dummy output ubuntu 20.04 LTS dell inspiron 3420

[Fernanda Barreto Fonseca]

in sound settings there is only dummy output, everything worked until April, 21 2020 when updated 18.04 LTS to 20.04 LTS via terminal.

Description: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Release: 20.04

alsa-base:
  Installed: 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5
  Candidate: 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5
  Version table:
 *** 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5 500
        500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

pavucontrol:
  Installed: 4.0-1build1
  Candidate: 4.0-1build1
  Version table:
 *** 4.0-1build1 500
        500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: linux-image-5.4.0-26-generic 5.4.0-26.30
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-26-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ploosh 1949 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Apr 23 11:35:40 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-10-06 (199 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20190805)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 3420
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-26-generic root=UUID=ec870298-2798-4d1b-a6d2-6118c2078d5e ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.4.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.4.0-26-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.187
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to focal on 2020-04-22 (1 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 11/04/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A11
dmi.board.name: 04XGDT
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A11
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Not Specified
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA11:bd11/04/2013:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron3420:pvrNotSpecified:rvnDellInc.:rn04XGDT:rvrA11:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrNotSpecified:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 3420
dmi.product.sku: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.product.version: Not Specified
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[chionatan (chionatan)]

Same bug, Dell Latitude 5480, updated from 18.04 LTS to 20.04 from Terminal.
Version: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
If it is any useful,`alsa force-reload` after boot recovers audio devices. Not really a patch, however.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@Fernanda,

this is duplicate bug of #1875252, please help collect the log according to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1875252/comments/5

thx.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

OK, it is highly possible that this is a regression introduced by the fix of https://bugs.launchpad.net/oem-priority/+bug/1869819

We will fix it in the ubuntu pulseaudio.

[chionatan (chionatan)]

This bug is flagged as duplicate of bug #1876065. However:
1. The bug description of #1876065 does not match the issue I have, which is the one described here.
2. Even if #1876065 is now fixed, and my system is up-to-date (pulseaudio 13.99.1), I'm still having the issue: no device is shown upon each reboot, only dummy output.

The only way around for me is to `alsa force-reload` until I get the devices listed ("speakers","HDMI","Headset").
How should I proceed? Should I open a new bug? This is quite urgent, as nowadays most of my work activity relies on conversations through my laptop.

[Almer S. Tigelaar (almer)]

I believe the duplicate is incorrect, as that seems to be another issue. I have had the same problem described on my laptop (a Dell XPS 13). The fact that a force-reload works points to an audio device blocking issue, and indeed that seems to be the case [1]. Timidity seems to cause this problem, probably it is starting at the same time alsa tries to capture the audio device.

The work-around solution for end-users is easy (you'll loose the timidity service, I did not need it):

`sudo systemctl stop timidity`
`sudo systemctl disable timidity`

For an actual distro fix: perhaps the Ubuntu start-up scripts can be reviewed and the order adjusted, as that's likely the culprit.

[1] = https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1467180

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

Please test according to #7, if it doesn't work, please upload the log of alsa-info.txt and output of 'pacmd list'

thx