[SOLVED] Sound not working on Dell Chromebook 11 3120

[geogenius]

Hello, I am new to Linux mint and Linux as a whole and recently I wiped ChromeOS off of an old Chromebook I had and decided to install Linux on it. This was a few days ago, and since then I haven't been able to get my sound working. I only have 1 audio output and it's a dummy output. I've searched on the internet across various websites and a few posts from the forums and none of them have seemed to work for me. If it matters, my environment is Mate.
Here is the output from running "inxi -Fxxxrz":

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System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-72-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: MATE 1.24.0 info: mate-panel wm: marco 1.24.0 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 
  Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: GOOGLE product: Candy v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  Chassis: type: 9 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: GOOGLE model: Candy v: 1.0 serial: <filter> UEFI: coreboot 
  v: MrChromebox-4.13 date: 04/23/2021 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 25.1 Wh condition: 42.1/44.5 Wh (95%) volts: 11.5/11.4 
  model: Samsung DELL XK type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Discharging 
  cycles: 80 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Celeron N2840 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Silvermont rev: 8 L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 8666 
  Speed: 881 MHz min/max: 500/2582 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 648 2: 603 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series Graphics & Display 
  driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0f31 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  compositor: marco v: 1.24.0 resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics (BYT) v: 4.2 Mesa 20.2.6 
  compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series High Definition Audio 
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:0f04 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-72-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 1000 
  bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 8086:08b1 
  IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 44.51 GiB used: 13.64 GiB (30.6%) 
  ID-1: /dev/mmcblk0 model: HAG2e size: 14.68 GiB serial: <filter> rev: 0x7 
  scheme: GPT 
  ID-2: /dev/mmcblk1 model: N/A size: 29.83 GiB serial: <filter> scheme: GPT 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 25.57 GiB used: 13.63 GiB (53.3%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/mmcblk1p2 
  ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.72 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap 
  dev: /dev/mmcblk1p1 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 33.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://mirrors.gigenet.com/linuxmint/repo ulyssa main upstream import backport
  2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
  Processes: 190 Uptime: 11m Memory: 3.76 GiB used: 913.2 MiB (23.7%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash 
  v: 5.0.17 running in: mate-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 

Thanks in advance,
Geo

[geogenius]

I have tried running "sudo alsa force-reload" (this was the 2nd time I had done this) and rebooting, running "sudo apt-get install --reinstall alsa-base pulseaudio" and rebooting. Neither of those commands made anything different. And then, just to make sure that my sound card was being recognized by the system, I ran "sudo lspci". The output was the following:

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00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series SoC Transaction Register (rev 0e)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series Graphics & Display (rev 0e)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx, Celeron N2000 Series USB xHCI (rev 0e)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series High Definition Audio Controller (rev 0e)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Atom Processor E3800 Series PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 0e)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series Power Control Unit (rev 0e)
01:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 7260 (rev bb)

"00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series High Definition Audio Controller (rev 0e)" shows that my sound card is indeed being recognized, but for whatever reason not appearing in the sound preferences menu or the pulseaudio menu. I am very confused on why nothing is working. The other day I took the back cover off just to make sure the speakers were in the motherboard properly, and they were in. The only possible way that I have found is to use bluetooth headphones, but the only ones I have are very cheap and impractical for regular use. I hope someone here can help me solve this problem.
Thanks in advance,
Geo

[Pjotr]

Try this:
Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels
Install the latest kernel of the 5.8 series. Then reboot and test.

[geogenius]

I tried this, and was very hopeful but unfortunately it seemed to not work. Either there's a problem with my sound card, or linux mint just won't recognize it even though it lists it. If you have any other ideas, I'd be willing to try them.

[Pjotr]

OK, then try this:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... t.html#ID8
(item 8 )

This should give you the opportunity to install the 5.11.x kernel.

[geogenius]

I'm sorry to announce this, but it still happens to not be working. I appreciate your support. It still shows only dummy outputs in both pavucontrol and sound preferences. Either there is a way we haven't discussed yet, or I'm a lost cause.

[Pjotr]

Unfortunately you appear to have a genuine problem machine..... I've searched the web a bit for solutions for your box, but the few reports that were successful, involved installing weird dedicated non-official kernels and other shady stuff.

Not easy to do and not nice. Thankfully these more or less unsolvable problems are rare nowadays. But they're not non-existent.

The best practical approach appears to be: downgrade the kernel to the latest official one, i.e. one from the 5.8 series. And buy a portable Bluetooth speaker, as you report that sound by Bluetooth does work....

[geogenius]

If it's saying my sound card is recognized, but it's not being accepted in any other software, then I think the only things I can do is use a bluetooth output like you said, download a different operating system, or just deal with no sound. I don't know if I should mark this issue as resolved or what, because bluetooth isn't the most practical option for me. When I get the chance I might install GalliumOS and see if that works.

[geogenius]

Hello, sorry for the late reply, but I have tried galliumOS, which the sound worked in, but the installation failed. I also tried ubuntu, which the sound just didnt work. I am now on linux lite, and the sound is still not working. This makes me think it is an ubuntu based problem, but i dont know what could be causing it. Later I shall try kubuntu and lubuntu with rufus to see if that works. If you have any ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.
-geo

[JerryF]

Hello, sorry for the late reply, but I have tried galliumOS, which the sound worked in, but the installation failed. I also tried ubuntu, which the sound just didnt work. I am now on linux lite, and the sound is still not working. This makes me think it is an ubuntu based problem, but i dont know what could be causing it. Later I shall try kubuntu and lubuntu with rufus to see if that works. If you have any ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.
-geo

If you want to try an non-Ubuntu based OS, try Manjaro. It has different desktop environments, and I have the Xfce version in a virtual machine. Nice OS!

[geogenius]

I've thought about manjaro, but I did not know if it was lightweight or not. I am booting off of a 32GB SD card because the internal storage was only 16GB. Do you think it is possible to install manjaro onto an SD card with at least 10GB left over?

[JerryF]

Yes, it's possible. My Manjaro Xfce virtual machines is set with 32 GB of disk space. Gparted states that It takes up 10.5 GB.

Granted, I don't have a lot added to it. My Manjaro is just to play with and get some knowledge with an Arch-based distro.

P.S. It's very lightweight. Here is the result of an inxi report immediately after starting the Manjaro VM:

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inxi -Fxxz
System:    Kernel: 5.4.108-1-MANJARO x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 10.2.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.16.0 tk: Gtk 3.24.24 wm: xfwm4 
           dm: LightDM Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux 
Machine:   Type: Virtualbox System: innotek product: VirtualBox v: 1.2 serial: <filter> Chassis: Oracle Corporation type: 1 
           serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Oracle model: VirtualBox v: 1.2 serial: <filter> BIOS: innotek v: VirtualBox date: 12/01/2006 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 49.0 Wh (98.0%) condition: 50.0/50.0 Wh (100.0%) volts: 10.0 min: 10.0 model: innotek 1 
           serial: N/A status: Unknown 
CPU:       Info: Dual Core model: Intel Core i5-2520M bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Sandy Bridge rev: 7 cache: L2: 3 MiB 
           flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 bogomips: 9981 
           Speed: 2494 MHz min/max: N/A Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2494 2: 2494 
Graphics:  Device-1: InnoTek Systemberatung VirtualBox Graphics Adapter vendor: VMware driver: vboxvideo v: kernel 
           bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 80ee:beef 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.10 driver: loaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,vboxvideo,vesa 
           resolution: 1600x799~60Hz s-dpi: 96 
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 11.1.0 256 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 21.0.1 compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 82801AA AC97 Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_intel8x0 v: kernel bus-ID: 00:05.0 chip-ID: 8086:2415 
           Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.4.108-1-MANJARO running: yes 
           Sound Server-2: JACK v: 0.125.0 running: no 
           Sound Server-3: PulseAudio v: 14.2 running: yes 
           Sound Server-4: PipeWire v: 0.3.24 running: no 
Network:   Device-1: Intel 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet driver: e1000 v: 7.3.21-k8-NAPI port: d020 bus-ID: 00:03.0 
           chip-ID: 8086:100e 
           IF: enp0s3 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Intel 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI type: network bridge driver: piix4_smbus v: N/A port: d200 bus-ID: 00:07.0 
           chip-ID: 8086:7113 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 32 GiB used: 10.42 GiB (32.6%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: VirtualBox model: VBOX HARDDISK size: 32 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 31.37 GiB used: 10.42 GiB (33.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
Swap:      Alert: No Swap data was found. 
Sensors:   Message: No sensors data was found. Is sensors configured? 
Info:      Processes: 154 Uptime: N/A Memory: 1.94 GiB used: 737.9 MiB (37.1%) Init: systemd v: 247 Compilers: gcc: N/A 
           Packages: pacman: 1186 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.0 running-in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.3.03

You'll notice in the Info: section, Manjaro Xfce is using 737.9 MiB of RAM.

[Kendoori]

I have same issues with Manjaro on my Chromebox. I eventually gave up trying to use the internal sound card, and have an external USB sound card that works fine. I am using one of these: https://t.ly/S36l

[geogenius]

Hmm. I'll see if manjaro works, and if it does, I'll mark this issue as resolved. Recently, I bought a 128GB SD card so storage shouldn't be a problem at all.

[Kendoori]

I'd be surprised if this works on Manjaro. It is NOT working for me on Manjaro. In as much as Chromebooks/Chromeboxes are capable of running Linux natively, it's still a hack. I believe strongly that the issue is the internal sound card. Use something external or Bluetooth and it will work (I can confirm that).

[geogenius]

I have to agree with you Kendoori, I was surprised that linux even worked, especially with good performance, on a chromebook from 2015. I am aware that the only way I have discovered so far was to use bluetooth, but your issue may be a chromebox related issue. If all else fails, I can always use bluetooth or reinstall chromeos (which I might have to do if I plan on selling it)

[Kendoori]

Did you flash custom firmware on it? Do you know about this? https://mrchromebox.tech

BTW, Manjaro Budgie works really well on it (I have the stock 32 GB drive in there with 4 GB of RAM (Intel Celeron 3865U), and it feels pretty agile for day-to-day stuff (I mostly use it for Zoom classes).

[geogenius]

Yes, I did flash custom firmware on it. If you read the inxi report that I originally posted in the start of this topic, you'd see that it says the firmware is mrchromebox.

[Kendoori]

@geogenius, apologies for not seeing that you flashed the mrchromebox firmware. Guilty as charged about not reading

Given how useful these threads can be for others pulling out their hair on things like this, the link to the custom firmware is of potential use for future searchers (https://mrchromebox.tech). BTW, the firmware and the documentation are amazing, and the guy behind it (MrChromebox) is super responsive if one ever gets stuck.

BTW, when I tried several distros (Mint included) and several DEs, on the Chrome device. They all worked fine, but I somehow felt that Manjaro worked best.

[geogenius]

You said you tried several distros, IDEs, and DEs. Did any of them help you make the sound work? Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get the sound from a chromebox from an external source (such as a headphone jack, HDMI, etc.)? I've never owned a chromebox, so I wouldn't know.