No sound on fresh install of laptop (HP 6730B from 2008)
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:04 am
I am using HP 6730b. A core 2 duo P8400 cpu. Speaker doesnt work. On Linux it worked before. I've tried various FreeBSD wikis, but couldnt solve it.
To get the audio working for the Intel ICH9 HD Audio Controller, here are some steps that typically resolve issues with onboard Intel HD audio:
1. Ensure the Sound Driver is Loaded:
FreeBSD uses the `snd_hda` driver for Intel HD Audio devices. First, check if the driver is loaded:
kldstat | grep snd_hda
If it's not loaded, load it with:
sudo kldload snd_hda
To make this change permanent, add `snd_hda_load="YES"` to `/boot/loader.conf`:
sudo echo 'snd_hda_load="YES"' >> /etc/rc.conf
sudo reboot
2.Set the Default Audio Output Device:
Once the driver is loaded, list the available audio devices:
cat /dev/sndstat
Identify the audio device corresponding to your speakers. The devices are numbered, like `pcm0`, `pcm1`, etc. Set the appropriate one as the default by adding to `/etc/sysctl.conf`:
sudo sysctl hw.snd.default_unit=X
Replace `X` with the device number that corresponds to your speakers.
3. Test Sound Output:
Use a basic sound test to check if audio is working:
cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp
Or use `mplayer`, `ffplay`, or `aplay` with an audio file if installed.
4. Check and Configure Mixer Settings:
Sometimes, audio levels are muted by default. Check the mixer levels and unmute them if necessary:
mixer
You can increase the volume by running:
mixer vol 100
mixer pcm 100
5. Troubleshoot Further if Needed:
If there’s still no sound, it may be necessary to experiment with different device numbers in `hw.snd.default_unit` or consult the hardware compatibility for the specific HP device.
Let me know if the issue persists after these steps.