No sound using Linux Mint or Ubuntu

[bird2010]

My sound was working fine. Then, one day, it just stopped working. I think that it stopped working after a VirtualBox update, but I cannot be certain.

After googling for quite some time and trying a variety of "solutions", I read a post that said that it may be Linux Mint's problem. The poster suggested that I install Ubuntu. The poster alluded that if the problem went away, then it was Linux Mint's problem. However, the problem persisted so I believe that the problem is being caused by the VirtualBox update.

Here are the steps that I have taken so far.

* I checked to be sure that I am running the latest VirtualBox version (4.2.12 r84980). When I click on the "Check for Updates" link in the Help column, I get a message "You are already running the most recent version of VirtualBox".
* I deleted the Linux Mint 14 VM that was running perfectly a while ago, but the sound simply quit working.
* I downloaded and installed the latest Linux Mint 15 OS in a new VM. I installed the updates and the Guest Additions. The sound still does not work.
* I downloaded and installed Linux Mint 13 LTS (Long Term Support), updated it, and installed the Guest Additions. The sound still does not work.
* I downloaded and installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, updated it and installed the Guest Additions. The sound still does not work.

I would appreciate any assistance that you can provide.

Thank you.

[noteirak]

Please read Minimum information needed for assistance.

[loukingjr]

Probably not what you want to hear (pardon the pun) but, sound works fine for me for...
Linux Mint 14 Cinnamon and KDE versions
Linux Mint 15 Mate
LMDE Mate and Cinnamon versions
Ubuntu 12.04 through Ubuntu 13.10 versions.

[bird2010]

Here are the requested "Minimum Requirements for Assistance":

VirtualBox version: 4.2.12 r84980 with Guest Additions installed in the guest
Host make and version: Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1 64-bit with 16 GB RAM
Guest make and version: Linux Mint 15 64-bit in one VM (4 GB RAM), Linux Mint 13 LTS 64-bit in second VM (4 GB RAM), Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64-bit in third VM (4 GB RAM) -- only one VM running at a time
Guest log files attached.

The part that gets me is that the sound was working in the past using Linux Mint 14. Then, the sound just quit working. I deleted the Linux Mint 14 VM and downloaded and installed the Linux Mint 15 ISO. No luck. Still no sound. As a test based on my googling, I installed Linux Mint 13 LTS. Still no sound. Then, I installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Still no sound. I appreciate any help that you can provide.

[loukingjr]

your logs indicate the extension pack isn't installed?

installing the extension pack should help. https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

[noteirak]

Extention pack won't help a thing here, they bring nothing related to sound.

I've check the logs, nothing seems off, but could you provide the guest config output for each VM? (as zip attachment) See my previous link.
Also, could you double check that within your host, the sound is not muted for the Virtualbox process?

[loukingjr]

Still, he should have the extension pack installed, yes?

[noteirak]

Only if the OP requires the specific features it brings and the OP accepts the license. But that's another discussion for another topic.
For this particular issue, it doesn't improve anything.

[bird2010]

Thanks for your assistance. I have attached the guest setting files (zipped).

[noteirak]

And can you confirmed you doubled check in the host that the Virtualbox process is not muted?

[bird2010]

The VirtualBox process was not muted in the host.

I ran across this thread: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=55060

So, I uninstalled all of my sound drivers using the Device Manager. Then, I rebooted my computer and I let the sound drivers automatically re-install. After the sound drivers re-installed, I booted VirtualBox and then started my Linux Mint 15 VM and -- BOOM! I have sound! Yea! I tested my Linux Mint 13 LTS and Unbuntu 12.04 LTS virtual machines as well. They all have sound. Yea!

I am very pleased that pmk came back and told us the solution. I am returning and posting the solution here for people who hit this thread. The solution is to uninstall the sound drivers on the host machine using the Device Manager and then let them re-install. Reboot your computer, if necessary. Then, the sound will work in your VM's.

[loukingjr]

I find it interesting that on two separate host machines with working audio one needs to reinstall the host's sound drivers to get VirtualBox guests to work.