We hear the chimes when the computer starts but then sometimes there is sound sometimes there isn't, sometimes when there is sound it vanishes after the computer suspends. Everything else about the computer seems to be working fine.

It is a dell laptop running ubuntu 16.04.

Have worked though the first two steps in this with no effect.

About to start working on step 3 but in if anyone has any better ideas they would be most welcome.

Could bring the laptop to a meeting in Melbourne if someone could look at it for me. I have lost my voice and may not speak on doctors orders so we would have to discuss the problem even if face to face in writing. Anything to make life more complicated than it already is.