error message when gnome-alsamixer is launching

[GFD]

Running on Xubuntu Feisty Fawn, I got this error when I launch gnome-alsamixer:
"An error occured while loading or saving configuration information for GNOME ALSA Mixer. Some of your configuration settings may not work properly.
Details:
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Master": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Master": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Bass": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Bass": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Treble": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Treble": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Rear_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Rear_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PCM": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PCM": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Front": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Front": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Synth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Synth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line2_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line2_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-CD": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-CD": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Video": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Video": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Phone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Phone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Coaxial": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Coaxial": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_TTL": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_TTL": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PC_Speaker": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PC_Speaker": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Aux": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Aux": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Capture": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Capture": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-AC97": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-AC97": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Tone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Tone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_-_Switch": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_-_Switch": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Boost___20dB_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Boost___20dB_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Select": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Select": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Optical_Raw": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Optical_Raw": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix_Mono": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix_Mono": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-External_Amplifier": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-External_Amplifier": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-SB_Live_Analog_Digital_Output_Jack": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-SB_Live_Analog_Digital_Output_Jack": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_4-Speaker_Stereo": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_4-Speaker_Stereo": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Output_Bias": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Output_Bias": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround_Phase_Inversion_Playback_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround_Phase_Inversion_Playback_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names"

I have an Sound Blaster Live! Player sound card.

[Lesmond74 (lesmond74)]

I have this problem as well. I'm running Ubuntu Feisty AMD64 and have a 2 sound card setup. Card 0 is a HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 (based on the C-Media CMI8768 MC8 chipset), and card 1 is an old SB Ensoniq Audio PCI, which also uses a Sigmatel chipset like the OP's card above. The C-Media card doesn't have anything to do with the error, only the SB card and its 'invalid character' is mentioned. Attached is the full error message, which is the same as the above, apart from the different chipset (it's in German too, btw). The application still works despite this error.

[Lesmond74 (lesmond74)]

btw, when I say the app 'works', I mean I can still adjust the sound card settings. But in the program preferences there is an option to hide each card, and this does not work. Each step involved in trying to do that, from choosing Edit>Program Preferences to clicking 'OK' to get back to the mixer, produces the same error. The change doesn't get saved either.

[jhnet3 (josephh)]

Also Creative Labs Audigy 2: Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9750,51": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names

[Omar Shami (bigfox)]

I am also having the same problem.

The error details:
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/": Key/directory may not end with a slash (/)
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/": Key/directory may not end with a slash (/)

Ubuntu 7.10 AMD64

[elsabi (yahuco)]

Adding the "," to the delimiter lists in gam-app.h could solve the annoying problem.

The patch file:

--- a/src/gam-app.h 2008-02-22 08:00:29.000000000 -0200
+++ b/src/gam-app.h 2008-02-22 08:00:53.000000000 -0200
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@

 G_BEGIN_DECLS

-#define GAM_CONFIG_DELIMITERS " &()+/"
+#define GAM_CONFIG_DELIMITERS " &()+/,"

 #define GAM_TYPE_APP (gam_app_get_type ())
 #define GAM_APP(obj) (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST ((obj), GAM_TYPE_APP, GamApp))

[Ben Klaasen (ben-fluidlogic)]

See also http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=429012. Let's not duplicate each other's work!

[Marnanel Thurman (marnanel)]

Debdiff attached.

[Marnanel Thurman (marnanel)]

Bastien has pointed out upstream a much simpler way to do this; I'll try to get the debdiff for that way attached later today. Sorry about that.

[Daniel Holbach (dholbach)]

Unsubscribing Ubuntu Sponsors for universe from this bug for now. Please re-subscribe once you've updated the patch. Thanks.

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

fixed as of Debian source package version 0.9.7~cvs.20060916.ds.1-2

[Nogero (oregonbob)]

Whoever says this is "fixed", it isn't. It happens in my fresh install of 10.10.

[Raymond (superquad-vortex2)]

This seem to be bug in gnome-alsamixer according to

http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.alsa.devel/5047/focus=5060

[Wes Crow (nana8590)]

10.10 same thing
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-alsamixer/+bug/184768
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-alsamixer/+bug/461003
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-alsamixer/+bug/106903
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=429012

Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'

Maybe I'll un-install and look for another mixer or OS!!!

[marcbraz (marcbraz)]

- same thing in Peppermint Two (Linux mbraz-xpto 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:50 UTC 2011 i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux

- using driver snd_ca0106 : 00:0b.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs CA0106 Soundblaster

-error message:

Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'

[unixnewbie (darfsten)]

I have the same issue with my 10.04.3 install i've been running forever. The errors I get involve it looking for config settings being looked for within this location:

Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/": Key/directory may not end with a slash '/'