Debian Etch ... Audio works fine...suddenly non-existent

[mindfu]

Hey all.. I've looked and looked last night, this afternoon, and tonight all over the place for a solution to my issue, but it wasn't happening...

Yesterday (Wednesday) was like any other random day...I turn my computers on, and set to work ripping and encoding a dvd of mine to make a compilation disc for when i'm lazy or sick.

Anyway, everything about my Linux box was working beautifully - i couldn't be happier with it at the time. I leave for work and leave my Linux box encoding my movie.... ....i get home (about 7-8hrs later), go to check the video file and it's not playing any audio...then i noticed none of my windows are making sounds as they get minimized, shaded, etc... so i play an MP3 file and nothing.

No software was installed / un-installed. I'm running Debian Etch (stable), KDE 3.5.5, ALSA audio software, VLC for my media player, kernel 2.6.18-4-k7

I've ran the diagnostic(?) stuff (aplay, lspci, alsaconfig), everything sees the audio card...yes, i've checked in KMix for any muted audio functions (PCM, Master, PC Speaker - all lit/enabled)...i double checked the ALSAMixer - same deal.

When I run lspci i get:
01:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 06)

When I run lspci -v i get:
01:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 06)
Subsystem: Creative Labs CT4832 SBLive! Value
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 217
I/O ports at d400 [size=32]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1


When I run aplay -l i get:
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Live [SBLive! Value [CT4832]], device 0: emu10k1 [ADC Capture/Standard PCM Playback]
Subdevices: 32/32
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
Subdevice #8: subdevice #8
Subdevice #9: subdevice #9
Subdevice #10: subdevice #10
Subdevice #11: subdevice #11
Subdevice #12: subdevice #12
Subdevice #13: subdevice #13
Subdevice #14: subdevice #14
Subdevice #15: subdevice #15
Subdevice #16: subdevice #16
Subdevice #17: subdevice #17
Subdevice #18: subdevice #18
Subdevice #19: subdevice #19
Subdevice #20: subdevice #20
Subdevice #21: subdevice #21
Subdevice #22: subdevice #22
Subdevice #23: subdevice #23
Subdevice #24: subdevice #24
Subdevice #25: subdevice #25
Subdevice #26: subdevice #26
Subdevice #27: subdevice #27
Subdevice #28: subdevice #28
Subdevice #29: subdevice #29
Subdevice #30: subdevice #30
Subdevice #31: subdevice #31
card 0: Live [SBLive! Value [CT4832]], device 2: emu10k1 efx [Multichannel Capture/PT Playback]
Subdevices: 8/8
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
card 0: Live [SBLive! Value [CT4832]], device 3: emu10k1 [Multichannel Playback]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0


I'd really appreciate any help I could possibly get with this situation. I use this computer for a lot of things (lately it's mostly been to play Diablo II and Neverwinter Nights, and watch/encode movies) - but it's my "Linux on Training-Wheels" computer :p (i'm trying to make sure i can completely convert from WinXP to Linux - so far so good...just a few hangups....this one isn't helping matters).

I've also tried un-installing and re-installing the base ALSA files thru synaptic.

I'd like to avoid wiping the system and starting over - but I'm on the verge of doing so - I can't stand not having sound...even if you're not expecting sound, there's just an eerie feeling about not being able to have sound...ya know?

So in short...help please!! :o

[mindfu]

Sadly...i think i may have to wipe / re-install the system :(

I tried out my on-board audio (enabled thru BIOS) then ran alsaconfig and set it up accordingly - then double checked my mixers, etc... and still nothing :mad:

Somehow, someway, my audio simply got borked - all while encoding a movie for the umpteenth time......:confused: makes no sense to me.... but whatever.... i guess i get to spend the hours apt-get(ting) my system all over.. But, on the bright side, I did install a bunch of crap to try and fix this and i really don't want it - nor do i remember everything i put on here during that process lol

i just hope i can remember how to get my "theme" set back into place...tho part of that kinda needs fixed too..so we shall see...;)

[boxxertrumps]

are your speakers plugged in?
or maybe your card shorted out...

[mindfu]

yea...the speakers are plugged in - both into the card and power outlet...some of the first stuff i checked ;)

the sound card shorting out was also something i was thinking...but i would think that Linux wouldn't see / recognize the audio card...besides, as I noted, I tried both the on-board audio and the audio card - the on-board audio i know works, because I was using it before I installed Neverwinter Nights (which, btw, requires a "real" audio card to get sound, or so it would seem)...

I am thinking that my speakers my have shorted out - to a certain degree however.... especially since I just finished installing the core Debian / KDE system and i'm still up a creek without a paddle (already played with mixer settings ,etc...)

So off to the store I go to find a new pair of cheap speakers! :D

[boxxertrumps]

NWN is a fun game... I'm a level 10 Gnomish wizard...
I dont have an audio card, and the sound works fine for it.

Before you buy a new set of speakers, test the ones you have out with a MP3 player.
if they work there could be a bit of metal or something inside the audio jacks, this would prevent electricity from travelling to the speakers(path of least resisitance...)

hmm... do you have a liveCD to test out the card with? (or do you need specific drivers?) Or maybe another OS on a different partition to test it out?

[mindfu]

it's been a while since i've played NWN - i can't remember what my main character is..lol i think it's a half elf/human fighter / rogue around lvl 8 or so - it's been a looong time...

Ya know...i never thought about trying a LiveCD...lol wow sometimes i can be pretty thick-skulled i guess. Oh well...

LOL sunuvabiscuiteater.... i just tried what you suggested by plugging in an MP3 player into the speakers...err..the speakers into the MP3 player...i got sound.....makes me feel a little better i guess - my $10 speakers are still kicking :D

So what do ya think then?? Neither my audio card or on-board audio seem to work....but my MP3 player with the speakers do work?? does this make any sense?

I feel like i've entered the twilight zone. Here's the best part - I've already wiped my PC :) No biggie though - it needed it, plus I'll feel like the system will be a bit more clean than it was (i put a bunch crap on there during my experimenting).

[mindfu]

k...now i'm a lil ticked....the on-board audio is working now.... grrrr...

[trilarian]

I'm just now reading your thread, and since your audio is now working, this is more a general set of suggestions instead of troubleshooting.

First off, you should rarely ever need to wipe and reinstall a Linux system. While this is a common option for people who are used to windows(which gets worse the larger the days grow from the install date), most problems can be solved without starting over. However, this does require you to know what is causing the problem to fix - something you gain over time troubleshooting enough systems. There are many knowledgeable people on these forums, so you have a good chance someone will come along and give you good advice on fixing your problem.

Next, if you do decide to wipe and reinstall, it is a good idea to backup your /etc and /home/foo directories. Actually, its good to backup regardless. The main config files for your programs will reside in /etc while the individual options by user will be stored in your /home/foo directory. Having these backed up means after a reinstall, crash, etc. you can copy these files back and have your system configured like before(assuming you have all the same programs installed).

Lastly, when something doesn't work that appears it should, try doing it as root and see if you have the same problem. Often, rights to devices are assigned to a user group to increase the security level of your computer. For example, most debian systems have the rights to your sound card in group audio, and rights to cd/dvd writers in group cdrom. So in your case, if you call your mp3 player as root and get sound, try adding your username to group audio, then try again(note, a user must logout then log back in - not restart the comp - in order to use the new group assignments).

Hope some of this helps...

[Alpine CH]

I have experienced a similar problem.
First the sound in the simulator Flight Gear works perfectly. When I installed EDS for GNOME via synoptic (can't find the full name of the program), then it crashed Flight Gear as well as Totem Media Player. The problem is that the sound card it bound to GNOME and is not free for other programs, making them crash. It is solved by switching off ESD in workplace, preferences, sounds. This released it and stopped the crashing.

Now I have no clue about KDE and am still pretty much a greeny inLinux, but I thought it might help to know this problem, one never knows whether it helps.

Cheers,
Bart

[mindfu]

Ya'll ready for this one??

Here's the overview thus far:
(first off - when and where appropriate, yes I checked mixer settings in detail, etc...)

1) Left computer alone encoding video (no problems what so ever with computer)
2) Come home about 8hrs later to find that the sound suddenly does not work
3) Speakers have power and plugged securely into sound card
4) Both SBLive card and on-board audio detected by the machine, but neither is producing any sound - yes each audio device was selected as appropriate
5) Un-installed and re-installed ALSA drivers(?)/software
6) Completely wiped system, and re-installed Debian Etch via Net-Install
7) Get ALSA reloaded and I'm still not getting anything
8) Plug speakers into handheld mp3 player - i get music playing
9) Plug speakers into on-board audio device in machine....i get sound
10) Disable on-board audio and plug speakers into SBLive card .... I GET SOUND :eek:

So I'm honestly thinking that the re-install of the system did the trick.

trilarian - Thank you for the feedback and pointers! One things for sure, if nothing else, your feedback will echo thru-out my mind when i'm at work (IT Help Desk - re-learning a lot of things)... I hated the idea of wiping my Linux system, mostly because I put a lot of time and effort tweaking various settings to get it looking just right (tho, i'll admit after the wipe i managed to find some settings that for some unknown reason i couldn't find before - don't ask, i don't know). But it was just as you said, a learning experience...every time i install Linux I feel more confident in what I'm doing - and a lil more efficient (i'm learning what i really do need, and what i can do without)....and in all honesty, a big thing is that i need to be a little more patient i guess lol ;) I just have issues when using a computer and KNOWING that I will not ever hear any sound from it - especially when i'm used to hearing something every time that i do something to a window. I definitely backed up my /home/foo directory - save for the hidden files...i'm pretty sure i forgot those; oh well, next time :p I got the main files that I was worried about from /etc - and those were my smb.conf file and apache web server file (pointing to which folders are accessible etc..). - oh yea! and my apt-get sources.list ! lol The root thing... i should have remembered about that from my k3b experience... i guess i just figured if it stopped working out of the blue like it did - it had to be something that managed to get corrupted (if it wasn't hardware related).

Alpine CH - Thanks for the feedback/advice :) That's usually something I check for sure...if i recently installed something, and then something else quits working, that's the first thing i blame lol It's the tech in me i guess ;) I too am still pretty new to Linux though, so who knows, I'd still probably over-look something like that for some reason...so again, thanks for you time and advice! :)

boxxer - Thanks for advice with the speakers bro (and for helping me keep my issue towards the top) ;) - funny thing is...lol...i had just gone out and bought new speakers before reading your post :D i got a receipt tho so it's all good ;)

Needless to say....the audio is working once again. The Lord knows why it stopped....definitely not I. But I have sound!!! Woohoo! :D

[trilarian]

Good to hear it is working. I wonder if maybe it was a conflict with the onboard vs expansion slot...

Anyway, what I wanted to point out is that most(if not all) of your config files in /home/foo will be hidden. Mainly because you don't want to see 300 directory listings when you do a ls in your home folder. If you don't know already, the syntax for a hidden file/folder in Linux is to prefix it with a period( .somedir for example).

The way I usually backup my home directory, is first umount any mount points in my home(/home/foo/Music points to a networked music share at my house for example), then do a( -R for recursive and -f for force):

cp -Rf /home/foo /path/to/backup

[mindfu]

actually that will help out a lot in the future, thank you :)

Yea, I knew about the hidden files, and what signifies a hidden file...but never really thought about how to copy them via the command line all in one swoop like that......time to go back and revamp my mini-backup script :D