> reinstalling packages: you need to use the "--reinstall" option such as apt-get install phonon* --reinstall

This tries to install a ton of packages, each with the line "Note, selecting 'xxxxxx-phonon' for regex 'phonon*', ending with the output below. I'm not sure if that's because there are conflicts within the list of packages, or it reflects a pre-exisiting conflict, but in any case nothing installs.

$ sudo apt-get install phonon* --reinstall
.
. [list of packages found by regex]
.

Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
phonon-backend-null : Conflicts: phonon-backend
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

I wonder about the phonon-backend-null package, it is not available in my distro and have no idea why you have it installed nor it's purpose - you may wish to post on Kubuntu forum to find out what it is and why you have it installed


phonon-backend-null : Conflicts: phonon-backend
from http://www.ubuntuupdates.org/package/ku ... ckend-null

Description: Phonon null backend (no real backend)
Phonon is the Qt 4 multimedia API, which provides a task-oriented abstraction
layer for capturing, mixing, processing, and playing audio and video content.
.
This package does not provide any real Phonon backend. It can be used to
disable Phonon audio/video capabilities. Please note that Phonon behaviour
with this package installed has not been well tested.

and .... % sudo apt-get install phonon* --reinstall
selects a ton of packages, but fails with the message below.
I wonder if the message simply means there's a conflict among
the many selected packages, or, there's a conflict involving
what I already have installed???

% sudo apt-get install phonon* --reinstall
.
. [Note, selecting .....]
.
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
phonon-backend-null : Conflicts: phonon-backend
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

I would try removing phonon-backend-null then I would reinstall the pusle, phonon and alsa packages already installed - you could always reinstall it late

> I would try removing phonon-backend-null then I would reinstall the pusle, phonon and alsa packages already installed - you could always reinstall it later

I did that - no change

You need to:
1. Clear Phonon cache: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=98311
2. Reset PulseAudio settings - clear ".pulseaudio" folder from you home directory.