Compaq evo n610c (no sound)

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Sizzlechest
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Compaq evo n610c (no sound)

#1 Post by Sizzlechest »

Hi there. I recently dug out an old Compaq evo n610c laptop, and decided to install puppy on it. Everything seems to work fine, except the sound. I have tried 2 distros (lucid, and racy), and the sound works on neither. I have tried messing around with the mixer, and running alsa, but had no luck.

I am hoping someone can give me some tips on things to check, or try. Without sound, the computer is worthless to me for what I intend to use it for.

Thank you

Sizzlechest
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 22:27

#2 Post by Sizzlechest »

I just tried wary 5.3 also. Can't get a peep out of it. :x

cthisbear
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Location: Sydney Australia

#3 Post by cthisbear »

Specs:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-comp ... 33023.html

The sound card is an ESS Allegro.

http://www.psychosis.net/evo-linux/

::::

Different here.

" Sound
Sound works, via the i810_audio driver.

But occasionally sound won't work after I've cold-booted the machine, and I have to reboot for the card to function properly. I'm not sure why this is. It seems to happen less often now that I've upgraded to the 2.4.20 kernel (I'd been using 2.2.18 before) , but it still happens occasionally. "

http://www.hyper-linux.org/HP-HOWTO/mir ... N610c.html

Old versions of Linux...so yours should work.

Ticked >> speaker etc.

http://www.puppylinuxfaq.org/bundled-so ... e/131.html

In Alsamixer.....turn up controls....untick mute...usually with spacebar.

Right click >> volume

""""""""""

Chris.

Sizzlechest
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#4 Post by Sizzlechest »

Thank you for the info. That gives me some things to try. I'll post back if I get the beastie working.

cthisbear
Posts: 4422
Joined: Sun 29 Jan 2006, 22:07
Location: Sydney Australia

#5 Post by cthisbear »

Sizzlechest:

From another totally unconnected post.

But you can see a pic of >>> Alsamixer settings.
Untick and adjust the levels etc.

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=40226

Chris.

Sizzlechest
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Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 22:27

#6 Post by Sizzlechest »

Nothing seemingly important was muted in alsamixer, but I went ahead and unmuted everything anyway. This didn't help.

One of the first things I tried was to uncheck "external amplifier", which is what was causing there to be no sound on two other laptops I had installed on to. This didn't help either.

I've spent a lot of time googling, and have found jack. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. What ever info anyone might need, I will do my best to supply it.

Thank you.

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DutchPuppy
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#7 Post by DutchPuppy »

Hi

Are you sure that there isn't a hardwareproblem with the soundcard or internal speakers?
I have an evo n600c withs Slacko 5.3.3 and have sound.
One thing is that i sometimes don't get sound at cold boot, then I open Retrovol, tick the PCM slider once and got back sound.

If you do the Alsa sound wizzard, do you see this?

Image

The first one works for me.

Here some info from my PUPSYSINFO (part of it)


=== ALSA Information ===


!!################################
!!ALSA Information Script v 0.4.60
!!################################

!!Script ran on: Mon May 21 18:39:41 UTC 2012

!!Linux Distribution
!!------------------
Slacko Puppy Linux Linux 3.1.10-slacko_4gA [i686 arch]

!!DMI Information
!!---------------

Manufacturer: Compaq
Product Name: Evo N600c
Product Version:

!!Kernel Information
!!------------------

Kernel release: 3.1.10-slacko_4gA
Operating System: GNU/Linux
Architecture: i686
Processor: unknown
SMP Enabled: Yes

!!ALSA Version
!!------------

Driver version: 1.0.24
Library version:
Utilities version: 1.0.24.2

!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------

snd_maestro3

!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------

ESound Daemon:
Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/esd)
Running - No

!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------

0 [PCI ]: Allegro - ESS Allegro PCI
ESS Allegro PCI at 0x2400, irq 11

!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------

02:09.0 Multimedia audio controller: ESS Technology ES1988 Allegro-1 (rev 12)

and here a screenshot of my retrovoladjustments:

Image

Kees

Sizzlechest
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Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 22:27

#8 Post by Sizzlechest »

On alsa wizard, the first option in the window is "intel8x0 Intel Corporation 82801ca/cam ac'97 audio controller (rev 02)".

Sysinfo says the snd_intel8x0 module is loaded.

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DutchPuppy
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#9 Post by DutchPuppy »

Iam sorry it is not the same as the n600c i should have looked further.
It's a ADI Soundmax and I think the loaded driver is the one that should work. You see a speaker icon right under ?

Sizzlechest
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#10 Post by Sizzlechest »

There is a speaker icon for the volume adjustment in the tray (bottom right).

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DutchPuppy
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#11 Post by DutchPuppy »

I start to suspect a problem somewhere with the audio components inside. Did you try a headphone to see if there is sound coming from the jack connector in front?
Is it possible to try another live cd distro like Ubuntu to see if it comes to life with sound ?
My experience so far is, that if a wrong driver is loaded, not even a speaker icon is shown. But iam still a learning puppy user.... :)

Sizzlechest
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#12 Post by Sizzlechest »

Headphones don't work either, so it's not the speakers themselves. I don't know. I might just buy another like this. They're cheap on ebay.

cthisbear
Posts: 4422
Joined: Sun 29 Jan 2006, 22:07
Location: Sydney Australia

#13 Post by cthisbear »

Sizzlechest :

Download Puppy 4.3.1

It normally gets the sound up...new or old hardware.

A cheap way to test your hardware.

""""""""""

File:pup-431.iso 107464 KB 15/10/2009 12:00:00 AM

ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/puppy-4.3.1/

Chris.

Sizzlechest
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#14 Post by Sizzlechest »

Thank you, cthisbear. I'll try that.

Sizzlechest
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Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 22:27

#15 Post by Sizzlechest »

I tried that, and no go. I pulled the motherboard, and the headphone jack is broken loose partially. I suspect what is happening is the headphone jack is shorted, so the computer thinks a pair of headphones is plugged in, and cuts sound to the main speakers.

Maybe there is a way to set the OS to still play sound through the main speakers when headphones are plugged in? I'm going to look in to that some while I look for a new motherboard. If anyone has any more tips for me, I'd appreciate the input.

Thank you all for your time.

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DutchPuppy
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#16 Post by DutchPuppy »

If the 3.5 mm phone connector is broken, the signal way to the internal speakers might be broken. But in that case sound is heard if a headphone is connected in most cases. In your case both don't give sound.

So if it is visible that the phone connector is broken, it might have been caused by the frequent use of it and It is probably that the solder joints from the connector are intermittent in not making contact with the motherboard.

Here is a schematic of a 3.5 mm stereo phone plug.
1 is ground. If a headpone plug is inserted 3+4 and 2+5 are disconnected inside the connector and sound is only coming from the headphone, not from the speakers.
So 3+4 and 2+5 must make contact to get sound out of the internal speakers.
I had the same problem with a little Yaesu tranceiver (no sound from speaker) and replaced the connector. After that it worked again.

If having the right solder tool (very fine one) and some skill it might be possible to make it work again (resolder joints) or even replace the connector if it is really broken.
But be carefull !

Image

Sizzlechest
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Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 22:27

#17 Post by Sizzlechest »

Dutchpuppy, I love you.

Since I don't have fine enough solder here, I just heated the contacts with the soldering iron, and sort of melted them back in to the original solder. Probably not the best connection, but I got it to bark.

I had no idea the sound circuit would be dependent on the headphone jack connections being present. I just assumed it had shorted something, and maybe the hardware thought headphones were plugged in, so it cut the signal to the speakers.

Anyhow, thank you.

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DutchPuppy
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#18 Post by DutchPuppy »

Great it solved the problem!

If not using the connector, most probably it keeps on working.
If you're going to use a headphone, it seems to be wise to re-solder it on occasion because re-heating the existing solder is usually not that strong and reliable. Use resin/rosin core solder for electronic parts, never use an acid solder for this kind of work, just in case people don't know it when reading this topic.

Glad you have sound now!

Kees

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