I just tried knoppix 5.1 on that box, and the soundcard works just fine, mixer and all.

could this fact be exploited to solve the problem on suse 10.2?

If so, how?

could it be a 64bit problem? the knoppix i tried is 32bit, and the alsa mixer works fine... even though knoppix uses alsa 1.0.12.

What sound driver are you using?

I have a similar problem on a Dell system with Intel/Sigmatel HDA driver (snd-hda-intel). Alsamixer exits with "function snd_mixer_load failed: Invalid argument". This is a known bug in Alsas HDA drivers and is fixed (at least for Dell systems) with version 1.0.14rc1.

If you are also using snd-hda-intel you can try to set "model=acer":
open root terminal, unload driver "rmmod snd-hda-intel", load with option "modprobe snd-hda-intel model=acer". Then open alsamixer to check if the controls are available.


If this doesn't work a kernel update should help as you said it works with Knoppix which uses a more recent kernel verison.
So if you are brave enough and _know_ what you are doing you might try to install the latest kernel from http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/SL-OSS-factory/inst-source/suse/x86_64/

I'll try this my own to see if it fixes my problem.

With this problem (which existed in 10.1 as well) I've been going through all available versions from 1.0.11(?) which ships with 10.1 up to 1.0.14rc1, including several HG checkouts.
And "model=acer" was one of the first things i did, without that i'd have no sound at all (not even the OSS emu layer).
please keep me updated about that kernel experiment.

Right now I'm suspecting 64bits as the real culprit, since I tried several 32bit livecds and they all had working alsa mixers, even with older alsa driver versions...

I just installed factory kernel 2.6.20-rc4 and everything works just fine! 

You said, you've installed Alsa 1.0.14rc1. I tried this before I upgraded the kernel without success, as the kernel loads it's prebuild modules. Don't now if I did something wrong by just recompiling and installing the alsa rpm from factory-distribution.. 

Tell me, what output do you get form "modinfo snd-hda-intel"?

the alsa rpm does not contain any drivers at all;
you have to download the driver source from www.alsa-project.org, unpack it,then do the usual ./configure; make; make install 
and i wouldn't know about the modinfo stuff, the laptop in question was sent to manufacturer service today (for different reasons), and i won't get it back before 1-2 weeks.

upgraded alsa-driver to 1.0.14rc2, still no mixer.

re #5:
pippin:~ # modinfo snd-hda-intel
filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.18.2-34-default/kernel/sound/pci/hda/snd-hda-intel.ko
license:        GPL
description:    Intel HDA driver
vermagic:       2.6.18.2-34-default SMP mod_unload gcc-4.1
depends:        snd-pcm,snd-page-alloc,snd,snd-hda-codec,snd
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002668sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000027D8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000269Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000284Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000293Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000293Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000437Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00004383sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000793Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00007919sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00003288sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001039d00007502sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010B9d00005461sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd0000026Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd00000371sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd000003E4sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd000003F0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd0000044Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd0000044Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd0000055Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd0000055Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
srcversion:     CFC483BC3D9CEEF6D205B9A
parm:           enable:bool
parm:           enable_msi:Enable Message Signaled Interrupt (MSI) (int)
parm:           single_cmd:Use single command to communicate with codecs (for debugging only). (bool)
parm:           probe_mask:Bitmask to probe codecs (default = -1). (int)
parm:           position_fix:Fix DMA pointer (0 = auto, 1 = none, 2 = POSBUF, 3 = FIFO size). (int)
parm:           model:Use the given board model. (charp)
parm:           id:ID string for Intel HD audio interface. (charp)
parm:           index:Index value for Intel HD audio interface. (int)

is that dell box you mentioned 32bit or 64bit?

just as i thought, factory kernel didn't help me.

seems to be a 32bit/64bit problem, i tried the 10.2 32bit livecd just now, and i got all the usual mixer channels.

hm. it is _NOT_ a 64bit issue.

- booting the 32bit livecd gives me a working mixer
- actually INSTALLING 32bit 10.2 gives me a working mixer until I reboot the system after the installation (i.e. right up to the SECOND boot after the start of installation).

is there any chance to get this sorted?

is there anyone actually looking at this issue?

*ping*

remove useless needinfo on assignee

Does the problem still happen on 10.3?  If yes, you can try alsa-driver-kmp pacakge on openSUSE BS multimedia:audio repo,
    http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio/

i can't say, i sold that laptop in favour of a better one quite some time ago...

Hm, then I have to close this bug...  Thanks.