Karmic Kernel 2.6.31 installed but not visible in grub boot menu -> Sound not working in old/previous kernel version after direct upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04 to Ubuntu 9.10

The issue is this:

# Kernel Information
# ------------------
#
# Kernel release: 2.6.28-11-generic
# Operating System: GNU/Linux
# Architecture: i686
# Processor: unknown
# SMP Enabled: Yes
#
#
# ALSA Version
# ------------
#
# Driver version: 1.0.18rc3
# Library version: 1.0.20
# Utilities version: 1.0.20

Your ALSA driver and library versions are not the same. And this is probably caused by the fact that you are booting the old Jaunty kernel instead of the new Karmic kernel (version 2.6.31).

Please try rebooting and choose the 2.6.31 Karmic kernel in the boot menu. Then boot and retest sound. If it still does not work, then I think the upgrade to 9.10 failed. If you cannot find or install the 2.6.31 kernel using Synaptic or aptitude, then I suggest reinstalling Ubuntu 9.10 from a LiveCD session.

If you encounter the same problem after doing what Mark Rijckenberg said, I will tell you what I've done to fix the "No soundcards found ..." issue. I have a FS laptop with the same VIA audio chipset and after I reconfigured alsa-base the sound card was detected by the system and sound is heard now.

Hi

Thanks for you advice and help which is most appreciated.

Using ESC gives me a boot menu otherwise it just goes directly to Ubuntu. The menu only has Ubuntu 9.04 Kernal 2.6.28-11 generic & recovery mode + mem test so I don't actually have 9.10 at all.

Where is my old 8.04 kennal that worked?

I can't understand why Ubuntu can't upgrade a working Ubuntu system with all the configuration files in place for the insrtallation program to read. I thought Linux was stable and this has shattered this myth.

I thought it was impossable for an upgrade to fail like this without any error? It took so much effort to get 8.04 all working on this old machine and now we are back to square one. I will install 9.10 however i can forsee a lot of hardship getting everything running and following the last upgrade I was left with an small half screen and having to create my own code page file to correct by trial and error.

It sucks that basic input systems like Mouse, Screen or Network can work following installation on quality Compaq hardware.

How long will Linux be out before it can handle an upgrade over itsd own native file system with full access to its own configuration files?

This put the lie to all the crap about abstraction and stability.

As I wrote before, if you boot the old kernel (2.6.28-11 generic), you should be able to install the 2.6.31 kernel using Synaptic or aptitude. After installing the 2.6.31 kernel from the Ubuntu repositories, reboot and then sound should work. If the 2.6.31 kernel cannot be found, then the /etc/apt/sources.list file may be misconfigured.

Hi Mark

Thanks for the additional assistance. I looked in Package manager under Kernal & Modules + Multiverse and universe and I cannot find a package 2.6.31?

 in addition I don't understand if I run "update manager" I dont get the Kernal update in any case.
How can I fall behind in this way and why does'nt update manager not detect that I am out of sync?

Once I have a bootable system I should be able to conect to ubuntu and get the required updates to stablise my system. What am I missing or are my expectations unrealistic?

How do I find this package to fix?

Cheers

Anthony

Please send us the full output of the following 3 commands:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

sudo aptitude update

sudo aptitude search 2.6.31

Hi

Please find the output as requested.

anthony@presario:~$ cat/etc/apt/sources.list
bash: cat/etc/apt/sources.list: No such file or directory
anthony@presario:~$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
#
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 9.04 _Jaunty Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1)]/ jaunty main restricted

# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 9.04 _Jaunty Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1)]/ jaunty main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic main restricted
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates main restricted
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic universe
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic universe
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates universe
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic multiverse
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic multiverse
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates multiverse
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ karmic-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu jaunty partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu jaunty partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu karmic-security multiverse
anthony@presario:~$

anthony@presario:~$ sudo aptitude update
Writing extended state information... Done
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Translation-en_AU
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Translation-en_AU
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Translation-en_AU
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Translation-en_AU
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Translation-en_AU
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Sources
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Translation-en_AU
Ign http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Translation-en_AU
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://au.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Done

anthony@presario:~$ sudo aptitude search 2.6.31
p linux-backports-modules-2.6.31- - Ubuntu supplied Linux modules for version
p linux-backports-modules-2.6.31- - Ubuntu supplied Linux modules for version
p linux-backports-modules-alsa-2. - Ubuntu supplied Linux modules for version
p linux-backports-modules-alsa-2. - Ubuntu supplied Linux modules for version
p linux-ec2-source-2.6.31 - Linux kernel source for version 2.6.31 wit
i A linux-headers-2.6.31-14 - Header files related to Linux kernel versi
p linux-headers-2.6.31-14-386 - Linux kernel headers for version 2.6.31 on
i A linux-headers-2.6.31-14-generic - Linux kernel headers for version 2.6.31 on
p linux-headers-2.6.31-14-generic - Linux kernel headers for version 2.6.31 on
p linux-headers-2.6.31-302 - Header files related to Linux kernel versi
p linux-headers-2.6.31-302-ec2 - Linux kernel headers for version 2.6.31 on
p linux-headers-2.6.31-9-rt - Linux kernel headers for version 2.6.31 on
p linux-headers-lbm-2.6.31-14-gen - Header files related to linux-backports-mo
p linux-headers-lbm-2.6.31-14-gen - Header files related to linux-backports-mo
p linux-image-2.6.31-14-386 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on i
i linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x
p linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic-p - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x
p linux-image-2.6.31-14-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x
p linux-image-2.6.31-302-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x
p linux-image-2.6.31-9-rt - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on I
p linux-rt-headers-2.6.31-9 - Header files related to Linux kernel versi
p linux-source-2.6.31 - Linux kernel source for version 2.6.31 wit

The output of the command

sudo aptitude search 2.6.31

shows the following output on your pc:

i linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x

This means that the Karmic kernel 2.6.31-14-generic is already installed on your pc, but - as you wrote - not visible in the grub boot menu.

Try running the following commands (copy-paste into a Terminal):

sudo update-initramfs -c -v -k 2.6.31-14-generic
sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic
sudo update-grub

Then reboot into the grub menu and - hopefully - you can select the new 2.6.31 kernel.

Hi Mark

I ran those commands which seemed to complete Ok and I could see the terminal test update menu.lst however when i restarted i could still only see 2.6.28-11 in the GRUB menu so nothing has changed concerning the problem.

That is very strange. In that case, I recommend installing Ubuntu 9.10 from a LiveCD session. First make a backup of all your personal data before attempting the clean install.

Thanks for your help.

It is indeed very strange that the Karmic kernel 2.6.31-14-generic is already installed on my pc, but - as you wrote - not visible in the grub boot menu. So the system can be simply pointed to the correct kernel - very strange.

It kind of shakes up my confidence in the environment to the bone because i have downloaded Linux images and run setup programs to completion to the end without any errors showing several times in the past only to find that the system did not start or run properly without considerable intervention via a terminal window. It seems every 2 years i revisit the environment to find nothing much has changed.

The problem for users trying to learn you have no idea what these cryptic commands are actually doing or attempting to do so you learn nothing.

A GUI provides you context that accellerates learning however it seem Linux will never make it that far.

I am greatful for your assistance and thanks very much.

I have to be honest and say I have no confidence in runing live setup again and as much as i want to believe in the concept of open source I am prepared to admit that it will never mature to a point of public acceptance as it is too unstable to setup and too difficult to learn.

You simply need to be able to troubleshoot and configure in a GUI and NOT a terminal.

Hi Mark

I made a copy of the 3 lines in the Menu.lst file that corresponded to the 3 9.04 lines that were showing the the GRUB menu and edited them to refer to 2.6.31-14 as we both know that the files were on my system.

The system then booted inot 9.10 and I heard the start up sound on logging in so I knew something had changed. All sound now works find and the touch panel also works.

Unfortunately the wireless PCNCIA card does not work which i will troubleshoot separately.

It is a TP-LINK WN610G which is only listed as supported in 8.03 so i may need a new driver.

Thanks for your assistance.

Kind Regards

Anthony

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 21e129c2-8b46-4178-9bf1-295a4bcb760a
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=21e129c2-8b46-4178-9bf1-295a4bcb760a ro quiet
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 21e129c2-8b46-4178-9bf1-295a4bcb760a
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=21e129c2-8b46-4178-9bf1-295a4bcb760a ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 21e129c2-8b46-4178-9bf1-295a4bcb760a
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

Please also read this document:

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/getubuntu/upgrading

"Before You Start

    * You can only directly upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10 from Ubuntu 9.04 (see UpgradeNotes).
    * Be sure that you have all updates applied to Ubuntu 9.04 before you upgrade.
    * Before upgrading it is recommended that you read the release notes for Ubuntu 9.10, which document caveats and workarounds for known issues in this version. "

Issues are expected if you attempt an upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04 directly to Ubuntu 9.10. This upgrade shortcut will not work.