No sound running OS 11.1 x64

English Hardware
#1

There is no sound running OS 11.1 x64, with some quick message once I login, which goes away, about using some sound card alternative.

When I try Yast, Hardware, Sound it lists two card models:

SBx00 Azalea (Intel HDA)
HD48x0 Audio

What I have is a K9A2 Platinum mobo:

“Chip integrated by Realtek ALC888/ALC888T
Flexible 8 channel audio with jack sensing
Compliant with Azalia 1.0 spec”

In the Sound module I try adding a card model but there is no entry there for Realtek.

How can I get OS 11.1 x64 to recognize my built-in sound and get sound to work ?

#2

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

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 -twavYou 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.

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.

#3

Once I ran:

speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

I received sounds and after that everything started working. I have no idea why sound did not work before that. I did go into the Sound Mixer and turn my Front and PCM settings to the top. Maybe that fixed it.

#4

Congratulations. Glad to read sound is working now.

Typically Master and PCM (and sometimes speaker) control the volume. They should be set reasonably high (but not too high to cause distortion).

Now that you have sound, you could consider setting up your multimedia applications and codecs. … Some suggestions: openSUSE Forums - View Single Post - setting up multimedia

#5

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
add
options snd-hda-intel model=laptop

reboot ;

#6

NOW enjoy your opensuse 11.1.

#7

freenemo2009, thanks for the recommendations, but I think care is needed here. User eidiener noted their PC has an ALC888. If one examines the ALC888 model options for alsa one obtains this from the lastest HD-Audio-Models.txt file, not one of which is “laptop”.

ALC882/883/885/888/889
======================
  3stack-dig	3-jack with SPDIF I/O
  6stack-dig	6-jack digital with SPDIF I/O
  arima		Arima W820Di1
  targa		Targa T8, MSI-1049 T8
  asus-a7j	ASUS A7J
  asus-a7m	ASUS A7M
  macpro	MacPro support
  mb5		Macbook 5,1
  mbp3		Macbook Pro rev3
  imac24	iMac 24'' with jack detection
  w2jc		ASUS W2JC
  3stack-2ch-dig	3-jack with SPDIF I/O (ALC883)
  alc883-6stack-dig	6-jack digital with SPDIF I/O (ALC883)
  3stack-6ch    3-jack 6-channel
  3stack-6ch-dig 3-jack 6-channel with SPDIF I/O
  6stack-dig-demo  6-jack digital for Intel demo board
  acer		Acer laptops (Travelmate 3012WTMi, Aspire 5600, etc)
  acer-aspire	Acer Aspire 9810
  acer-aspire-4930g Acer Aspire 4930G
  acer-aspire-6530g Acer Aspire 6530G
  acer-aspire-7730g Acer Aspire 7730G
  acer-aspire-8930g Acer Aspire 8930G
  medion	Medion Laptops
  medion-md2	Medion MD2
  targa-dig	Targa/MSI
  targa-2ch-dig	Targa/MSI with 2-channel
  targa-8ch-dig Targa/MSI with 8-channel (MSI GX620)
  laptop-eapd   3-jack with SPDIF I/O and EAPD (Clevo M540JE, M550JE)
  lenovo-101e	Lenovo 101E
  lenovo-nb0763	Lenovo NB0763
  lenovo-ms7195-dig Lenovo MS7195
  lenovo-sky	Lenovo Sky
  haier-w66	Haier W66
  3stack-hp	HP machines with 3stack (Lucknow, Samba boards)
  6stack-dell	Dell machines with 6stack (Inspiron 530)
  mitac		Mitac 8252D
  clevo-m720	Clevo M720 laptop series
  fujitsu-pi2515 Fujitsu AMILO Pi2515
  fujitsu-xa3530 Fujitsu AMILO XA3530
  3stack-6ch-intel Intel DG33* boards
  intel-alc889a	Intel IbexPeak with ALC889A
  intel-x58	Intel DX58 with ALC889
  asus-p5q	ASUS P5Q-EM boards
  mb31		MacBook 3,1
  sony-vaio-tt  Sony VAIO TT
  auto		auto-config reading BIOS (default)

Hence while the intention to help is appreciated, I believe it to be inaccurate advice, and in this case could even break their audio (until they remove the change you recommended).

Typically model options, such as “laptop” are specific to certain hardware audio codecs. My understanding is laptop is applicable in some (and only some, not all) cases to these hardware audio codecs: AD1884A, AD1883 , AD1984A , AD1984B, AD1986A, AD1988, AD1988B, AD1989A, AD1989B, Conexant 5047, Conexant 5051, and Conexant 5066

That is not the case in this thread and blindly recommending the codec laptop is in truth, while appreciated for the effort, not going to fix anything in this case.

#8

I’m having the same problem with different hardware… no sound at all. I’ve gone through the thread instructions and nothing worked. I ran the alsaconf, the url is http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=bbcf5102f6438b7351fb8b6b644089eb2aabb6f5 if somebody could check it out and let me know what you think I’d appreciate it.

#9

You did not provide the output of the rpm command, nor some other commands that I asked be provided, if the audio troubleshooting guide does not work. I also noted you did not update your alsa version, which is covered by the audio troublehshooting guide … if you had followed that, your sound might be working.

… but no matter, … lets fix things now. I note a Dell Studio 1737 laptop. I have a Dell Studio 1537 that has same audio hardware (but a smaller screen). I note you have the 2.6.27.7-9-default kernel. I checked your mixer and it appears ok.

What did you do for a sound test? Did you 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 -twavYou 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).

Given you did not follow the rest of the instructions, I suspect you ignored that sound test also. You must try all 3 as often only 1 of the 3 will work.

Anyway, assuming no sound, then update your alsa user space to 1.0.21 of alsa. You can do that by opening a terminal/konsole, type “su” (no quotes) and copy and paste the following in sequence, one at a time, executing each in that terminal:

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/libs/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

zypper install alsa alsa-docs libasound2

zypper rr multimedia

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

zypper rr multimedia

and then restart your PC and test your sound.

NOTE the test I provided for testing.

IF that does not work, then update to the daily snapshots. You can do that by opening a konsole/terminal, type ‘su’ to get root permissions, and then copy and paste the following six zypper commands in sequence, executing them one at a time, into that konsole/terminal.

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/snapshot/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

zypper install alsa alsa-utils alsa-tools alsa-firmware alsa-oss alsa-plugins alsa-plugins-pulse libasound2

zypper rr multimedia

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

zypper rr multimedia

Note when running the 5th command you may be told it is already installed. proceed anyway, and be certain to send 6th command. then restart your PC and test your sound. Again, use a proper sound test.

Note your kernel is the original 2.6.27.7-9-default kernel. As soon as you update your kernel to the 2.6.27.29 kernel, your sound WILL break, and you will need to update again, but with DIFFERENT commands. There is guidance here:

and another comment, and please pardon my cynicsm, but if all you do is review it and don’t follow the instructions, then I can assure you, just like with the troubleshooting guide, that you sound still won’t work. :sarcastic:

#10

Appreciate the help. It works now after updating alsa.

Also, no worries about the cynacism :smiley: I apparently missed some steps (speed reading ftl) and didn’t provide a complete problem analysis.

Again, I appreciate the help

#11

Great !!

Glad to read its working.

As noted, I have a similar laptop (Dell Studio 1537 (w/4GB RAM) and 250GB hard drive) but with a smaller screen. I went with ATI Radeon HD3450 graphics and an Intel Pro Wifi 5300AGN wireless.

I’ve tested everything but the bluetooth.

I am running a 32-bit openSUSE-11.1 with KDE-3.5.10 on the laptop. I will likely change to a 64-bit openSUSE-11.1 in a couple weeks, after I return from my vacation (I leave early tomorrow morning).

I could not get HDMI fully working with 1.0.17/1.0.18 of alsa (video worked, sound did not). I did manage to get the digital internal mics to work (it was tricky). Webcam works real nice, as does the SD card slot (albeit I only tried with SDHC cards), firewire port, USB ports, and wired ethernet.

Most the special buttons function, although I have not paid much attention to that.

VGA out to drive a project works, with some quirks.

My wife and I are taking the Dell laptop with us on this vacation, so maybe we will learn some quirks we do not know yet.