[CentOS] No sound on HP 8540w, guidance requested

[Robert Heller]

At Sat, 7 May 2011 11:41:25 -0400 Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com> wrote:

> 
> At Sat, 07 May 2011 08:22:58 -0700 CentOS mailing list <centos at centos.org> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Dear Experts
> > 
> > I have been unsuccessful getting the sound to work on a HP Mobile 
> > Workstation HP 8540w.
> > 
> > Here's a brief rundown of where I am
> > 
> > I did a clean new install of Centos 5.6 from DVD, using the Gnome 
> > Desktop option and no optional modules.
> > I enabled the firewall, but disabled SELINUX.
> > 
> > I installed three files from elrepo to make the wireless adaptor 
> > work, and specified the video adaptor using the Gnome -> System -> 
> > Preferences -> Display panel.
> > 
> > I ran "yum update" until all updates were completed, rebooted system 
> > because the Kernel changed.
> > 
> > 
> > The system now works -- all of the following appear to function properly:
> >   - USB connections
> >   - wireless
> >   - ethernet
> >   - pointer-stick for the mouse
> >   - the display at its "natural" resolution (1920x1200)
> >   - An occassional beep does occur, proving that the PC speaker is connected.
> > 
> > However, I when I play any sound or movie file, I get no sound.  I 
> > know that the PC speaker produces low quality sound, but there should 
> > be something.
> > 
> > I have experimented with the "Sound" setup, but none of the options 
> > seem to produce good results.
> > 
> > Is there some special driver or option I need?
> 
> Probably.
> 
> Do a 'lspci | grep -i audio' in a terminal window and post the results
> here. This will list what sort of sound chipset your system has.
> 
> You may need to download and install a driver, probably from the Elrepo
> repositority, much like you did for the wireless.

Also, it is possible that the sound card/chip is NOT connected to the PC
speaker.  Most (all?) laptops / notbooks / netbooks / tablets do include
speaker(s) connected to the sound card/chip.  Most (all?) *desktops* do
not -- they require *external* speakers ("sold separately") to be
connected.

Since this calls itself a "Mobile Workstation", I am not sure how things
are connected.  Is "Mobile Workstation" 'fancy' terminology for "laptop"
or is it something else?  Is this a 'lugable' machine (eg a desktop with
a carrying handle and built-in monitor)?

> 
> > 
> > Any assistance or direction would be appreciated.
> > 
> > David
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > CentOS mailing list
> > CentOS at centos.org
> > http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
> > 
> >                                                                       
> 

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
Deepwoods Software        -- http://www.deepsoft.com/
()  ascii ribbon campaign -- against html e-mail
/\  www.asciiribbon.org   -- against proprietary attachments