Sound not working (VIA VT1705)

Hello,

I’m having problems with my sound on opensuse 11.4 (64 bit). From most applications I can simply get no sound at all. I followed the following guides:

Sometimes when I do

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

or when I click ‘Play Test Sound’ in yast, I do hear the test sound, but most of the time I don’t. The volume icon on my system tray also disappears randomly, but this doesn’t seem to effect whether my sound is working or not.

I have also deleted and re-added my sound card in yast>sound, to no effect.

Some information that may be relevant:


# uname -a
Linux morla 2.6.37.6-0.7-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2011-07-21 02:17:24 +0200 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

# cat /proc/asound/version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.23.

# cat /proc/asound/modules
 0 snd_hda_intel

# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [NVidia         ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xfbff8000 irq 22

# head -n 1 /proc/asound/card0/codec*
Codec: VIA VT1708S

# cat /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
# CvwD.v1n2PVq0Ow4:MCP61 High Definition Audio
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel

# rpm -qa '*alsa*'
alsa-oss-1.0.17-32.1.x86_64
alsa-oss-32bit-1.0.17-32.1.x86_64
alsa-firmware-1.0.24.1-3.1.noarch
alsa-plugins-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
alsa-plugins-32bit-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
alsa-driver-kmp-desktop-1.0.24.20110430_k2.6.37.1_1.2-1.1.x86_64
alsa-utils-1.0.24.2-3.1.x86_64
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
alsa-plugins-pulse-32bit-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
alsa-1.0.24.1-4.9.1.x86_64

# rpm -qa '*pulse*'
libpulse-browse0-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
vlc-aout-pulse-1.1.11-3.22.x86_64
pulseaudio-module-zeroconf-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-module-gconf-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-module-bluetooth-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
libxine1-pulse-1.1.19-45.37.x86_64
pulseaudio-utils-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-module-lirc-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
libpulse0-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-lang-0.9.22-6.11.1.noarch
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
alsa-plugins-pulse-32bit-1.0.24-6.1.x86_64
libpulse-mainloop-glib0-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
libpulse0-32bit-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-esound-compat-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64
pulseaudio-module-x11-0.9.22-6.11.1.x86_64

# rpm -q libasound2
libasound2-1.0.24.1-4.9.1.x86_64


You can also find my output of

/usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh

at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=e2bec86218329e0180dc573a7acd2951c5989944.

Any help is very appreciated!

I’m heading off on vacation in less than 12 hours and will have little to no internet. I’m now in the advanced mad panic stage of packing. So unfortunately while I would like to, I will not be able to provide any support.

I recommend you install the application pulse audio volume control (pavucontrol). Run pavucontrol at the same 1st time you run any application (after pavucontrol was installed). Pay CLOSE attention to the configuration tab, the output devices tab (ensure you select SHOW all output devices) and the playback tab (ensure you select ALL streams).

If your sound is working and then stops and then starts later, it is typically because something is happening that one does not understand. Yes, … I know that is obvious, but what is happening may in fact be straight forward, and one only needs a bit of knowledge to solve it.

Reference your VIA VT1708S, I note some users have struggled with this in openSUSE-11.4 and what worked for some was to update alsa (all the versions, including libasound2, that you listed in your post) and also install alsa-driver-kmp-desktop version applicable to one’s PC. There is guidance here for that: SDB:Alsa-update - openSUSE But I confess I am reluctant to recommend that because (1) many users simply do NOT know how to use zypper nor yast software management correctly, and they completely and totally mess up their audio install because they either can’t follow the instructions (and they say they did follow but when details are pulled out of them they indeed deviated where because of a lack of clarity or because they were convinced they knew better), or the instructions are too poor to be followed, and (2) once one updates the alsa-driver-kmp-desktop one must continue to do so with each kernel update. So do such an update at one’s own risk.

I wish I could help more, but I am a volunteer and I have no time. Sorry.