No sound at wit's end. SOLVED

[skizikz]

I wonder why you are missing the kernel modules for intel.
An uninstall/reinstall of alsa packages couldn't have removed them, so the problem must be older.

Have you tried a different kernel?
Install 3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs from Synaptic and boot from it (select it on GRUB)
First time will take a little longer so be patient.
See if you have sound and perform the modprobe command on the new kernel...

Before that, login as root and check if you have sound from root account.

    I have been using that kernel already,do you suggest reinstalling?
I have been using root account as well during troubleshooting.No sound either way.

[agmg]

You are using 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs kernel.
I suggested you install 3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs.
The difference is that this kernel has PAE enabled, allowing the operating system to use more than 4GB of RAM.

The reason I suggested trying a different kernel was because this change will show if you have any errors with your current kernel that will be fixed using a different one. When you install a new kernel, it will build all necessary modules on first boot.

By the way, have you tried Phil's suggestion to use the proprietary driver from Realtek?

[Old-Polack]

What is the output of:

1. ls /lib/modules/

2. uname -r?

[root@localhost ~]# ls /lib/modules/
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/
[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs

Granted that this is for the 3.2.18-pclos1.bfs kernel, but if you change the 1 to 2 in the commands given below, you should have the same files listed, if your kernel installation is not messed up.

[root@fatman ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos1.bfs/kernel/sound/core
total 140
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  4096 May 23  2012 oss/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root  4096 May 23  2012 seq/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1962 May 22  2012 snd-hrtimer.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5202 May 22  2012 snd-hwdep.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 34523 May 22  2012 snd.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5753 May 22  2012 snd-page-alloc.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 42620 May 22  2012 snd-pcm.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13104 May 22  2012 snd-rawmidi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13482 May 22  2012 snd-timer.ko.gz

[root@fatman ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos1.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 296
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 25579 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4457 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5350 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10256 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4683 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 20862 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 14153 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 30667 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50845 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 57941 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2852 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 21173 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16644 May 22  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz

Try the modified commands, then post your results.

[skizikz]

You are using 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs kernel.
I suggested you install 3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs.
The difference is that this kernel has PAE enabled, allowing the operating system to use more than 4GB of RAM.

The reason I suggested trying a different kernel was because this change will show if you have any errors with your current kernel that will be fixed using a different one. When you install a new kernel, it will build all necessary modules on first boot.

By the way, have you tried Phil's suggestion to use the proprietary driver from Realtek?

Ah,I was just looking at the version.Must have been tired!
I have done so and there is something different going on here.alsamixer shows the hardware on audio setup but the one with the reaktek 887
codec listed is grayed out.the HDA nvidia generic is not but it does not work and that is consistent with the  notifier that pops up after kde loads.
It is time to go to the salt mines so I cannot do more at this time.I see Old Polack had posted a reply as well which I have not read.
Thanks to all and will pick up later today.

[skizikz]

What is the output of:

1. ls /lib/modules/

2. uname -r?

[root@localhost ~]# ls /lib/modules/
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/
[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs

Granted that this is for the 3.2.18-pclos1.bfs kernel, but if you change the 1 to 2 in the commands given below, you should have the same files listed, if your kernel installation is not messed up.

[root@fatman ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos1.bfs/kernel/sound/core
total 140
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  4096 May 23  2012 oss/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root  4096 May 23  2012 seq/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1962 May 22  2012 snd-hrtimer.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5202 May 22  2012 snd-hwdep.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 34523 May 22  2012 snd.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5753 May 22  2012 snd-page-alloc.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 42620 May 22  2012 snd-pcm.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13104 May 22  2012 snd-rawmidi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13482 May 22  2012 snd-timer.ko.gz

[root@fatman ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos1.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 296
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 25579 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4457 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5350 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10256 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4683 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 20862 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 14153 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 30667 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50845 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 57941 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2852 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 21173 May 22  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16644 May 22  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz

Try the modified commands, then post your results.

Here are the results of the same commands with both kernels.I did a uname -r before each set.

[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/core
ls: cannot access /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/core: No such file
or directory
[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
ls: cannot access /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda: No such
file or directory

[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs

[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 268
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23003 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4176 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4963 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9640 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19565 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 29055 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 47704 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 51806 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2624 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19521 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 15801 May 23  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz


[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 268
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23003 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4176 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4963 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9640 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19565 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 29055 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 47704 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 51806 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2624 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19521 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz           
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 15801 May 23  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz 

[Old-Polack]

Here are the results of the same commands with both kernels.I did a uname -r before each set.

[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/core
ls: cannot access /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/core: No such file
or directory
[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
ls: cannot access /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda: No such
file or directory

[root@localhost ~]# uname -r
3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs

[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 268
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23003 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4176 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4963 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9640 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19565 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 29055 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 47704 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 51806 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2624 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19521 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 15801 May 23  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz


[root@localhost ~]# ls -l /lib/modules/3.2.18-pclos2.pae.bfs/kernel/sound/pci/hda
total 268
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23003 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-analog.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4176 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0110.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4963 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-ca0132.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9640 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cirrus.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-cmedia.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19565 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-conexant.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 13409 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-hdmi.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 29055 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-idt.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 47704 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 51806 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-realtek.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2624 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-si3054.ko.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 19521 May 23  2012 snd-hda-codec-via.ko.gz           
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 15801 May 23  2012 snd-hda-intel.ko.gz 

Yup, the original kernel installation is seriously broken. All the proper drivers are present with the pae kernel, so you should now be good to go with your sound configuration.

[skizikz]

Yup, the original kernel installation is seriously broken. All the proper drivers are present with the pae kernel, so you should now be good to go with your sound configuration.

Thanks,I uninstalled that kernel and now I have hardware that is recognized but I may have to install the realtek driver as suggested by Phil
earlier.
The sytem keeps telling me that the soundcard doesn't work.Alsaconf also does not find it as a PNP card.
I have downloaded the driver package from Realtek but have not installed it yet.If it is not done through apt or synaptic these things usually give me fits!The install directions were not clear to me and/or assume a better understanding of the process.
Time to go to work again so "to be continued",
Thanks

[Old-Polack]

Yup, the original kernel installation is seriously broken. All the proper drivers are present with the pae kernel, so you should now be good to go with your sound configuration.

Thanks,I uninstalled that kernel and now I have hardware that is recognized but I may have to install the realtek driver as suggested by Phil
earlier.
The sytem keeps telling me that the soundcard doesn't work.Alsaconf also does not find it as a PNP card.
I have downloaded the driver package from Realtek but have not installed it yet.If it is not done through apt or synaptic these things usually give me fits!The install directions were not clear to me and/or assume a better understanding of the process.
Time to go to work again so "to be continued",
Thanks

Please, post the name of the kernel driver from realtek, if you would.

[agmg]

I assume you have downloaded the High Definition Audio Codec software for Linux Kernel 3.0

The filename should be LinuxPkg_5.17rc13.tar.bz2
It is a compressed file.
You have to extract it in a folder of your choice, for example /Downloads/realtek.

Then open a terminal and type:

su (root password)
cd /home/your-username/Downloads/realtek
./install

[skizikz]

I assume you have downloaded the High Definition Audio Codec software for Linux Kernel 3.0

The filename should be LinuxPkg_5.17rc13.tar.bz2
It is a compressed file.
You have to extract it in a folder of your choice, for example /Downloads/realtek.

Then open a terminal and type:

su (root password)
cd /home/your-username/Downloads/realtek
./install

Please, post the name of the kernel driver from realtek, if you would.

agmg,
Yes that is the one.I will try that tonight when I get home.Sounds simple enough

[agmg]

I think you have made an error in your post.
Hope that number showing there is not your actual root password.
You should edit your post and remove it...

[skizikz]

I think you have made an error in your post.
Hope that number showing there is not your actual root password.
You should edit your post and remove it...

No it's not.No worries.
Install of package seemed to go well but still no sound.
Kmixer shows volume at 100% and only has one control or slider, volume.
Message from notifier now refers to the realtek alc887 but says it is not working.
Alsamixer still won't start: alsamixer:function snd_ctl_open failed for default:no such file or directory.

[agmg]

I just reviewed the whole thread.

Your motherboard is equipped with a high definition sound chip from Realtek (ALC88x - depends on the revision).
The HDMI audio is provided by the onboard graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce 7025).
So, you should be able to see two sound devices.

But the command:

lspci | grep -i audio

gives this output: 00:05.0 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

Your Realtek sound card is not properly recognized.

Can you use a liveCD or USB and boot into a live session to see if you card is working?

[skizikz]

I just reviewed the whole thread.

Your motherboard is equipped with a high definition sound chip from Realtek (ALC88x - depends on the revision).
The HDMI audio is provided by the onboard graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce 7025).
So, you should be able to see two sound devices.

But the command:

lspci | grep -i audio

gives this output: 00:05.0 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

Your Realtek sound card is not properly recognized.

Can you use a liveCD or USB and boot into a live session to see if you card is working?

Yes I had been meaning to try that (live cd) the other day to compare the results.I will try that tonight.
As to the hdmi there is no jack on the motherboard.I did have a PCI video card in the computer that I used for
dual output but that was buggy and I removed it for now.I have a PCIe x16 ready to go in when sound gets working.
Will report back later on the live cd results.

[agmg]

There is an HDMI output in your motherboard right? (for the onboard graphics card)
This HDMI port outputs both audio and video.