Sound no longer works!

[Iteria]

I'm currently running Xubuntu 9.04. Up until recently the sound on my desktop worked. I checked the jack that the speaker was using with some headphones to make sure that the speaker didn't just die and I couldn't hear anything. I don't know what happened.

I don't really know what caused it or when it happened exactly. I know it happened within the last 24 hours and the only things I installed in that time was conky favors, gparted and unetbootin. I also reinstalled wine, which was acting weird after an update. I don't really think that those are the problem, though. I figureif they were other things besides the sound would be broken too.

I did have a bad shutdown today. Xubuntu was taking so long to shutdown that I had to force the computer to turn off. That seems more likely, but I don't know what caused that either, so... yeah...

If anyone could help me. It'd be much appreciated.

[shatterblast]

I think a recent compatibility issue has occurred with Creative sound cards. If this applies to you, it might be good to install the following from the Karmic test version to see if it helps:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-base
http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-firmware-loaders
http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-source

Also if you're able to confirm your sound card as a Creative type, then there is apparently a setting in "/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.save" that may need double-checking. A line in that file may possibly have a continuous run-on setting such as:

options snd-hda-intel model=XXXXXXoptions snd-hda-intel model=XXXXXXoptions snd-hda-intel model=XXXXXX
(The X's represent the model of your card's hardware driver.)

It should instead read something like:

options snd-hda-intel model=XXXXXX

Please make sure of your sound card maker before attempting any steps.

[kerry_s]

try removing pulseadio.

[Iteria]

Pulseaudio wasn't installed when I went to uninstall it. Also, I don't think my soundcard is from creative this is what I got from lshw:

 description: Multimedia audio controller
             product: AC'97 Sound Controller
             vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
             physical id: 2.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.7
             version: a0
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=Intel ICH latency=32 maxlatency=11 mingnt=52 module=snd_intel8x0

Any other suggestions?

[shatterblast]

I recommend installing the following links anyway:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-base
http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-firmware-loaders
http://packages.ubuntu.com/karmic/alsa-source

That should replace the non-GUI sound part of your operating system. As a temporary solution, you could also try switching everything from ALSA to OSS in the Sound window under Preferences. I would recommend the "sudo apt-get install --reinstall" way, but it doesn't appear to function with those three.

[Iteria]

Tried using OSS. That failed. I tried reinstalling the alsa packages via synaptic. Also failed.

Any other takers?

[kerry_s]

i would try uninstalling all the sound parts, delete all the sound settings in your home folder, reboot to make sure there all unloaded, then do a fresh install of alsa-base alsa-utils & reboot.

[Iteria]

Success!

I didn't know how to remove everything specifically, so I reinstalled. I keep my home folder on a different partition than everything else, so after the reinstall everything booted up the exact same--with the exception of gnome-do and conky, which I'll have to reinstall, but at least they will auto-configure themselves this time.

After all the updates, I played a music file and my speakers are working just fine.

[Iteria]

I take that back... After I rebooted (And, I guess, the updates kicked in), My sound died again.

Is there a way for me to know updated I installed and roll them back one a time, so I can see what's causing this?

[kerry_s]

are you sure it's not like muted?
try running alsamixer in terminal, crank all the bars up, make sure there's no "MM" if so press "m" to unmute them.

check /etc/group make sure your user name is in the sound group.