Peahead Tried the kodi settings route and while I get sound from the gui in kodi I still get no sound when I get back to batocera.
When you have sound in Kodi, did you look up, which Audio Output Device is used in Kodi?
For example in Kodi the audio output device that works is "HDA Intel PCH, HDMI #1"
Then you have to set the same Audio Output Device in Batocera Emulation Station Menu under System Settings, Audio Output Deivce (the name in Batocera ES could vary a bit, but the HDMI #"Number" should be the same).
You should hear a "jingle-Sound" then and when you start a game, you should have sound (without the need to restart your system).
Peahead Installed batocera x86 5.25 from usb onto a 2TB hard disk
How did you do that exactly?
Peahead The problem here is that none of my settings will save. Even when prompted to restart for settings to take effect, which I do, as I boot back into batocera all the settings are at default and same issues all over again.
seems like your installation is faulty.
try to reinstall the system from scratch.
those issues (settings are not saved) mostly comes, when the first initial boot was not completed successfully.
on the first boot you have to wait until the boot process is fully complete.
if you interrupt this first boot, then you get those issues (settings not saved).
if you download the image and flash it onto a usb thumb drive (with etcher for example),
boot from it,
then start kodi,
choose the audio output device that works within kodi,
exit kodi,
and then set the same audio output device in batocera,
then you should have working sound.
