Card reader and microphone not working under Ubuntu 11.04

Linux Support
1

I installed Ubuntu 11.04 in my Acer Aspire One (Model ZG5). Ubuntu is a fantastic improvement over Linpus, and locating, installing, upgrading, and removing programs have never been easier.

The only problems I encountered are:

  1. The storage expansion slot (on the left side of the AA1) works off the box, however the card reader (on the right side) doesn’t.
  2. The built-in web cam works fine, but the built-in microphone no longer works. I plugged an external microphone into the mic input jack but this wouldn’t work either.

Any suggestions? Thank you.

2

OK, for the microphone, try this…

Open a terminal and enter:

sudo apt-get install pavucontrol

then

pavucontrol

When the pavucontrol window opes, click the input devices (tab)… Click the little padlock icon to unlock the channels… Now set the left front channel to about 75%, and the front right channel to 0% (silence).

Now see if the Mic works.

Meanwhile, I’ll see what I can come up with for the card reader.

[EDIT]

Can you put an SD card in the NON working slot, then open a terminal and enter:

sudo echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/rescan

Now check if the card can be accessed… this is NOT a fix as such, I just want to know if it works… then we’ll try a fix.

3

The mic is working fine now, thank you!

As your wanting to know if the following command would enable access to the SD card:

sudo echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/rescan

the resulting message was:

bash: /sys/bus/pci/rescan: Permission denied

I accidentally (the only way to describe it as I do not know Linux commands!) entered

sudo echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci

the resulting message was:

bash: sudo echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci: Is a directory

4

OK, let’s try this…

Open a terminal and enter these 2 commands:

sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.bak

(hit enter, and your password when asked)

then run:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

(hit enter, and your password if asked)

When gedit opens, look for the line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=“quiet splash”

and change it to:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=“quiet splash pciehp.pciehp_force=1”

SAVE the file, and exit gedit.

Back in the terminal, run:

sudo update-grub

(hit enter, and your password if asked)

When that command finishes, and leaves you back at a prompt, enter:

sudo sh -c 'echo acpiphp >> /etc/modules'

(hit enter, and your password if asked)

Now reboot, and check if the card reader works.

5

I followed your instructions, and as soon as I rebooted and the desktop came up, the icon for the 4GB SD Card inserted in the card reader immediately appeared. Amazing! I cannot thank you enough.

6

Just spotted this thread

Installed ubuntu netbook remix on my wifes AAO110L ever she we got it 2 years ago - have gone from 9.04- 11.04.

I knew about the Grub line but upon installing 11.04 that did not work as a fix … until I stumbled upon this thread and noted the command you posted. Bingo! Great success! Many thanks

7

You’re welcome, and thanks for the feedback :slight_smile: