Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

ichbinder · 2010-02-03 11:34:31

Hey there!

I am having troubles with my sound devices. It was running very well until yesterday when I did pacman -Syu. Unfortunatelly I can't remember which packages have been upgrade exactly... :-/

The first hint of a problem is that the alsa daemon is giving me this error message:

 
[root /etc/rc.d]# ./alsa start 
:: Restoring ALSA Levels                                                                                [BUSY]
/usr/sbin/alsactl: load_state:1608: No soundcards found...                                              [FAIL] 
[root /etc/rc.d]#

My soundcard is the SupremeFX II Audio Card which came with the Asus Motherboard Maximus Extreme.

Like the wiki told me the following information might be helpful:

 
[root /etc/rc.d]# lsmod|grep '^snd' | column -t
snd_hda_codec_analog  83184  1
snd_seq_dummy         3540   0
snd_seq_oss           36224  0
snd_seq_midi_event    8592   1   snd_seq_oss
snd_seq               64640  5   snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_seq_device        8324   3   snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq
snd_hda_intel         31208  1
snd_hda_codec         82000  2   snd_hda_codec_analog,snd_hda_intel
snd_pcm_oss           47328  0
snd_hwdep             9944   1   snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               90808  3   snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer             25344  2   snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc        10752  2   snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
snd_mixer_oss         20976  2   snd_pcm_oss
snd                   76712  11  snd_hda_codec_analog,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mixer_oss
[root /etc/rc.d]#

To me, this looks ok. Am I right?

Now the next thing, ls -l /dev/snd, which is a bit weird. I did this a few mintues ago and everything seemed to be okay. There were some devices similar to the output here http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Adv … are_loaded. I thought I might give OSS a try and installed it with pacman -S oss. I edited /etc/rc.conf accordingly but it didn't work. So I decided to prefer solving the problems with alsa. I did "pacman -Rs oss" which removed both before installed packages "kernel26-headers-2.6.32.7-1" and "oss-4.2_2002-2". I changed /etc/rc.conf again back to the state before the oss installation. And now, there is nothing left in /dev/snd:

[root /home/user]# ls -l /dev/snd
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 60 Feb  3 12:05 by-path
[root /home/user]#

I also can't load the modules manually as described on the wiki page.

[root@QX9450 /home/mm]# modprobe -v snd-hda-intel
[root@QX9450 /home/mm]# modprobe -v snd-pcm-oss
[root@QX9450 /home/mm]# ls -l /dev/snd
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 60 Feb  3 12:05 by-path
[root@QX9450 /home/mm]#

What can do now? Perhaps it would already be helpfull to know which packages have been upgrade by pacman -Syu. Is that possible, somehow?

This is really important to me as no sound is a total pain in the ass... Especially as I have nearly no time to play around with these things because I have a lot private stuff going on... so please, help me if you can.

Thanks a lot!

Skatox · 2010-02-04 19:03:35

Same here

ichbinder · 2010-02-05 02:32:39

Skatox wrote:

Same here

Thanks for your answer! At least know I know that I am not alone with this problem. I have some questions for you, would be nice if you could please answer these:

What exactly is similar to my problem? Do you still have devices in /dev/snd or are they also gone?

What kernel version are you running? Cause I am using a self-compiled version of 2.6.30... I thought the update pacman -Syu did for the kernel-firmware package in combination with my old kernel might have something to do with my problems. But if you are running a more recent kernel version I can be sure that this is not the problem.

Are you also having an intel soundcard (on-board chip)?

Did you already try reinstalling the alsa package?

mutantpineapple · 2010-02-05 14:21:47

I have this problem as well.

┌─[ dan ]─[ ~ ]
└─> uname -r
2.6.30-ARCH

┌─[ dan ]─[ /dev/snd ]
└─> ls -l
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 60 Feb  5 13:54 by-id
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 80 Feb  5 13:54 by-path

┌─[ dan ]─[ ~ ]
└─> lspci

...

00:09.0 Multimedia audio controller: ESS Technology ES1969 Solo-1 Audiodrive (rev 02)

It's probably worth noting that controlC0 and controlC1, described in the wiki as being in /dev/snd, are now in /dev.

I believe udev was updated yesterday and reckon that could be the cause of the problem. I've already had to change my xorg.conf because /dev/input/mice moved to /dev/mice

Last edited by mutantpineapple (2010-02-05 14:24:36)

mutantpineapple · 2010-02-05 20:49:21

Ok, I upgraded my kernel to 2.6.32 and now everything is working fine again. /dev/snd has been repopulated, even /dev/input/mice has returned. So this sounds like an issue with udev and older kernels.

yvonney · 2010-02-06 18:06:36

I have the same problem yet the cause may be a bit different. ('may' means: not likely, probably same problem) I swap between OSS and alsa. I have, I am up to date with ARCH so kernel would be latest.

It may not be part of the reason NONE of my sound modules are found, yet when I removed OSS a couple of times ago there was some archiving program problem or something as it complained about tar.gz etc. Probably not an issue as I've reinstalled OSS and uninstalled a couple of times since then.

OK, so can't run alsaconf, the modules aren't found on bootup etc.
hmmmm....

Last edited by yvonney (2010-02-06 18:13:56)

David Bluecame · 2010-02-07 06:07:45

Dear everybody.

It has also happened to me. It's very annoying. In fact, the last upgrades have been a nightmare for me and I have had to revert several packages to previous versions because of the problems I have experienced.

Regarding the Alsa problem, I have found out that somehow the device nodes location have changed. For example:

Previously (when everything worked): /dev/snd/controlC0
Now (it does not work): /dev/controlC0

I have used a workaround based on the information I've found in the following page:
http://www.ubuntu-es.org/?q=node/120296&page=2

What I've done is edit the /etc/rc.sysinit and add the following lines:

Original:

[...]
status "Activating Swap" /sbin/swapon -a
[...]

After adding new lines:

[...]
ln -s /dev/controlC0 /dev/snd/controlC0
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0c /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0p /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
ln -s /dev/seq /dev/snd/seq
ln -s /dev/timer /dev/snd/timer

status "Activating Swap" /sbin/swapon -a
[...]

Yes, I know this is a dirty and cheap trick, and it would be needed a better and permanent solution, but it seems to be working now for me smile

I hope this can help you somehow. Best regards!

David Bluecame.

yvonney · 2010-02-07 07:31:01

very nice of you to detail David. I may try this if it becomes imperative to use alsa. (ie. when using certain usb microphones for example)

I guess the question is now. What's going to be the best fix method eventually I wonder, as a few things have really changed I guess. Deduced from my quick scan of your email and mentions about udev and stuff in other related threads.

Going back to enjoy reading your post properly ....now!

EDIT: my rc.sysinit is filled wth stuff I'm going to try your lines nearish the top before all the parts that end in 'fi'

Last edited by yvonney (2010-02-07 07:35:50)

yvonney · 2010-02-07 07:44:43

ln -s /dev/controlC0 /dev/snd/controlC0
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0c /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0p /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
ln -s /dev/seq /dev/snd/seq
ln -s /dev/timer /dev/snd/timer

Looks like I put the above in the right spot in my rc.sysinit.

Not working for me:
[during boot-up]
Firstly I get the above code just above where the modules load, and statements that no such files exist.

Then below that I get the FATAL: modules not found for all the ALSA modules as before.
I never assume so who know if there's some other variable that if adjusted would allow the rc.sysint stuff to work.

ideas welcomed! no alsa sound.

Last edited by yvonney (2010-02-07 13:00:05)

David Bluecame · 2010-02-07 13:15:56

Dear Yvonney

Please, put those lines just above the following line in rc.sysinit

status "Activating Swap" /sbin/swapon -a

That way the rc.sysinit first load all the udev modules and put the proper nodes inside the /dev/ folder. If you put the lines at the beginning of the rc.sysinit it still does not have the proper node information in /dev/

Other possible solution (more manual): leave the rc.sysinit as it is originally and after the whole system boots up, in the terminal write:

sudo ln -s /dev/controlC0 /dev/snd/controlC0
sudo ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0c /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
sudo ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0p /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
sudo ln -s /dev/seq /dev/snd/seq
sudo ln -s /dev/timer /dev/snd/timer

And then try alsamixer, etc. It should work.

Best regards. David.

yvonney · 2010-02-07 17:52:12

Thank David!

um, I do have a small swap file I made and it's in fstab though my minimalisticish system doesn't have that line in rc.sysinit

Also, I believe my four FATAL: no modules found may be related to some other issue (as well?)

I moved your lines down to just before the modules load stuff in rc.sysinit

I have alsa-lib of course and utils installed, removed OSS, alsa on in daemons line and four modules on modules line of rc.conf

same thing.

other thought? I'm thinking

Last edited by yvonney (2010-02-07 17:54:18)

yvonney · 2010-02-07 18:23:35

my problem is very likely at least partly because of my OSS install/uninstalls.

I've tried the fix here, which is to reinstall OSS then uninstall.... tried that of course.

I'm guessing it's a combination of new ARCH things AND the OSS weirdness with alsa detailed here.
um, help would be cool, yet, I've always though my arch issues were strangely great for learning.
Like I didn't know anything about rc.sysinit!! cool.

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=79716

um, oss, alsa and arch issues, need to find solution.

no alsa sound.

yvonney · 2010-02-07 19:04:18

DAVID: have to ask you if you know how to reverse:
ln -s /dev/controlC0 /dev/snd/controlC0
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0c /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
ln -s /dev/pcmC0D0p /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
ln -s /dev/seq /dev/snd/seq
ln -s /dev/timer /dev/snd/timer

1) I've removed the above lines from rc.sysinit

In my ignorance I'm thinking that there never was anything that looked like a folder called snd created or otherwise in /dev
(please forgive my lacking on this)

And it may be normal though even going into my /dev folder (with rc.sysinit open in an editor) my system hard crashes.

Again, I'm not one to assume.

It does appear that something was created and I'd like to find the links and remove them.

thank you!

David Bluecame · 2010-02-07 20:57:40

Dear yvonney

If this does not help you then your problem may be different to mine, so then I don't know how to help you.

I think the /dev/ folder regenerates by itself in every boot, but anyway if you want to undo the softlinks generated by the ln -s ... lines, it's as easy as:

sudo rm /dev/snd/controlC0
sudo rm /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
sudo rm /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
sudo rm /dev/snd/seq
sudo rm /dev/snd/timer

After doing that, reboot again and it should be "normal" again.

I have OSS and ALSA drivers working at the same time with no problems at all, although my sound card is a different one.

More things you could try:
* If you have any file called .asoundrc in your home folder, it could be causing problems. You can rename it to disable it with "mv $HOME/.asoundrc $HOME/.asoundrc-NO" for example and see what happens.
* Other similar file that could cause problems is /etc/asound.conf. If it's present, rename it to another name as well.
* Execute "sudo alsaconf" and reconfigure the alsa driver
* Check if your user is included in the "audio" group

Just some thoughts, I hope any of them may somehow help you... Best regards.

yvonney · 2010-02-07 21:26:15

Interesting about the OSS and alsa at the same time. I was thinking to have a kernel without alsa built in so that MAYBE I could have oss and alsa more easily switchable.

Anyways, got back here ASAP after solving my alsa no sound card issue. did a full install of OSS in hda_intel laptop that soundcard doesn't show up in. ran the OSS till audible. then did a kernel rebuild. all working now. thanks.

So, how do you have alsa and oss installed at the same time. oss gets uninstalled which turns on alsa again.... right?

David Bluecame · 2010-02-08 18:33:43

Dear yvonney

In any application I can freely choose between ALSA or OSS drivers. I can hear sound in each configuration without having to unload or uninstall neither ALSA nor OSS modules.

My module list is:

>lsmod

Module Size Used by
cls_u32 9056 2
sch_sfq 7584 3
sch_htb 19040 1
ipv6 338656 16
fan 5704 0
battery 13896 0
ac 5640 0
gspca_spca500 14592 0
gspca_main 28160 1 gspca_spca500
em28xx_dvb 11588 0
dvb_core 106384 1 em28xx_dvb
em28xx 97680 1 em28xx_dvb
ir_common 45892 1 em28xx
v4l2_common 19360 1 em28xx
videodev 42752 3 gspca_main,em28xx,v4l2_common
v4l1_compat 18276 1 videodev
v4l2_compat_ioctl32 11040 1 videodev
videobuf_vmalloc 8036 1 em28xx
videobuf_core 19332 2 em28xx,videobuf_vmalloc
tveeprom 14724 1 em28xx
snd_seq_dummy 3588 0
snd_seq_oss 36320 0
snd_seq_midi_event 8640 1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq 64768 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss 47360 0
snd_mixer_oss 21024 1 snd_pcm_oss
arc4 2240 2
ecb 3584 2
radeon 716512 1
ttm 43776 1 radeon
snd_emu10k1 161408 1
snd_via82xx 29228 1
snd_ac97_codec 133592 2 snd_emu10k1,snd_via82xx
ac97_bus 2208 1 snd_ac97_codec
ppdev 8712 0
drm 191392 2 radeon,ttm
snd_usb_audio 106304 1
snd_pcm 91848 5 snd_pcm_oss,snd_emu10k1,snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_usb_audio
snd_timer 25456 3 snd_seq,snd_emu10k1,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 10832 3 snd_emu10k1,snd_via82xx,snd_pcm
snd_usb_lib 20672 1 snd_usb_audio
rt61pci 23940 0
crc_itu_t 2208 1 rt61pci
snd_mpu401_uart 9312 1 snd_via82xx
snd_rawmidi 26752 3 snd_emu10k1,snd_usb_lib,snd_mpu401_uart
i2c_algo_bit 6980 1 radeon
snd_util_mem 4736 1 snd_emu10k1
snd_hwdep 10056 2 snd_emu10k1,snd_usb_audio
snd_seq_device 8372 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_emu10k1,snd_rawmidi
rt2x00pci 8736 1 rt61pci
parport_pc 42920 1
snd 77224 20 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_emu10k1,snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_usb_audio,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_hwdep,snd_seq_device
rt2x00lib 35936 2 rt61pci,rt2x00pci
led_class 5160 1 rt2x00lib
soundcore 8768 1 snd
eeprom_93cx6 2400 1 rt61pci
thermal 17760 0
button 7264 0
lp 12772 0
amd64_edac_mod 23240 0
parport 39472 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
psmouse 60708 0
mac80211 179312 2 rt2x00pci,rt2x00lib
edac_core 51660 3 amd64_edac_mod
emu10k1_gp 3840 0
gameport 13808 3 snd_via82xx,emu10k1_gp
pcspkr 3296 0
evdev 13024 10
i2c_viapro 8856 0
i2c_core 25664 8 em28xx,v4l2_common,videodev,tveeprom,radeon,drm,i2c_algo_bit,i2c_viapro
serio_raw 7268 0
sg 33664 0
cfg80211 104344 2 rt2x00lib,mac80211
rfkill 24232 1 cfg80211
input_polldev 4688 1 rt2x00lib
slhc 6624 0
shpchp 40252 0
pci_hotplug 33200 1 shpchp
skge 47568 0
w83627hf 33268 0
hwmon_vid 3872 1 w83627hf
k8temp 5760 0
cpufreq_ondemand 8976 1
powernow_k8 15428 0
freq_table 4576 2 cpufreq_ondemand,powernow_k8
processor 42364 1 powernow_k8
rtc_cmos 13756 0
rtc_core 22116 1 rtc_cmos
rtc_lib 3168 1 rtc_core
ext3 151184 6
jbd 59496 1 ext3
mbcache 9028 1 ext3
usb_storage 64928 1
sr_mod 19556 0
cdrom 41320 1 sr_mod
sd_mod 31848 9
uhci_hcd 27232 0
ehci_hcd 41776 0
usbcore 183764 10 gspca_spca500,gspca_main,em28xx_dvb,em28xx,snd_usb_audio,snd_usb_lib,usb_storage,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd
sata_via 12324 0
ata_generic 6244 0
pata_via 11912 6
pata_acpi 5824 0
libata 193612 4 sata_via,ata_generic,pata_via,pata_acpi
scsi_mod 133592 5 sg,usb_storage,sr_mod,sd_mod,libata

>lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8385 [K8T800 AGP] Host Bridge (rev 01)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 PCI bridge [K8T800/K8T890 South]
00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8001 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 13)
00:0c.0 Network controller: RaLink RT2600 802.11 MIMO
00:0d.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 08)
00:0d.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! Game Port (rev 08)
00:0f.0 RAID bus controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT6420 SATA RAID Controller (rev 80)
00:0f.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 86)
00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 ISA bridge [KT600/K8T800/K8T890 South]
00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 60)
00:11.6 Communication controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 80)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon RV250 If [Radeon 9000] (rev 01)

> uname -a
Linux SOBREMESA 2.6.31-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue Nov 10 19:01:40 CET 2009 x86_64 AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3000+ AuthenticAMD GNU/Linux

Note: it was not this computer where I had the problem of the /dev/ files, it's just an example where I can use both OSS and ALSA drivers.

Best regards!

David Bluecame

yvonney · 2010-02-10 17:57:09

just got back David. Much appreciated!
Do you mean alsa_oss or full OSS install?

or do you override the OSS install/uninstall script somehow, as I can only get one or the other to installed.
Well, I mean alsa is very disabled by the OSS install script and I must uninstall OSS to use alsa again.

I don't install pacman -S alsa_oss I install pacman -S oss

do tell if you have time.
I'm not understanding much on this.
So very great thank you

Last edited by yvonney (2010-02-10 18:00:09)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-02-03 11:34:31

Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#2 2010-02-04 19:03:35

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#3 2010-02-05 02:32:39

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#4 2010-02-05 14:21:47

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#5 2010-02-05 20:49:21

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#6 2010-02-06 18:06:36

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#7 2010-02-07 06:07:45

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#8 2010-02-07 07:31:01

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#9 2010-02-07 07:44:43

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#10 2010-02-07 13:15:56

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#11 2010-02-07 17:52:12

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#12 2010-02-07 18:23:35

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#13 2010-02-07 19:04:18

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#14 2010-02-07 20:57:40

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#15 2010-02-07 21:26:15

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#16 2010-02-08 18:33:43

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

#17 2010-02-10 17:57:09

Re: Sound problems (load_state:1608: No soundcards found)

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