How to use SPDIF (Toslink) | Linux Mint Community🍵 | Page 1

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 1:27 PM

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Hi, I just switched to Linux and now I want to use my old speakers. I always used SPDIF because I cant plug in all 6 Chanels an my mainbord. On Nobara I got it working but on mint not. I already tryed a few combinations but best I could do is make it look like its outputing something but the speakers stay silend...

night herald May 24, 2026, 3:25 PM

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open Sound settings, first tab is Outputs. choose s/pdif from the output modes

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iff it doesn't appear there, show result of inxi -SMAxxx here

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 3:39 PM

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night herald open Sound settings, first tab is Outputs. choose s/pdif from the output modes

it does show up with the addition of USB audio ? Everything looks normal but there is still no sound

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Megatrends LLC. v: 2.A40 date: 06/19/2025
Audio:
Device-1: NVIDIA vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:22bc
class-ID: 0403
Device-2: AMD Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s
lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0d:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 0d:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
Device-4: Micro Star USB Audio driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-5:3 chip-ID: 0db0:cd0e
class-ID: 0300
Device-5: Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 7-1.4:5
chip-ID: 046d:0892 class-ID: 0102 serial: CF5F00EF
API: ALSA v: k6.17.0-29-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin

night herald May 24, 2026, 3:41 PM

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Device-4: Micro Star USB Audio driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-5:3 chip-ID: 0db0:cd0e
class-ID: 0300

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this is a mic?

night herald May 24, 2026, 3:42 PM

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rapid crater it does show up with the addition of USB audio ? Everything looks normal but the...

.

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 3:44 PM

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no I got no mic. Maye the one in my Webcam?

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I unplugged everything besides my speakers now: Audio:
Device-1: NVIDIA vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:22bc
class-ID: 0403
Device-2: AMD Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s
lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0d:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 0d:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
Device-4: Micro Star USB Audio driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-5:3 chip-ID: 0db0:cd0e
class-ID: 0300
API: ALSA v: k6.17.0-29-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin

night herald May 24, 2026, 3:47 PM

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inxi -SMx

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MSI has some weird usb soundcard in it to handle the front or the rear ports, in addition to Family 17h card

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 3:50 PM

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you have to explain it for beginners. Im really new to this. Wath should I do? 😅

night herald May 24, 2026, 3:59 PM

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night herald `inxi -SMx`

type this precisely as shown into terminal, and show result.

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:01 PM

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compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0
Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.6.7 Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena
base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI (MS-7E62)
v: 2.0 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: 2.A40
date: 06/19/2025

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:02 PM

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...

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cut off again

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repeat and show all

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:06 PM

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JohPC Kernel: 6.17.0-30-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0
Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.6.7 Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena
base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI (MS-7E62)
v: 2.0 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: 2.A40
date: 06/19/2025

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:10 PM

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ok that's pretty recent kernel as far as Mint can go

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sudo apt install pavucontrol && pavucontrol please

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then show its configuration (5th) tab

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use the included screenshot tool for WINDOW MODE screenshots

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:14 PM

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you speak german? It translates to: pavucontrol is on the newes version, 0 renewed, 0 installed, 0 to remove and 0 not renewed

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:16 PM

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oh ok good

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just fire it up : pavucontrol

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show config tab

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:22 PM

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Thats the configuration Tab

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:28 PM

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rapid crater

can you unplug the webcam please.

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also too much space wasted in those pics.

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and makes it hard to see

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resize the window just big enough to show 5 tabs

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:30 PM

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like this?

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:30 PM

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then redo screenshot with webcam out

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still no good

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resize window

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i dont need to see so wide

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Just enough for 5 tabs to show horizontally

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and enough be shaped like a square

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^ proper way to show a screenshot

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:33 PM

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Hope thats it

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still getting used to Linux

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:33 PM

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did u unplug webcam?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:33 PM

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yes just speakers are pluged in now

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ausgesteckt = unplugged

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:34 PM

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how are they connected? 3.5 mm stereo analog?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:34 PM

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to the PC? just with a Toslink cable

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:34 PM

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oh

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ok just so you know, nvidia and rembrandt are the video cards. this is only applicable for HDMI or Display Port sound to TV

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run up a terminal

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do alsamixer

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and maximize the window

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then press F6 and choose the USB sound

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:36 PM

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ok, did that

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:36 PM

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show screenshot of the alsamixer now

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:37 PM

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night herald May 24, 2026, 4:39 PM

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raise first column with arrow keys to 100

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raise pcm1 column also to 100

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:40 PM

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ok, did that

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:40 PM

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press F4

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only about inputs, but worth to see

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:41 PM

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night herald May 24, 2026, 4:41 PM

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hm

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press Escape key

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see if you get digital sound audible now

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from the digital PCM

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the only problem is I didn't see s/pdif column

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run alsamixer again. press F6 and choose the other sound card.

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Device-3: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 0d:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403

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it may say realtek or something

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:44 PM

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I just got NVidia and 2 "Generic"

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:44 PM

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let's see generic

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press F5 and make terminal wide to see all columns

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:45 PM

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F5 did nothing

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Thats generic 1 btw

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:46 PM

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press enter or space

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see if first column changes at all

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or up/down arrow

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oh nevermind

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:46 PM

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nop. I can just highlite it in red

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:46 PM

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that's AMD Graphics card

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u can see in top left

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so in F6, u only have usb , nvidia, and generic?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:47 PM

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yes NVidia, 2 gerneric and USB. Ill show you

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I dont know why there is a USB Audio. No USB is pluged in

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:49 PM

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so choose default: 1 . which one did you last show me?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:49 PM

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I showed you default 1

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:49 PM

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show default: 2 then

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:50 PM

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rapid crater I dont know why there is a USB Audio. No USB is pluged in

it's some internal thing i said. for front and back ports

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:50 PM

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Hard to translate give me a sec

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:50 PM

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translate plz

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but obviously doesn't do much.

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I think you need latest kernel

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:51 PM

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This sound dives has no adjustment

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:51 PM

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do you still have nobara on live usb?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:51 PM

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No. I had to make space for Mint :/

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:51 PM

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np

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was just curious to see alsamixer in nobara

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:52 PM

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with nobara it was just plug and play

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:52 PM

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but for now, can you use HDMI output to surround sound amplifier?

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hdmi can carry multichannel digital surround sound

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:53 PM

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my speakers have toslink and 6 Chancel but no HDMI input 😅

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but I think i can use the generic AUX but than its just stereo

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:55 PM

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one moment

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show result for inxi -SMGxxx please. complete.

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:56 PM

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rapid crater but I think i can use the generic AUX but than its just stereo

.

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:57 PM

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night herald show result for `inxi -SMGxxx` please. complete.

inxi -SMGxxx
System:
Host: Johannes-PC Kernel: 6.17.0-30-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0 clocksource: tsc
Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.6.7 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.6.3 vt: 7
dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI (MS-7E62)
v: 2.0 serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American
Megatrends LLC. v: 2.A40 date: 06/19/2025

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Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA AD104 [GeForce RTX 4070 Ti] vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: nvidia v: 595.71.05 arch: Lovelace pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
ports: active: none off: DP-2 empty: DP-1,DP-3,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0
chip-ID: 10de:2782 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: AMD vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: amdgpu v: kernel pcie:
speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none empty: DP-4, DP-5, DP-6,
HDMI-A-2, Writeback-1 bus-ID: 0d:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:13c0 class-ID: 0300
temp: 39.0 C
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X:
loaded: amdgpu,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa dri: radeonsi
gpu: nv_platform,nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 2560x1440 s-dpi: 92 s-size: 707x393mm (27.83x15.47")
s-diag: 809mm (31.85")
Monitor-1: DP-2 note: disabled model: AOC Q32G1WG4 serial: 19169
res: 2560x1440 dpi: 93 size: 697x393mm (27.44x15.47") diag: 800mm (31.5")
modes: max: 2560x1440 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0
drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: radeonsi device: 3 drv: swrast gbm:
drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
inactive: wayland,device-2
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 595.71.05
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 9 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 0
type: discrete-gpu driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:2782 device: 1
type: integrated-gpu driver: N/A device-ID: 1002:13c0 device: 2 type: cpu
driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:57 PM

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and the rest

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:57 PM

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It was to long for discord ...

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:58 PM

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ok what you can do since this nvidia driver should work with kernel 7, is get the mainline stable kernel 7.0.10

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but first. do Timeshift

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have you created a system snapshot with it yet?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 4:59 PM

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No I build a new PC yesterday and switched to Linux with the new PC

night herald May 24, 2026, 4:59 PM

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no prob.

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lsblk -o name,model,size,mountpoint

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show plz

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result of that command

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:00 PM

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night herald May 24, 2026, 5:01 PM

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ok do timeshift.

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wont take long

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this is nvme drive

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save snapshots on /dev/nvme0n1p2

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rsync mode

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:02 PM

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where can I do a Timeshift?

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:02 PM

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it's in start menu> administration i think

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or System Tools

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:03 PM

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found it

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:03 PM

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this makes a backup of the core system state as it is right now

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:03 PM

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I made one ... I think ... 🙂

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:03 PM

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afterwards, i'll help u set up kernel 7... which should work for the soundcard for digital optical

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when?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:04 PM

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just now. It took like 10 sec

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:04 PM

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show main window of timeshift plz

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:04 PM

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I think there is an automatic one as well

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:05 PM

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ok. capital O means 'on-demand' (manually forced)

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click the comment field beside that one

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put Pre- linux kernel 7

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then u can close it

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Step 1: Install Mainline Kernels Tool

Because Linux Mint relies on stable LTS and HWE kernels vetted by their team, you need a community tool to grab the bleeding-edge upstream kernels.
Open your Terminal. Add the Mainline PPA by running:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa
sudo apt update

Install the Mainline Kernels tool:
sudo apt install -y mainline

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:10 PM

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ok, did that

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:10 PM

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Step 2: Download and Install Kernel 7.0.10

Open the Mainline Kernels application from your Mint application menu. Allow the tool to sync with the kernel archives. Scroll through the list and select (7.0.10). Click the Install button. Wait for the download and configuration process to finish.

Step 3: Reboot and Verify
Reboot your computer. Once booted back into the desktop, open the Terminal and type the following to verify the new version is active:
uname -r

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i would also say to check inxi -SG

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to ensure nvidia driver is still same (ver. 595)

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:12 PM

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just need to finde the applications menu. I bet it has a different name for me

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:12 PM

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(start menu)

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:13 PM

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where can I download the Kernel?

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:14 PM

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show the tool , by screenshot

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:15 PM

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I dont see the 7.0.10 version

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:16 PM

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cannot show 7.0.10 ?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:16 PM

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no. newest is 7.0.9

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:16 PM

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ok put a checkmark for that

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and download/install

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:17 PM

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brb

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thats after uname -r : 6.17.0-29-generic

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:20 PM

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open the 'system administration' app

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:20 PM

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thats for inxi -SG : System:
Host: Johannes-PC Kernel: 6.17.0-29-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.6.7 Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA AD104 [GeForce RTX 4070 Ti] driver: nvidia v: 595.71.05
Device-2: AMD driver: amdgpu v: kernel
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X:
loaded: amdgpu,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa dri: radeonsi
gpu: nv_platform,nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch resolution: 2560x1440
API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: kms_swrast,nvidia,radeonsi,swrast
platforms: gbm,x11,surfaceless,device
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 595.71.05
renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 drivers: N/A surfaces: xcb,xlib

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:20 PM

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ya nothing changed yet

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:21 PM

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night herald open the 'system administration' app

turn on top switch to show menu. and put timeout to 8

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save and restart

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then pick "mint advanced options' from this black menu when ur pc restarts early on, and boot from linux image 7.0.09 if it is found there

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@wheat tangle hi friend. Would you know how to make this recognize kernel 7?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:22 PM

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night herald then pick "mint advanced options' from this black menu when ur pc restarts earl...

I try that

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:23 PM

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rapid crater I try that

do you see Mint Advanced options?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:24 PM

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yes I did

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:24 PM

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and...

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:25 PM

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night herald then pick "mint advanced options' from this black menu when ur pc restarts earl...

.

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was there or not?

wheat tangle May 24, 2026, 5:26 PM

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Kernel install may have failed if the nvidia dkms didn't compile

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:26 PM

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night herald was there or not?

I checked again. No there is not

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I think I just use standart AUX for now thats just stereo but its fine

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:27 PM

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wheat tangle Kernel install may have failed if the nvidia dkms didn't compile

how would they do it then? switch to nouveau first?

wheat tangle May 24, 2026, 5:29 PM

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Have to remove the nvidia-dkms and then install the 7.0 kernel and some of those might not work because of some self test failures on Ubuntu mainline kernels

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:30 PM

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hm

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the whole point was to get 7 to see if optical jack works

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maybe 6.18 would work idk

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:31 PM

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creazy thing is with Nobara it was no problem at all and I am really new at this stuff

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But I really really aprechiate your help!

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:31 PM

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because uses different kernel

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probably 7.x

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u can use Debian SID, or Fedora KDE too

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which have more modern linux kernel

wheat tangle May 24, 2026, 5:32 PM

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The 7.0 kernels are in nobel-proposed repos but I don't know if there are newer Nvidia drivers yet

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:33 PM

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so you guys think it will be fixed soon? I can life with stereo for a while

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:33 PM

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december. new mint 23. will require probably a reinstall.

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or use Ubuntu 26.04 Cinnamon.

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u can do that right now. . it uses kernel 7

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:35 PM

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alright. For now I will wait. I want to try out my new PC and all the Linux stuff for a while not ceep beeing stuck with toslink 😂

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:35 PM

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https://ubuntucinnamon.org/

Ubuntu Cinnamon

Ubuntu Cinnamon | Ubuntu, traditionally modern

Community-driven, featuring Linux Mint’s Cinnamon Desktop with Ubuntu at the core, packed fast and full of features, here is the most traditionally modern desktop you will ever love.

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:37 PM

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Thanks again for your help! Do I need to reset anything bec of wath we did?

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:41 PM

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rapid crater Thanks again for your help! Do I need to reset anything bec of wath we did?

you can restore the snapshot you made.

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:42 PM

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just restart and load that version?

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:42 PM

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um no

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u at the desktop?

rapid crater May 24, 2026, 5:42 PM

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yes

night herald May 24, 2026, 5:42 PM

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open timeshift, click "restore" and pick last version i had u make

#How to use SPDIF (Toslink)