No sound or sound very low after upgrading to 9.10 Karmic Koala (SOLVED).

[Lefteris]

Note: In Kmix nothing is muted and cursor is at 100% but still the sound is very very low!

I already went through other posts related to my problem but none that could be of help.

Useful, extra information:

user-laptop:~$ aplay -l
aplay: device_list:223: no soundcards found...

user-laptop:~$ lspci
...
00:1a.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
...

user-laptop:~$ lsmod (im including only the snd output)
Module Size Used by
snd_hda_intel 384176 5
snd_pcm_oss 46848 1
snd_mixer_oss 22784 5 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 10884 0
snd_seq_oss 38528 0
snd_page_alloc 16136 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_timer 29960 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 15116 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi ,snd_seq
snd_seq_midi_event 15232 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 29824 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi 14336 0

Please let me know if someone else had the same problem and how it was solved.

[dibl]

user-laptop:~$ aplay -l
aplay: device_list:223: no soundcards found...



I think that translates to "no ALSA driver working here ...." :P


lspci -vv will list a more verbose description of your audio hardware. Use that information to search through the options database here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1043568&highlight=intel+sound+options+database

The classic guidance for sound troubleshooting is here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449

But I think you only need to find a working option for the snd-hda-intel driver.

[Axela]

I've the same problems but the kde notifications and amarok works but not alsa and mplayer...

[doctordruidphd]

I've the same problems but the kde notifications and amarok works but not alsa and mplayer...
Start some music playing with amarok.
open the pavucontrol application. Under the Output Devices tab, see which device (there may only be one) is playing, by the activity in the volume bar.
Now open the Playback tab. There should be an entry there for amarok, with indication on the volume slider that it is playing. Close amarok and open one of the players that doesn't work, and start paying something with it. There should be a new entry in the Playback tab for it. Make sure it is set to send audio to the same device that Amarok is set for.

[Lefteris]

Thank you all for your posts and links. They were very useful but i had no luck.
I went to http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449 as posted by dibl and tried to follow this walkthrough but with no success.

I tried running the module assistant at the ALSA DRIVER COMPILATION step but i get the following errors:

The kernel headers for the target kernel version could not be found and you did not specify other valid kernel headers to use.

If the running kernel has been shipped with the debian distribution please install the package linux-headers-2.6.27-11-generic. If your kernel source tree or headers are located at some non-usual location, set the KERNELDIRS environment variable to the path of this directory or specify the source directory we build for with the --kernel -dir option in module assistant calls.

Package alsa-source was not built successfully see /var/cache/modass/alsa-source*biuldlog*

Im running on kubuntu karmic and i have regreted that i have upgraded from jaunty to be honest...full of bugs! Even my wireless has problems... If i could , i would make a fresh install but i cannot waste my time going into that process now because i have work to do.

[Lefteris]

doctordruidphd if i try to run pavucontrol i get an error message saying: connection failed, connection refused.

[Lefteris]

I think that the driver is not installed here...

When i try to run the alsamixer i get:

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory

I have downloaded alsa-driver-1.0.21.tar.bz2 but when i run the command: ./configure i get:

checking for directory with kernel source... ./configure: line 5050: cd: /usr/src/linux: No such file or directory
/usr/src/linux
checking for directory with kernel build...
checking for kernel linux/version.h... no
The file /include/linux/version.h does not exist.
Please install the package with full kernel sources for your distribution
or use --with-kernel=dir option to specify another directory with kernel
sources (default is /usr/src/linux).

My kernel is at:
lefteris-laptop:/usr/src$ ls
linux-headers-2.6.31-14 linux-headers-2.6.31-14-generic tetex-src-3.0-stripped.tar.gz

but cannot find any version.h file.

Any ideas?

BTW when i run uname -a i get:
lefteris@lefteris-laptop:/usr/src$ uname -a
Linux lefteris-laptop 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Wed Apr 1 20:57:48 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

Why i have headers for the 2.6.31-14 and my kernel is 2.6.27-11-generic?

[dibl]

Just to make sure you have the build tools and headers installed, try these:


sudo apt-get update


sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`


sudo apt-get install build-essential

Then try your compile again.

[Lefteris]

dibl thanks for your time replying and helping here. As u have noticed im not a linux expert and im trying to figure out whats going on. So with ur help i might ending up doing that sooner.


Can there be a case that there is the wrong kernel header for my Alsa driver? because of this new karmic distribution?

lefteris@lefteris-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-'uname -r'
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package linux-headers-uname -r

lefteris@lefteris-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
build-essential is already the newest version.
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
mobile-broadband-provider-info libgnome-bluetooth7 dnsmasq-base modemmanager
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 11 not upgraded.


lefteris@lefteris-laptop:~/alsa-driver-1.0.21$ ./configure
checking for gcc... gcc
checking for C compiler default output file name... a.out
checking whether the C compiler works... yes
checking whether we are cross compiling... no
checking for suffix of executables...
checking for suffix of object files... o
checking whether we are using the GNU C compiler... yes
checking whether gcc accepts -g... yes
checking for gcc option to accept ISO C89... none needed
checking for ranlib... ranlib
checking for a BSD-compatible install... /usr/bin/install -c
checking how to run the C preprocessor... gcc -E
checking for grep that handles long lines and -e... /bin/grep
checking for egrep... /bin/grep -E
checking for ANSI C header files... yes
checking for an ANSI C-conforming const... yes
checking for inline... inline
checking whether time.h and sys/time.h may both be included... yes
checking whether gcc needs -traditional... no
checking for current directory... /home/lefteris/alsa-driver-1.0.21
checking cross compile...
checking for directory with kernel source... ./configure: line 5050: cd: /usr/src/linux: No such file or directory
/usr/src/linux
checking for directory with kernel build...
checking for kernel linux/version.h... no
The file /include/linux/version.h does not exist.
Please install the package with full kernel sources for your distribution
or use --with-kernel=dir option to specify another directory with kernel
sources (default is /usr/src/linux).
lefteris@lefteris-laptop:~/alsa-driver-1.0.21$

[vfbsilva]

I got a similar issue here, if i test on System Settings -> Multimedia I have a very low sound... But no other applciation seem to be able to use it. Lastfm and others report alsa system busy or not present... Any ideas about what can I do?

[gnuoykun]

I don't know if you already tested it, but are you sure you are booting with the lastest kernel? I spent a couple of days to figure that even tough I downloaded the last one, my menu.1st was using and old one.
Once I chnged it to use the newest everything ran smootly ^^

But, following the official sound guide be sure that your alsa is sending the sound to the right places.

[Lefteris]

gnuoykun you are right even though i have updated to the karmic version of 2.6.31-14 it still boots the old kernel thats why probably i have the sound problem.

The karmic seems to be installed since:

lefteris@lefteris-laptop:/boot/grub$ dpkg --get-selections | grep linux-image
linux-image-2.6.27-11-generic install
linux-image-2.6.27-7-generic deinstall
linux-image-2.6.28-11-generic deinstall
linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic install
linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic-pae install
linux-image-generic install

Also:

lefteris@lefteris-laptop:/boot/grub$ sudo update-grub
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic-pae
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
Found kernel: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

but still in: lefteris@lefteris-laptop:/boot/grub$ sudo gedit menu.lst

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

#title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
#uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
#quiet

#title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
#uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro single
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

#title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
#uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
#kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
#quiet

There is no entry of the new karmic kernel... Should be included in grub since it is installed, shouldn't be?

StartUp-manager in Applications-> Systems, also does NOT detect the 2.6.31-14 installed kernel.

[Lefteris]

The solution to the problem of sound after upgrading to karmic ( Sony Vaio VGN-SR29VN laptop).

1.Symptoms with sound

When i upgraded to karmic i had very low sound even though the cursor was at 100%.
aplay -l gave me: aplay: device_list:223: no soundcards found...
Every attempt of installing a new alsa driver didnt work out because i was running still the old kernel.
After upgrading to karmic check with uname -al your kernel version. if you still run the old kernel then move to next step.

2. Detect if karmic kernel is installed

Run the commands:

sudo update-grub
dpkg --get-selections | grep linux-image
ls -a /boot

3. Include in grub the new kernel of karmic

lefteris@lefteris-laptop:/boot/grub$ sudo gedit menu.lst

Example:

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic


Reboot with the new kernel.
Sound should be working.

Many thanks to everybody that helped me solve this problem!
dibl
Axela
vfbsilva
doctordruidphd
gnuoykun

[dibl]

And now i have to risk my neck and my time to F*****ING install grub2 with all the risks of spending my whole day to do it properly.



I don't think that is true. My setup is not exactly like yours, as far as I can tell, but I'm using legacy grub to boot Kubuntu 9.10 and I'm running the newest available kernel. I originally installed 9.10 with Grub2, but it would not find or offer my second OS on the boot menu, so I reinstalled legacy grub and use that for booting both OSs.

So, open your package manager GUI, and look in the list of linux-headers-2.6.31........ and also linux-images-2.6.31.....

I assume you will see the newer kernels and headers files. Just mark the newest one for installation. It should run update-grub at the end of the process. If it does not, you can
sudo update-grub

Then reboot and you should be offered the newest kernel to boot into.

[Lefteris]

Thanks dibl the problem is solved.

I had already checked at the package manager and the headers and images were already marked as installed!!!
The new kernel it seemed to be installed already but during the upgrade grub was not updated so i was running the old kernel. And just by habit i hadn't pay attention to it, until gnuoykun mentioned it.

But thanks for your precious help and effort!

[vfbsilva]

Thanks dibl the problem is solved.

I had already checked at the package manager and the headers and images were already marked as installed!!!
The new kernel it seemed to be installed already but during the upgrade grub was not updated so i was running the old kernel. And just by habit i hadn't pay attention to it, until gnuoykun mentioned it.

But thanks for your precious help and effort!


How do I install the lasted kernels I seem to have them but theyare not listed in grub menu even after the command you guys mentioned.

[gnuoykun]

Thanks dibl the problem is solved.

I had already checked at the package manager and the headers and images were already marked as installed!!!
The new kernel it seemed to be installed already but during the upgrade grub was not updated so i was running the old kernel. And just by habit i hadn't pay attention to it, until gnuoykun mentioned it.

But thanks for your precious help and effort!


How do I install the lasted kernels I seem to have them but theyare not listed in grub menu even after the command you guys mentioned.


Well, after opening the terminal ant typing

sudo kate /boot/grub/menu.lst
it'll ask for your password, and in the end of the file it opened you should see something like this:

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

IF you already have the lastest kernel on your machine, just change the values to it, like this:

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=4152c112-019e-4678-9887-0dc979df9ec5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet
it's only a matter of changing the "kernel 2.6.27-11-generic" to "kernel 2.6.31-14-generic".
Now reboot and rejoice ^^

And I'm glad to help Lefteris o/