I have a script to kick pulseaudio in the ass when this happens. I haven't had to use it in a long time. I gave it a try and I am told "there ain't no pulseaudio". I try "dnf install pulseaudio" (ignoring the basic issue of "where did it go?"). I am told there is a conflict with something called "pipewire-pulseaudio". This conflict looks like the root of the problem.
I try "dnf erase pipewire-pulseaudio" and it wants to take 29 other packages with it (including fundamental things like gdm, gnome-shell, gtk4). So it is time to roll up our sleeves and pay closer attention.
I make a note of what packages it wants to take, then let it rip, figuring I will keep and record and restore things by hand.
su dnf erase pipewire-pulseaudio (takes 29 packages) dnf install pulseaudio (2 packages) dnf install gtk4 dnf install xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin dnf install gdm (17 packages)This gives me 21 packages. The missing items are:
pipewire-pulseaudio chrome-gnome-shell florence gnome-classic-session gnome-initial-setup gnome-shell-extension-apps-menu gnome-shell-extension-common gnome-shell-extension-launch-new-instance gnome-shell-extension-places-menu gnome-shell-extension-window-list gnome-tourWe are more than happy to be rid of pipewire-pulseaudio. I run xfce rather than gnome, so I doubt I will miss the rest. Who knows what florence is, and why is there a "chrome-gnome-shell"? If chrome needs it, it should have declared it as a dependency.
I cross my fingers and reboot. This goes cleanly and I am able to login without any apparent changes or problems. Best of all, I fire up chrome, go to Youtube, and can watch a video with sound.
So we call it good.
Adventures in Computing / tom@mmto.org