Antix 19 sound on MS Surface

[Member 3guesses]

Hi,

I have installed Antix-19 on my MS Surface (model 3, I think) and in the main it seems to function pretty well but sound is the one thing I can’t seem to get working.

In antiX Control Centre->Sound Card Chooser, it reports only one card: chtrt5645:chtrt5645 – chtrt5645

However, Test Sound produces a window that immediately disappears and no sound (with or without headphones attached). I have been through Alsa Mixer and boosted everything possible, but that has made no difference. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

3g

[Member Xecure]

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I know it isn’t the best recommendation, but try installing and configuring pulseaudio.
sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol
2. enable pulseaudio startup from ~/.desktop-session/startup
3. restart the session.
Open a terminal and run pavucontrol and play around with the options.

If you haven’t yet, please try the linux-surface kernels for better compatibility with your device.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Xecure. Reason: add linux-surface link
• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Xecure.

antiX Live system enthusiast.
General Live Boot Parameters for antiX.

[Member 3guesses]

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Hi Xecure,

Thanks for the suggestion.

I installed pulseaudio as you instructed, and enabled its startup (I think – I just added “pulseaudio &” to ~/.desktop-session/startup). When I then ran pauvcontrol it reported an error (“(pavucontrol:19045): dbind-WARNING **: 21:37:30.591: Error retrieving accessibility bus address: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.a11y.Bus was not provided by any .service files”) which I suspect is irrelevant, but on the “Output Devices” tab it just shows “Dummy Output”, and on the “Configuration” tab it reports “No cards available for configuration”, so I suspect the sound card is not supported by the kernel, despite what antiX Control Centre says.

I’ll try giving the Surface kernels a go as you also suggested.

[Member 3guesses]

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Just reading the instructions for using the Surface kernels that you linked to, and it advises running “uname -a” afterwards to check that a Surface kernel is now being used. So I ran it on my installation and it reported:

Linux surface3 4.9.193-antix.1-amd64-smp #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Sep 20 20:30:09 BST 2019 x86_64 GNU/Linux

So it looks like I’m already using a Surface 3 kernel, no?

[Member 3guesses]

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And now AlsaMixer reports the card as PulseAudio and when I try Test Sound in antiX Control Centre it does 3 cycles of Front Left/Right, but still no sound with headphones attached.

[Forum Admin Dave]

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3guesses wrote:

Just reading the instructions for using the Surface kernels that you linked to, and it advises running “uname -a” afterwards to check that a Surface kernel is now being used. So I ran it on my installation and it reported:

Linux surface3 4.9.193-antix.1-amd64-smp #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Sep 20 20:30:09 BST 2019 x86_64 GNU/Linux

So it looks like I’m already using a Surface 3 kernel, no?

No, you are running the antiX 64 bit kernel version 4.9.193. The mention of surface3 in the output is the name you gave the machine.
What is the output of aplay -L?

Computers are like air conditioners. They work fine until you start opening Windows. ~Author Unknown

[Member 3guesses]

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Dave wrote:

No, you are running the antiX 64 bit kernel version 4.9.193. The mention of surface3 in the output is the name you gave the machine.
What is the output of aplay -L?

$ aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
jack
    JACK Audio Connection Kit
pulse
    PulseAudio Sound Server
default
    Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
plugequal
preamp
duplex
sysdefault:CARD=chtrt5645
    chtrt5645, 
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=0
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=1
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=0
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=1
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=0
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=1
    chtrt5645, 
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=0
    chtrt5645, 
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=chtrt5645,DEV=1
    chtrt5645, 
    Hardware device with all software conversions
usbstream:CARD=chtrt5645
    chtrt5645
    USB Stream Output

Does that help?

[Forum Admin rokytnji]

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Some more command readouts might help. I agree about using a newer surface kernel built already for those things. Lucky for me. Not a lot of hoop jumping for my chromebook.

harry@biker:~
$ inxi -A
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio 
  driver: snd_hda_intel 
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k4.9.212-antix.1-amd64-smp running: yes 

harry@biker:~
$ inxi -Fxz -r
System:
  Kernel: 4.9.212-antix.1-amd64-smp x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0 
  Desktop: IceWM 2.7.0 
  Distro: antiX-19.2_x64-full Hannie Schaft 27 March 2020 
  base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) 
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Google product: Parrot v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Google model: Parrot v: 1.0 serial: <filter> BIOS: coreboot 
  v: 4.0-6588-g4acd8ea-dirty date: 09/04/2014 
Battery:
  ID-1: BATX charge: 24.8 Wh (100.0%) condition: 24.8/37.0 Wh (67.0%) 
  volts: 17.1 min: 14.8 model: SANYO AL12B32 status: Full 
CPU:
  Info: Dual Core model: Intel Celeron 1007U bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Ivy Bridge rev: 9 cache: L2: 2 MiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 5986 
  Speed: 1472 MHz min/max: 800/1500 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1472 2: 1500 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel 
  bus-ID: 00:02.0 
  Device-2: Chicony type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-1.3:4 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: loaded: modesetting 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile v: 4.2 Mesa 18.3.6 
  direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k4.9.212-antix.1-amd64-smp running: yes 
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Foxconn 
  driver: ath9k v: kernel port: 0400 bus-ID: 01:00.0 
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Foxconn / Hon Hai type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-1.1:5 
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: down bt-service: running 
  rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 14.91 GiB used: 7.72 GiB (51.8%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SanDisk model: SSD U100 16GB size: 14.91 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 14.62 GiB used: 7.72 GiB (52.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found. 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  Packages: 1678 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/antix.list 
  1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/antix/buster buster main nonfree nosystemd
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/buster-backports.list 
  1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-backports main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list 
  1: deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ buster-updates main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list 
  1: deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ buster main contrib non-free
  2: deb http://security.debian.org/ buster/updates main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/onion.list 
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list 
Info:
  Processes: 159 Uptime: 8m Memory: 3.8 GiB used: 785.6 MiB (20.2%) 
  Init: SysVinit runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 Shell: Bash v: 5.0.3 
  inxi: 3.3.06 

Good luck.

Sometimes I drive a crooked road to get my mind straight.
Not all who Wander are Lost.
I'm not outa place. I'm from outer space.

Linux Registered User # 475019
How to Search for AntiX solutions to your problems

[Member 3guesses]

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OK, so I’ve not been able to post because I followed the instructions for updating my kernel to a Surface-specific one and unfortunately errors occurred which meant that antiX would then not boot. And before rebooting I tried to post with the upgrade output (showing the errors) and the forum software wouldn’t let me because it thought I was posting SPAM (the irony). It has taken me this long to get a working system up and running – I wanted to install antiX 19.4, but the live ISO never loaded the desktop (or it didn’t for the several minutes I left it to do so). So real fun and games. But I have to say, this illustrates perfectly why Linux is not mainstream – I would probably be classified as a computer expert (not so where Linux is concerned, obvs), but it is far, FAR from straightforward to get it fully functional on devices.

[Member ModdIt]

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why Linux is not mainstream. Not enough forgotten black suitcases…

It does not have a billion dollar lobby, is not installed to about 99% of new devices and nobody is giving free
devices to deciscion makers, buyers teachers. My kids teachers were given free high end devices with win 10.
They also were given i pads and in some higher positions mac.

Go to your local shops and ask for a device with linux pre installed, the seller will tell you it is crap.
Ask him some pointed questions and in majority of cases you will find he only knows the name but has never
even seen a running linux system.

Those experts use linux derivates every day, android phone, buy from amazon etc but deny it is usable.

[Member Xecure]

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I think the issue with the surface kernel is that it installed a 5.14 kernel version, which may be too bleeding edge for the surface 3. I think the github instructions are not too good.

If possible, after getting back to antiX, try installing the surface LTS kernels.

Steps would be:
1. Add keys to sign the repository

wget -qO - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/master/pkg/keys/surface.asc \
    | gpg --dearmor | sudo dd of=/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/linux-surface.gpg

2. Add the repository to the apt sources

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://pkg.surfacelinux.com/debian release main" \
	| sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/linux-surface.list

3. update the packagelist
sudo apt update

4. Install the LTS surface linux kernel
sudo apt install linux-image-surface-lts linux-headers-surface-lts

Then reboot and see if it using the surface kernel.
uname -r
should say
4.19.206-surface-lts

If it fails to boot, then select a different kernel to boot from in the GRUB boot menu, advanced boot options.

antiX Live system enthusiast.
General Live Boot Parameters for antiX.

[Member 3guesses]

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@Xecure Unfortunately, at step 3 (update the package list) I got the following error:

Err:5 http://mxlinux.mirrors.uk2.net/packages/antix/buster buster InRelease
  The following signatures were invalid: EXPKEYSIG DB36CDF3452F0C20 antiX (antix repo) <repo@antixlinux.com>

I think this may have happened last time but I continued. So this time I have stopped!

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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Use repo-manager to change the antiX repos and try again

also see this – expkeysig-error

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Member 3guesses]

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@anticapitalista Thanks. I followed the instructions to resolve the EXPKEYSIG error – and got the following error from apt-get update:

Get:5 https://mirrors.evowise.com/mxlinux-packages/antix/buster buster InRelease [638 kB]                                               
Err:5 https://mirrors.evowise.com/mxlinux-packages/antix/buster buster InRelease
  Clearsigned file isn't valid, got 'NOSPLIT' (does the network require authentication?)
Hit:8 https://pkg.surfacelinux.com/debian release InRelease        
Reading package lists... Done                          
E: Failed to fetch https://mirrors.evowise.com/mxlinux-packages/antix/buster/dists/buster/InRelease  Clearsigned file isn't valid, got 'NOSPLIT' (does the network require authentication?)
E: The repository 'https://mirrors.evowise.com/mxlinux-packages/antix/buster buster InRelease' is not signed.
N: Updating from such a repository can't be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.

Also, now whenever I start up the Opera browser, my Surface 3 immediately powers off.

(So I’m having to use Firefox to post this, which is annoying because I really like Opera)

EDIT: OK, resolved the apt-get error by selecting the mirror on the “Individual source” tab in Repo Manager (although I can’t now seem to see it listed).

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by 3guesses.

[Member 3guesses]

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OK, so the good news is that the process to update the kernel completed without error, and after rebooting I’m pretty sure my Surface is now running the Surface-specific kernel (and Conky now shows the battery status 8-).

The bad news is that the touchpad is now completely unresponsive. So I can literally do nothing on it…

EDIT: Rebooted again and the touchpad is working again! Phew… I’ll have a check to see how everything else functions now.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by 3guesses.

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