Lacking sound

Takaharu · Feb 16, 2011, 02:21 PM

I'm in the process of restoring a PC for a friend and decided to use Ubuntu as Windows would just be way too dang slow (P4 775 GHz, 512MB DDR, 20GB HDD).

The problem that I've come across, however, is that I can't get the sound to work. The sound options tests don't work and neither does Totem Movie Player. Video's fine, it's just the sound.
The soundcard is SIS, which is onboard. I believe it's Realtek AC'97. It's a motherboard from a Packard Bell UTOW-SAN (according to the sticker on the back).
I've downloaded the AC'97 drivers from the Realtek website and ran the installer (a file called install) for it, which ran with no visible (or audible) differences. I've used the AlsaMixer app to set all of the sound levels to be unmuted, max sound but to no avail.
According to AlsaMixer the card is an SiS SI7012 and the chip is Realtek ALC655 Rev 0.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to Linux; I can follow instructions but anything more and I'm hopeless. I'm only using it as it's free, works sufficiently well with the specs of the PC and does the bare minimum that the user needs (word processing, browsing the Internet and, if I can get the sound working, playing music).

Takaharu · Feb 19, 2011, 12:07 AM

I decided to install Win2k instead. I soon realised that it was, in fact, the sound card at fault. Ah well.

Feb 16, 2011, 02:21 PM	#1
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Lacking sound I'm in the process of restoring a PC for a friend and decided to use Ubuntu as Windows would just be way too dang slow (P4 775 GHz, 512MB DDR, 20GB HDD). The problem that I've come across, however, is that I can't get the sound to work. The sound options tests don't work and neither does Totem Movie Player. Video's fine, it's just the sound. The soundcard is SIS, which is onboard. I believe it's Realtek AC'97. It's a motherboard from a Packard Bell UTOW-SAN (according to the sticker on the back). I've downloaded the AC'97 drivers from the Realtek website and ran the installer (a file called install) for it, which ran with no visible (or audible) differences. I've used the AlsaMixer app to set all of the sound levels to be unmuted, max sound but to no avail. According to AlsaMixer the card is an SiS SI7012 and the chip is Realtek ALC655 Rev 0. I'm a complete novice when it comes to Linux; I can follow instructions but anything more and I'm hopeless. I'm only using it as it's free, works sufficiently well with the specs of the PC and does the bare minimum that the user needs (word processing, browsing the Internet and, if I can get the sound working, playing music). __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Feb 19, 2011, 12:07 AM	Thread Starter #2
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Re: Lacking sound I decided to install Win2k instead. I soon realised that it was, in fact, the sound card at fault. Ah well. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details