The headphone jack in the docking station doesn't work

[Vikas BN]

I use a laptop (Dell D610) at office which is normally docked to the docking station.
The external monitor, ethernet cable, etc. are connected through this docking station.
Everything else works perfectly (USB connectors,etc.) but the headphone jack doesn't work.

I've tested it on windows and works fine. When i connect the earphones to the jack,
the laptop (on-board) speaker gets muted (like you'd expect), but can't hear anything
through the headphone also.

This problem has been there since Dapper and now I'm using Gutsy. My old bug report
got expired, so opening a new one.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.15/+bug/55150

Thanks,
-vikas

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Another user provided a link to a forum thread about getting this to work partially:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=370909.

 Accordingly I'm changing the package from linux source to alsa.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Can you try installing the linux-backports-modules package? It has an updated version of ALSA. Please let us know if this helps. Thanks!

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Hi Leann,

   I tried installing linux-backports-modules, however,
   this hasn't helped. It's still not working.

-vikas

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Can you go through the following wiki and let us know if it helps?

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DebuggingSoundProblems

Thanks.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The Hardy Heron Alpha2 release will be coming out soon (around Dec 20). It will have an updated version of the kernel. It would be great if you could test with this new release if this issue still exists. I'll be sure to update this report when Alpha2 is available. Thanks!

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

I'm opened a new task against the actively developed kernel. However, I'm closing the report against linux-source-2.6.22 as it does not meet the criteria for a stable release update. You can learn more about the stable release update process at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates . Thanks!

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Hi Leann,

  Thanks for the update. I'm using Gutsy now, is there a way to test
  the Hardy kernel on my system without installing Hardy itself?

  E.g: will a 'sudo apt-get install linux-kernel-x.x.xx' and rebooting into
         the new kernel suffice?

TIA,
-Vikas

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The easiest way to test the new Hardy kernel will probably be via the Hardy Heron Alpha2 LiveCD. It should be out shortly (literally within a day or so). I'll be sure to let you know where you can grab the image. Thanks.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hardy Heron Alpha2 was recently released. It contains an updated version of the kernel. You can download and try the new Hardy Heron Alpha2 release from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/hardy/alpha-2/ . You should be able to then test the new kernel via the LiveCD. If you can, please verify if this bug still exists or not and report back your results. General information regarding the release can also be found here: http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/alpha2 . Thanks!

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Hi Leann,

  I have now downloaded the Hardy Alpha 3 and also installed it on my system.

  Now, the headphone jack on the docking station actually works and the sound control
  seems to work (increasing/decreasing volume). However, there's a horrible 'shrill' noise
  along with the sound that is heard. The songs aren't as clear as on the laptop headphone
  jack.

Thanks,
-Vikas

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Vikas,

I'm glad to hear things have improved, although still not ideal. It's a little harder to debug sound issues where things don't "sound right". I'm not sure if you have the linux-backports-modules package installed? If not, maybe try installing it, it has an updated version of ALSA (version 1.0.16-rc1). You also may want to try testing with Hardy Alpha4 which will be released in the next day or two. Let us know if any of those help. Thanks.

[Simon Watson (simon-swat)]

Just to confirm I've also noticed this problem... I'm running the latest and greatest stuff - and I still get a revolting 'buzz' along with the sound out of the dock headphone jack.

Out of the port on the laptop however, the sound is fine!

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Hi Leann,

  Do I have to add the Intrepid repos for the 2.6.27 image?
  Because apt-cache search doesn't return it. THe latest image
  available on Hardy seems to be .24...

-Vikas

[Dimitrios Symeonidis (azimout)]

hi vikas, sorry for the late response...
are you still on hardy? is this still an issue for you?
could you try with an intrepid livecd? or even better, the latest jaunty alpha 6?
thank you, and good luck

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

HI Dimitrios,

  Yes, I'm still on Hardy.
  I do have an Intrepid live-cd at home. I'll test with it and update tomorrow.

-Vikas

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Hi Dimitrios,

  I tested with the Intrepid live-cd. But it doesn't work.

  I tried all combinations available in the volume control (alsa,oss,pulseaudio,etc.).

  But none of them work.

-Vikas

[Dimitrios Symeonidis (azimout)]

switching back to new

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Would be great if you could also test with the most recent Jaunty Jackalope 9.04 - http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . At then the report will be up to date when developers have a chance to take a look. Thanks.

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

This bug report was marked as Incomplete and has not had any updated comments for quite some time. As a result this bug is being closed. Please reopen if this is still an issue in the current Ubuntu release http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . Also, please be sure to provide any requested information that may have been missing. To reopen the bug, click on the current status under the Status column and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[GoFast (tpetz)]

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad x240 with Dockingstation. I have the same problem described below.

installed --> Kubuntu 14.04 LTS

The headphone jack on notebook works fine, but there is no sound on the headphone jack on docking station.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 157313

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[GoFast (tpetz)]

Not possible to run:
apport-collect 157313

error: ERROR: Could not import module, is a package upgrade in progress? Error: No module named PyQt4.QtCore

[GoFast (tpetz)]

here my output when running aply-l

[penalvch (penalvch)]

GoFast, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into a Ubuntu repository kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Vikas BN, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a terminal, as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p linux REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

If reproducible, could you also please test the latest upstream kernel available (not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.15-rc5

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Vikas BN (vikas-bn)]

Works for me on Ubuntu 13.10 and the latitude E series laptop.

Thanks!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Vikas BN, this bug report is being closed due to your last comment https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/157313/comments/28 regarding this being fixed with an update. For future reference you can manage the status of your own bugs by clicking on the current status in the yellow line and then choosing a new status in the revealed drop down box. You can learn more about bug statuses at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Status. Thank you again for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Please submit any future bugs you may find.