RESTART ALSA

/etc/init.d/alsa-utils restart <-- this is how you can restart your ALSA.

-------NOTE
If you are having problems with your ESS 1869 sound card with UBUNTU, do this.

first we want to test the to make sure it's gonna work before we it permanent:

open a terminal window and get ready to type!!!
start a "root" terminal session:

# sudo -s

Enter yor password then type the following to create then jump to a new directory:

# mkdir /etc/modprobe.d/soundcard
# cd /etc/modprobe.d/soundcard

Now create a new file called snd-es18xx and edit it:

# gedit snd-es18xx

Add the following to the newly created file:

alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
alias snd-card-0 snd-es18xx
options snd-es18xx enable=1 isapnp=0 port=0x220 mpu_port=0x388 fm_port=0x330 irq=5 dma1=1 dma2=0

NOTE: if you are unsure of your soundcards setting they should be listed in your bios!

Save and exit the file.

ok... let's test it! Type:

# modprobe snd-es18xx
# /etc/init.d/alsa-utils -restart

Now open your volume control - if you have the gui loaded double click the little speaker beside the time.

It should open now (if there was no sound device loaded it would spit out an error).

ok... play a wav or something. Got sound?... if so Great!(don't go anywhere)... if not don't worry. On the volume control make sure you are not muted(default). Still no sound? ok lets try the OSS driver.

On the Volume Control goto File then Change Device and choose Ess AudioDrive ES1869 (OSS Mixer)

make sure it's not muted and turn the volume up. Now you should have sound.

If you reboot your system now the module we added will no longer be loaded with the kernel and you will have no sound. To make it permanent type:

# gedit /etc/modules

Add the following string to the end of the file:

snd-es18xx

Save and Exit... reboot your system and you will have sound!

Hope this works. Worked for me.

CONVERT FLV TO MPEG WITH FFMPEG

How to convert FLV files to Mpeg with FFMPEG.

ffmpeg -i filename.flv -ab 56 -ar 22050 -b 500 -s 320x240 output.mpg

XFCE MENU STOPS

If your XUbuntu menu stops to respond when you login to your Ubuntu desktop you must delete ~./config/xfce/desktop/menu.xml

When you are done that press "ctrl-alt-backspace", to reload your X server, the menu should work properly afterwards, it will rebuild itself and you will not lose any links to your applications.