[floopy]

Hello i just started using Linux not to long ago but i cant get my soundcard configured,it didn't detect it when i intalled my distro.
I am using Mandrake 10, and my window manger is blackbox
the soundcard is a "Creative viBra16c"
i have the driver for it but i have no clue what to do next
Thanks for the help (in advance).

[tsunam]

Is the audio driver in a rpm, tar file?

The steps to doing it is basically to extract either the rpm or the files within the tar to your:

/usr/src/linux/drivers/sound

next you'll want to go back to your

/usr/src/linux

directory and type in

make menuconfig

(as you'll probably guess we get to recompile your kernel! don't be afraid though if you haven't done it before its quite easy )

this'll bring up a menu of some sort that gives you lots of options. You'll want to go to the Sound folder and within it you should see your now new untar'ed/rpm'd file in that list. Click it til it has a * next to it, a M would work as well for module but * should make it a bit faster (correct me if i'm wrong someone else)

now after that is done (and depending if your using the 2.4 or 2.6 kernel) we can compile the new kernel and put it into use.

exit from the entire kernel config menu and type the following in (for the 2.4 kernel)

make dep && make bzImage modules modules_install

where the bzImage is going to be the name of the actual kernel (you can name it whatever you wish it to be)

if you have the 2.6 kernel though you'll need to type in

make && make modules_install

but it'll still create the kernel as bzImage

once you have compiled (this does take a few minutes )
you'll want to mount your /boot drive. For this you possibly have to log into your root account (can do it from your own account thru use of su)

mount /boot

that should mount boot

cd to your /boot drive
do a ls

you should see a grub or lilo area as well a file named bzImage or something similar
we're going to rename that file so that the new one doesnt overwrite it (giving you a safe backup to fall back upon if something happens. It won't though!)

so...

mv bzImage bzImage.old

and then copy

cp /usr/src/linux/bzImage /boot/bzImage

now you'll want to go into your lilo or grub folder and find either the lilo or grub config file

open it up with vi grub.conf/lilo.conf and copy the lines that are like

(this is lilo's version)
image=/boot/bzImage
label=gentoo # Name we give to this section
read-only # Start with a read-only root. Do not alter!
root=/dev/hda3 # Location of the root filesystem

(grubs)
title=Gentoo Linux 2.4.25
root (hd0,0)
kernel /bzImage root=/dev/hda3

and just make sure the where the current one is you change it to bzImage.old (or whatever you renamed the kernel you have been using)
and just make a new past of it in front of that and save that. Reboot and select your new kernel You should have sound and a working driver.

It seems harder and explaining it is longer then it seems. Don't worry you can do it.

edit: helps to read that your running Mandrake10

[liviu]

Nice, tsunam! Though I'm not a Mandrake user , you posted it in a pretty clear fashion!
Is this Mandrake 10 stable ?

[lynch]

If you mean you have the driver on a cd that came with the sound card then it's probably not going to work. Dont try using a windows driver to recompile sound support into your kernel as it's a waste of time (though, tsunam provides a nice guide for kernel compiling).
If you have the module for that card that runs on MDK 10 I'd be surprised: thier hardware compatibility list has no reference to it.
You might want to get a newer card.
From my "Creative viBra16c" Google search it seems support for that card was never very good.
Having said all that, you can try this:
1. Go to Control Center and install isapnptools
2. Reboot computer and enter your BIOS and disable Plug and Play.
3. Save settings and let it boot into Linux.
If it still doesnt detect the card, try running the sound card detection/setup tool in Control Center .
HTH
lynch

[floopy]

Thanks for the responses guys (sry for taking so long to respond havent had time to go on my computer) Sory for not stating above that i have a windows driver and it is a really old card so i probally wont be able to find the rpm or tar but thanks for going to to great detail on how to set it up tsunam( i learned a lot ) ill try out some of the ways you guys suggested and report back

[floopy]

Still cant get it to work Since my soundcard is so old and i cant find a driver that will work in linux, will my only solution to this problem be buying a new soundcard?

[tsunam]

there is a way to wrap windows drivers into linux. its a bit of a pain and i can't find the link to the application off hand (just woke up for work tonight) so i'll look from work.

Edit: unfortunately, all the programs i'm seeing that will accept windows drivers for linux are for wireless networking (considering so much of it is still unsource released due to security) and printing etc. So best bet will probably be to get a new card. Just do some research and see what is compatable before you run out and get one.

[Whiteskin]

So far the only wrapper i've heard of is ndiswrapper, and afaik its only for wireless cards.

Try using (i doubt it will work, but its always a chance) the soundblaster (sb) drivers. I've only seen it work once on a non-soundblaster card, but hey, there's always room for another miracle.

[floopy]

k thanks for help guys