat this loss of KDE sounds.
(Five paragraphs, well four plus a standalone sentence, without a bolding … I must go type something … ).
OK, I probably can’t help here, as I really really REALLY dislike system sounds and am happy when they are gone.
You could check to ensure that your selection of audio device priority in YaST > Hardware > Sound is the same as your audio device priority in KDE’s Configure Desktop > Multimedia.
Try creating a new user log in as them and see if they also have the problem.
As previously noted, the new user functioned correctly in all areas (system sounds and applications). Setting out to compare what was different, I found that the original (failing) user had “Touchfreeze” installed (I have one of the Synaptics touchpads ) so I removed the autostart specs for same.
Sound is now restored, as well as full KDE system notification facilities. Now, I must delve into the Synaptics touchpad disablement function.
).
) so I removed the autostart specs for same.