Sound not working due to "hda-intel: no codecs found"

[Nate Case]

Binary package hint: linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.22-14-generic

Sound used to work with older Ubuntu releases, but after upgrading to Gutsy I see no ALSA cards detected:

    $ lspci -nn | grep -i audio
    00:10.1 Audio device [0403]: nVidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio [10de:026c] (rev a2)
    $

    $ modprobe snd_hda_intel
    $ cat /proc/asound/cards
    --- no soundcards ---

    $ dmesg | grep "hda-intel"
    [49984.684000] hda-intel: no codecs found!

This likely only affects certain chipsets. I'm guessing the culprit is the patch that changed AZX_MAX_CODECS from 4 to 3. Here is more info on the issue:

    http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.alsa.devel/45881

The above patch seems to have been merged into Linux mainline already ("[ALSA] hda-intel - Fix codec probe with ATI contorllers"). It mentions ATI controllers, but it appears to be affecting my nvidia MPC51 controller as well.

[Nate Case (ncase-xes-inc)]

This bug is still present in Hardy.

I also tried the kernel patches manually but it didn't seem to make a difference. I don't think this is the same issue as encountered by the ATI controllers.

I should note that this machine is a Dell Dimension C521.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Care to confirm this is still an issue with the latest Alpha for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10. You should be able to test via a LiveCD - http://www.ubuntu.com/testing. Please let us know your results. If the issue still exists, per the kernel team's bug policy, can you please attach the following information. Please be sure to attach each file as a separate attachment.

* cat /proc/version_signature > version.log
* dmesg > dmesg.log
* sudo lspci -vvnn > lspci-vvnn.log

For more information regarding the kernel team bug policy, please refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeamBugPolicies .

Also note that beginning with the Intrepid Ibex 8.10 development cycle the linux-ubuntu-modules package was actually merged with the linux kernel package. Going forward, bugs that would have been reported against linux-ubuntu-modules should not just be reported against linux. We'll keep this bug open against the actively developed linux task but against 2.6.22 and 2.6.24 this will be closed. Thanks.

[Nate Case (ncase-xes-inc)]

I tried booting the Intrepid Alpha 4 LiveCD to see if this issue still exists, but unfortunately video seemed broken after the initial "Ubuntu" boot progress screen while booting so I couldn't get a chance to test sound. I suppose I should file a separate bug report for that.

In any case, I'll attach the requested information for my current install.

[Nate Case (ncase-xes-inc)]

Update: Sound works again!

I'm still using Hardy, and just did the following:

1) Upgraded kernel from 2.6.24-19.33-generic to 2.6.24-21-generic
2) Rebooted into Windows to make sure sound hardware was still functioning
3) Re-booted into new Linux kernel
4) Sound worked (no more "hda-intel: no codecs found" message)

I don't know if the kernel upgrade really fixed anything -- it could have even been booting into Windows that did the magic to make the hardware detectable by Linux again.

In either case, you can close this bug.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Thanks for the update Nate. I'm glad to hear things are working now. I'll go ahead and close this report. Thanks.

[Everthon Valadão (valadao)]

My sound stop working with the linux kernel 2.6.27-7-generic, BUT here's a quick FIX:

sudo killall pulseaudio
sudo alsa force-reload

and them go to System>Preferences>Sound and change everything to ALSA

;-)

P.S.: PulseAudio sucks!