Disable Onboard Sound, Enable USB Soundcard – Ubuntu Hardy

September 3, 2008 4 Comments

I’ve recently moved to a Laptop as my full time computer, replacing my Desktop. My Desktop had an Asus Xonar D2X sound card and my Dell Inspiron has a very bad on-board sound card by comparison. To make up for this I have purchased a USB sound card for use when my Laptop is “docked” at my home office.

A problem I encountered is while Ubuntu Hardy recognises my external sound card I have to go to

System » Preferences » Sound

to enable USB Audio for Sound Events and Music and Movies. The only problem is that while Rhythmbox and Totem use my external sound card, the OS sounds and VLC do not. Using asoundconf to set my default sound card does not rectify this solution. I cannot also disable my on-board sound card in the BIOS as this option doesn’t exist and would also mean changing my BIOS every time I’m using my laptop on the move if I want sound.
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How to – Broadcom BCM4310 Wireless, HP 530 Laptop, Ubuntu Hardy

August 28, 2008 No Comments

After a recent purchase of A HP 530 laptop and 2 weeks of trying to get a budget laptop to work with Vista, it was time to re-format and replace the vista virus with a operating system.

Its a bit of a joke that this laptop got sold with Vista. With 1GB of Ram and a Celeron 1.6Ghz processor it was completely unfit for the purpose of running the installed Vista Home Basic. After an upgrade to 2 GB of Ram and an HP extended 9 cell battery it was still uncapable but with a battery life of an hour and half instead of the “out of the box” forty five minutes battery life. Interestingly after installing Ubuntu Hardy not only did the machines performance become more acceptable as it was not longer struggling with Vista’s bloat, but the surprise for me was that battery life increased to three and a half hours. The unfortunate downside to Ubuntu was that the built in Broadcom BCM4310 wireless card did not work.
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