Re: alsaconf and printing

[Ed <doyleed@gmail.com>]

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:50:10 +0100, Florian Kulzer wrote:

> On Sun, Oct 28, 2007 at 00:02:56 -0000, Ed wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I am new to Debian but basically I have it running, with at least two
>> problems.  The first is every time I reboot, I have to run alsaconf
>> before I can get any audio.  I haven't noticed any place where I should
>> save anything.  Basically, I just bring up a terminal window, become
>> root, type alsaconf, follow the screens and eventually it tells me id
>> is done and to enjoy using it.  Rhythmbox, for instance, then works
>> perfectly until I reboot.  Then I have to run aslaconf again.
> 
> This sounds like some modules do not get loaded automatically. You can
> run
> 
> lsmod | grep snd
> 
> to compare the situation before and after you run alsaconf. My guess is
> that snd_pcm_oss is missing. A quick test is to run
> 
> modprobe snd_pcm_oss
> 
> as root; this may restore your audio without running alsaconf. You can
> add missing modules to /etc/modules to have them loaded automatically at
> boot time.
> 
>> The 2nd problem is with printing.  I have my printer connected to
>> another computer on my home network that is running samba.  On the
>> debian computer, I choose Desktop->Administration->Printing and Add
>> Printer.  I then follow all the screens (for windows printer (smb)) and
>> it appears everything is fine. It sees my network and the computer the
>> printer is connected to and all seems well until I get to the last
>> screen.  When I hit Apply, this windows closes, and only the original
>> Add printer window is open with no new printer icon.  I am not sure
>> what is happening here. Other computers on my home network print fine
>> through the samba server.
> 
> Check if the file /etc/cups/printers.conf exists; if it does exist then
> you should post it here so we can have a look. WATCH OUT: This file can
> contain clear-text usernames and passwords! Change those to generic
> placeholders ("USERNAME", "PASSWORD") before posting the file.
> 
> --
> Regards,            | http://users.icfo.es/Florian.Kulzer
>           Florian   |

Hi Florian,

Following your suggestions below completely fixed my alsa problems.

Now for the printing problem. I do have a file named /etc/cups/
printers.conf but it has no contents. This 'may' be related to another 
problem I just discovered.  If I log out of my user account and attempt 
to log in with user name root and my root password, it won't let me.  It 
keeps re-displaying the enter user name screen.  If I log in as a user, 
and then issue a command with sudo in front of it, it asks for the 
administrative password and I enter my root password that I entered 
during the install process and it says invalid password please try 
again.  However, if I log in as a user, and then type su, when it asks 
for password, I enter the same root password and it takes it.  Getting 
back to the printer, if I look at /var/log/cups/error.log - it says date-
time--0400 CUPS-Add-Modify-Printer Unauthorized.

Not sure what to do about any of this.  I thought I was very careful when 
I did the initial install to enter twice the password I wanted for root, 
and I'm quite sure I am entering that same password now.

So - 'maybe' the inability to set up cups printing to my samba printer is 
somehow related to the root or administrative password irregularity. I 
notice that printers.conf is owned by root and the group is lp.  Only 
root can write to it.

Thanks to anyone for any suggestions.

Ed Doyle