No sound with Via VT82C686 AC97 soundcard

[devildon]

Hi, I hope you can help me to solve this problem (I'm a beginner with linux).
I have Puppy 4.3.1 installed in a very hold notebook and I tried to configure ALSA drivers for my sound card. They seem to be installed, but I can't hear any sound.
If, for example, I start "Zmixer audio mixer" it gives me the error "no soundcard found". Besides, i.e., I can't start "AlsaMixer". What can I do?
Thank you in advance.

[fernan]

Hi.

How your card is detected (name of the card you see after the ALSA wizard)? (in some cases the ALSA wizard doesn' t detect the right card)

You can try to load manually the VIA_82xx module (or similar name, I'm not at my puppy now..) That module should work with your card.

Edited
I'm at my puppy now: the module is snd-via82xx
You can try this: open the file /etc/modprobe.conf and check, at the end of the file, wich module is loaded by ALSA
Example:

# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.20 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-es18xx
alias sound-slot-0 snd-es18xx
options snd-es18xx isapnp=0 dma1=1 dma2=0 irq=5
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---

Replace the module (in this example is snd-es18xx) with snd-via82xx
Also dma and irq settings (the last line) can be wrong an give problems. Sometimes you need to override this manually. You can comment this line (add a # at the beggining) and reboot. You can activate it again later and see what happens.

[devildon]

Hi fernan, thank you very much for your help.
The soundcard detected by ALSA wizard is snd_via82xx, but you made me think that I don't know if it actually is the right soundcard: the notebook is very old, so I can't remember which is the onboard soundcard. Is there a way to verify it?

The last lines of the file /etc/modprobe.conf are:

Code: Select all

# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.20 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-via82xx
alias sound-slot-0 snd-via82xx
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---

What can I do? Thank you again

[fernan]

You can search the web for User Guides or something like that ....

I' ve found some old computers specs. that way .. Epson Action PC5000 , Compaq armada 1500C .. Compaq Neo Server 150..

Or open it !!

[devildon]

I've been looking for information about my pc all the morning, but it seems impossible.
The notebook is an ENFACE L1400. I've sent an email to the Company and I hope they'll give me the model characteristics.
Some time ago I tried to open it, but I think there are hidden screws that didn't let me do that (it's not so simple).
I hope not to annoy you with this issue... I let you know the sound card model as soon as possible, then I hope we can solve the problem.

[fernan]

You can try to run another OS and see what happens.

DSL linux, Vector linux are Live CDs that can boot an old machine. Even if you have any windows CD, try to install it...

Perhaps the card is detected and you can compare the settings.

[devildon]

Ok, I tried with Ubuntulite live CD, but the soundcard wasn't detected, so I let my computer start with a WindowsXP boot disk (very lite) and, running CPUz, I read that the motherboard is an AsusTek L1000A, chipset VIA Apollo Pro133z/pm133, southbridge VIA VT8231. I hope these information can help for my problem (the soundcard is surely integrated in the motherboard)...

[fernan]

It seems that the card detected bi ALSA wizard is OK
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chips ... cy/pro133/

typing in a console

Code: Select all

 lspci 

will give you hardware details.

So the problem could be some configuration error...

Try this to see what happens:
-Open /etc/modprobe.conf file
-Comment (add a # at the beggining of the line) all this lines:

# alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
# alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
# alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
# alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
# alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

-Check at the end of the file that you still have the lines related to "via82xx"

-Reboot.

It worked for me before. Actually it was my first post in this forum... (details here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=14725 )

[devildon]

Mmmm maybe there's something wrong in my configuration, because those lines aren't present in my /etc/modprobe.conf file.
I'm going to post the file (sorry if it's a bit long):

Code: Select all

alias binfmt-204 binfmt_aout
alias binfmt-263 binfmt_aout
alias binfmt-264 binfmt_aout
alias binfmt-267 binfmt_aout
alias binfmt-387 binfmt_aout
alias binfmt-332 iBCS
alias binfmt--310 binfmt_java
alias block-major-1-* rd
alias block-major-2-* floppy
alias block-major-3-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-7-* loop
alias block-major-8-* sd_mod
alias block-major-9-* md
alias block-major-11-* sr_mod
alias block-major-13-* xd
alias block-major-15-* cdu31a
alias block-major-16-* gscd
alias block-major-17-* optcd
alias block-major-18-* sjcd
alias block-major-20-* mcdx
alias block-major-22-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-23-* mcd
alias block-major-24-* sonycd535
alias block-major-25-* sbpcd
alias block-major-26-* sbpcd
alias block-major-27-* sbpcd
alias block-major-29-* aztcd
alias block-major-32-* cm206
alias block-major-33-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-34-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-37-* ide-tape
alias block-major-44-* ftl
alias block-major-46-* pcd
alias block-major-47-* pf
alias block-major-56-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-57-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-58-* lvm-mod
alias block-major-88-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-89-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-90-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-91-* ide-probe-mod
alias block-major-93-* nftl
alias block-major-97-* pg
alias char-major-4-* serial
alias char-major-5-* serial
alias char-major-6-* lp
alias char-major-9-* st
alias char-major-10-0 busmouse
alias char-major-10-2 msbusmouse
alias char-major-10-3 atixlmouse
alias char-major-10-130 wdt
alias char-major-10-131 wdt
alias char-major-10-135 rtc
alias char-major-10-139 openprom
alias char-major-10-144 nvram
alias char-major-10-157 applicom
alias char-major-10-175 agpgart
alias char-major-10-184 microcode
alias char-major-10-200 tun
alias char-major-13-* input
alias char-major-13-32 mousedev
alias char-major-14-* soundcore
alias char-major-19-* cyclades
alias char-major-20-* cyclades
alias char-major-21-* sg
alias char-major-22-* pcxx
alias char-major-23-* pcxx
alias char-major-27-* ftape
alias char-major-34-* scc
alias char-major-35-* tclmidi
alias char-major-36-* netlink
alias char-major-37-* ide-tape
alias char-major-48-* riscom8
alias char-major-49-* riscom8
alias char-major-57-* esp
alias char-major-58-* esp
alias char-major-63-* kdebug
alias char-major-90-* mtdchar
alias char-major-96-* pt
alias char-major-99-* ppdev
alias char-major-107-* 3dfx
alias char-major-108-* ppp_generic
alias char-major-109-* lvm-mod
alias char-major-161-* ircomm-tty
alias char-major-171-* raw1394
alias char-major-195-* NVdriver
alias char-major-200-* vxspec
alias char-major-206-* osst
alias dos msdos
alias dummy0 dummy
alias dummy1 dummy
alias iso9660 isofs
alias md-personality-1 linear
alias md-personality-2 raid0
alias md-personality-3 raid1
alias md-personality-4 raid5
alias md-personality-7 multipath
alias net-pf-1 unix
alias net-pf-2 ipv4
alias net-pf-4 ipx
alias net-pf-5 appletalk
alias net-pf-17 af_packet
alias netalias-2 ip_alias
alias irlan0 irlan
alias irda-dongle-0 tekram
alias irda-dongle-1 esi
alias irda-dongle-2 actisys
alias irda-dongle-3 actisys
alias irda-dongle-4 girbil
alias irda-dongle-5 litelink
alias irda-dongle-6 airport
alias irda-dongle-7 old_belkin
alias plip0 plip
alias plip1 plip
alias tunl0 ipip
alias cipcb0 cipcb
alias cipcb1 cipcb
alias cipcb2 cipcb
alias cipcb3 cipcb
alias ppp0 ppp_generic
alias ppp1 ppp_generic
alias slip0 slip
alias slip1 slip
alias tty-ldisc-1 slip
alias tty-ldisc-3 ppp_async
alias tty-ldisc-11 irtty
alias tty-ldisc-14 ppp_synctty
alias ppp-compress-18 ppp_mppe
alias ppp-compress-21 bsd_comp
alias ppp-compress-24 ppp_deflate
alias ppp-compress-26 ppp_deflate
alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
alias usbdevfs usbcore
alias /dev/ppp ppp_generic
alias /dev/lp0 /dev/lp1 lp
alias char-major-116-* snd
options sb io=0x220 irq=7 dma=1 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x330
install binfmt-0000 /bin/true
install char-major-10 /bin/true
install char-major-10-1 /bin/true
install dummy0 /sbin/modprobe -o dummy0 --ignore-install dummy
install dummy1 /sbin/modprobe -o dummy1 --ignore-install dummy
install eth0 /bin/true
install net-pf-10 /bin/true
install net-pf-19 /bin/true
install net-pf-3 /bin/true
install net-pf-6 /bin/true
install ov518_decomp { /sbin/modprobe ov511; } ; /sbin/modprobe --first-time --ignore-install ov518_decomp
install scsi_hostadapter /bin/true
install wacom /sbin/modprobe --first-time --ignore-install wacom && { /sbin/modprobe evdev; /bin/true; }
remove ov518_decomp /sbin/modprobe -r --first-time --ignore-remove ov518_decomp && { /sbin/modprobe -r ov511; /bin/true; }
remove wacom { /sbin/modprobe -r evdev; } ; /sbin/modprobe -r --first-time --ignore-remove wacom
install sdhci /sbin/modprobe mmc_block ; /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install sdhci
remove sdhci /sbin/modprobe -r --ignore-remove sdhci ; /sbin/modprobe -r mmc_block
install tifm_7xx1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install tifm_7xx1 ; /sbin/modprobe mmc_block ; /sbin/modprobe tifm_sd
alias char-major-242 slamr
install slamr modprobe --ignore-install ungrab-winmodem ; modprobe --ignore-install slamr
alias char-major-243 slusb

include /etc/modprobe_includes/modem-hsfmodem.conf

# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.20 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-via82xx
alias sound-slot-0 snd-via82xx
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---

Do you find any mistake?

[devildon]

And, by typing the command lspci, I get this:

[fernan]

I don' t think your config is wrong, just a different puppy version.

I' m giving you just ideas, since I really don' t know where the problem is. Try them one by one.

Some people reported success using via82xx, adding this line at the end of modprobe.conf:

Code: Select all

options snd-via82xx ac97_quirk=0

Some others report success setting it to "1" instead of "0"
You can try and reboot...
In this page http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/Via8233#DXS_channels
Is suggested to try this option:

Code: Select all

options snd-via82xx dxs_support=1

and try from 0 to 4


Extacted from here:http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/Via8233#Notes

It seems that the ALSA 0.9 Via8233 driver only works in OSS emulation mode.

Perhaps OSS should be enabled. (those lines missing... you can copy and paste them in your modprobe.conf) (you can delete them later)

Or try an older puppy, like 2.10, 2.13, 2.16 and see what happens.

Info about the via82xx module:
http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index. ... le-via82xx
http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/Via8233