Compaq Deskpro sound card not detected

[RobertB]

I'm learning Linux, thanks to Knoppix, and it's just like going back to the late 80s, learning the intricacies of DOS. Exciting, but occasionally frustrating.

I can't seem to get Linux to recognize my sound card. I've got a used Compaq Deskpro, exact model unknown except that it's running a PII, +/- 300MHz. I haven't poked around the hardware much, but it seems to have a built-in sound card. All the Google searches I've done indicate that Linux shouldn't have any trouble with this setup, but...

When I log in as root, KDE informs me that "device /dev/dsp can't be opened (no such device)". I tried going into the Control Center, but all the options under "Sound I/O Method" generate the same message.

I tried a suggestion from the knoppix.net FAQ to run /etc/init.d/alsa-autoconfig, but it just said "Building card database.." and returned me to the shell prompt.

I went to http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO/x320.html, and I *think* I understood what they were talking about, but it didn't get things working. I did find that the output from dmesg doesn't seem to include any sound card references. Also, trying a command like "cat (file) > /dev/audio" generates "/dev/audio: no such device".

Is there something that I haven't tried yet (or tried poorly), or does it look more like a hardware problem? Note that this box doesn't have any other OS on it, so I don't know whether the sound works in Windoze or DOS.

Here is the output from lspci, as requested:

root@littlecutie:~# lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64
Memory at 44000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 1.0

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, 66Mhz, medium devsel, latency 64
Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=32
I/O behind bridge: 00001000-00001fff
Memory behind bridge: 40000000-400fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 41000000-41ffffff

00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 100] (rev 05)
Subsystem: Compaq Computer Corporation NC3121 Fast Ethernet NIC (WOL)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 66, IRQ 11
Memory at 40200000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=4K]
I/O ports at 2000 [size=32]
Memory at 40100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=1M]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1

00:14.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:14.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01) (prog-if 80 [Master])
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64
I/O ports at 2040 [size=16]

00:14.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 9
I/O ports at 2020 [size=32]

00:14.3 Bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 02)
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 9

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage Pro AGP 1X/2X (rev 5c) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Subsystem: ATI Technologies Inc Rage Pro Turbo AGP 2X
Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, stepping, medium devsel, latency 66, IRQ 10
Memory at 41000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=16M]
I/O ports at 1000 [size=256]
Memory at 40000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [50] AGP version 1.0

[ktheking]

Did you use the latest knoppix release ? (19/11/2003)
Check the BIOS for settings such as ACPI,Plug'n-play,reserve USB,... .

[windos_no_thanks]

Seems like there is no audio device present on the pci bus anyway. Could it be disabled in hardware ?

[RobertB]

I'm running Knoppix 3.3 -- got the CD from TuxCDs.com. I'll poke around the BIOS again next time I reboot. Sorry I haven't been working on this problem -- I've got another thread where I'm trying to figure out a software install (kbear FTP client), and that task has taken all my Linux time! That'll teach me to post two questions at the same time.

Will advise what I find. Thanks!

[Anarchy]

ok im having the same issue kind of atleast i use a compaq presario 5000 and i dont get any sound what so ever im a newb to linux and my friend has been helping me and he says always go to the forums ull find ur answer so i did first topic this one well i dunno what to do really everything else works except were having an issue getting wc3 to run with wine i might try that later but everything is fine any info on how i can fix it will be apperciated

[RobertB]

I had a chance to poke around the BIOS, but didn't have much luck. The IRQ for the sound board was 5, and the USB was at IRQ 9, so I swapped the IRQs. Same result on the sound board -- and I haven't hooked up anything to the USB, so I don't know whether that was working in the first place...

I think I'll run to the Altex store right by my office and grab a cheap sound card, see if that helps. This is a $35 box from retrobox.com, so I can't complain if I have to spend an extra $10-20 on a sound card.

Oh, and I'd like to help the previous poster, too:

ok im having the same issue kind of atleast i use a compaq presario 5000 and i dont get any sound what so ever im a newb to linux and my friend has been helping me and he says always go to the forums ull find ur answer so i did first topic this one well i dunno what to do really everything else works except were having an issue getting wc3 to run with wine i might try that later but everything is fine any info on how i can fix it will be apperciated

If you look on your keyboard, at the bottom right, you'll see some keys with strange little dots. One has a plain dot, without a tail -- this is called the "period". You will find that your questions are more likely to be answered (on any forum, not just here) if you use this key as needed, as shown in this example: My dog has fleas. Advanced users of the "period" key are ready to move on to another innovation: the "shift" key.

[Anarchy]

haha yea.... i dont like periods... i mean sure i should use them but its online does it really matter? if i wanted to i could use them but ive gotten so use to just typing so fast i forget to add them its a key i hardly ever use except in like konsole but i just forget about the key. ill try and use it more lol...

[RobertB]

haha yea.... i dont like periods... i mean sure i should use them but its online does it really matter? if i wanted to i could use them but ive gotten so use to just typing so fast i forget to add them its a key i hardly ever use except in like konsole but i just forget about the key. ill try and use it more lol...

Thanks for not taking my comments as a flame!

I know this is a tech support board, not a language reference, but I'll wade in anyway... the fact is, it does matter, whether you're online or not.

Capitalization, punctuation, and yes, even spelling (within reason) are an important part of communicating your message. Keep in mind that you're not typing just to hear your keyboard click... you want someone to read your message, understand it, and respond to it. Taking the time to format your message will encourage others to take the time to reply... and vice versa. Ignoring all punctuation and caps, etc, may leave the impression that you don't care -- so why should they?

It's like wearing a tie to a job interview. It's a meaningless piece of fabric -- it's hard to make it look right, and it cuts off the circulation to your brain. But putting it on shows that you care enough to jump through the hoops. I bought a new suit for the interview for my current job... and haven't worn it since (except for funerals). But it helped get me the job, so it was worth it.

Think of periods and capital letters as the suit and tie of the Internet.