Ubuntu

Asus A6000 VM laptop - bad hardware support under Linux-

Asked by Joël.Boujassy

Hi there !
As a new Linux user I must report you the big problems I had when I got rid of Windows and turn myself to Linux ...
The only trouble with Linux is a bad or erratic hardware support ; in particular with laptops ... Like mine !
I have a Asus A6000 VM and I get no sound with my minijack audio output (I've tryed everything possible !) .
The problem remains the same no mather the sound manager ALSA or OSS ! The problem remains the same no mather the Linux distribution I tryed , here is the list :
Debian - Ubuntu - Suse - Sabayon - Mandriva - Slakeware - Fedora ...
Yeah ! I've tryed them all !!!
If I want sound I just have to satisfy the crappy built-in speaker ... Shamefull !
I think the problem is in the ALSA 's (and OSS) drivers because I have the same problems with all the distribution I tryed .
Another problem is the built-in webcam doesn't work because the drivers just don't exist !!!
Now what do I have to do ? I feel mad after all the time I've been loosing !!!
What can I do with an operating system that cannot allow me to use 100 % of my machine ?!
Don't you think it's bad engeneering to provide an operating system without a good driver support ?
Linux will never be a reliable alternative to this Windows crap if the hardware isn't fully supported .
The Asus A6 laptop serie is a very very common material , nothing exotic , just one of the most sold serie of laptops !
So what's going on with ALSA project and other Linux team of developers ?!
I'm just a Linux noob OK but I can't make myself up something that doesn't exist : Drivers and EFFICIENT HARDWARE SUPPORT INCLUDED IN THE OS !
I'm trying desperatly to find sombody in the Linux world
Thanks for reading ;
Thanks for helping .

Joël

<email address hidden>

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Robert Di Gioia (digioiar) said : 		#1

Hi

Sorry to hear that you've had issues with drivers. Part of the reason that Linux drivers are sometimes unavailable or lacking features is because the hardware manufacturers won't support Linux themselves, and won't provide API documentation on their hardware for others to write drivers.

Anyway, lets try looking at your issues one at a time.

For the headphone jack issue, please right click on the speaker icon on the top bar near the clock, and select preferences.

In the top box, please select the Alsa Mixer option, and click close.

Now double click on the speaker icon, and it should open up the Alsa Mixer

There should be several faders displayed, make sure the one that says Headphone, Master, and PCM is not muted and is turned all the way up.

Close Alsa Mixer

Now right click one more time on the speaker icon and select preferences. This time in the bottom box, select Headphone and click close.

If everything is set up right, now your headphone should work and the volume buttons on your laptop should control the headphone volume.

If it still doesn't work, then please open a terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), type in these commands, and paste the output here so we can diagnose what is going on. The first command will ask you to enter your password, type it in and press enter even though you won't see anything while typing it, it is ok.

sudo lshw -C sound
lsmod | grep -i snd

good luck

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