Sorry, i know it's been handled before, but i've read the other threads and the issue my sulky Debian box is having is slightly different. I'm new to linux, so i'd appreciate some idiot-proof help with my soundcard.

I did an apt-get install alsa, but alsaconf failed to detect the card:

Sirius:~# alsaconf
modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: (none loaded).
Building card database...
modinfo: snd-opl3sa2: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4236: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4232: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4231: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-es18xx: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-es1688: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-sb16: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-sb8: no module by that name found

Yet lspci did detect it:

Debian:~# lspci -v
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5597 [SiS5582] (rev 10)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64

0000:00:01.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS85C503/5513 (LPC Bridge) (rev 01)
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

0000:00:01.1 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE] (rev d0) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Unknown device ce00:402c
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 128
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at <ignored>
I/O ports at 4000 [size=16]

0000:00:09.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 05)
Subsystem: Creative Labs CT4760 SBLive!
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32
I/O ports at 1000 [size=32]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1

0000:00:09.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! MIDI/Game Port (rev 05)
Subsystem: Creative Labs Gameport Joystick
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64
I/O ports at f7f0 [size=8]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1

0000:00:14.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5597/5598/6326 VGA (rev 68) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
Flags: medium devsel
Memory at 10000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [disabled] [size=4M]
Memory at 10400000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=64K]
I/O ports at <ignored> [disabled] [size=128]
Expansion ROM at ffff8000 [disabled] [size=32K]
Debian:~#

Another topic suggested this, so i thought it worth a go:

Debian:~# modprobe emu10k1
/lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o: init_module: No such device
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
/lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o: insmod /lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o failed
/lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o: insmod emu10k1 failed
Debian:~#

The other topic also suggested 'insmod' (which i presume means 'install module'???), but that just spammed me with:

/lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o: /lib/modules/2.4.27-2-k6/kernel/drivers/sound/emu10k1/emu10k1.o: unresolved symbol ac97_probe_codec_Redf32a8e

and similar lines, 28 in total.

What's going on? What should i do/am i doing wrong/missing/etc ?

did you disable the onboard sound in the BIOS before you started? i had the same problem with one of my sound cards until i disabled it in the BIOS.

Hi. The mobo doesn't have on-board sound. But thanks.

Apt-get install alsa alsa-base alsa-utils alsamixer alsaplayer or aptitude --with recommends install same listed pkgs. Then try alsaconf. The emu10k1 module should be found/detected. Use alsamixer or kmix or gnome volume control to set volume levels. The volume levels should be saved and a small speaker icon should appear at taskbar in gnome or kde.
You might also try installing more current 2.6.x kernel. Latest Sarge netinstaller has 2.6.12 kernel. The Sarge 2.6.8x kernel is still available. Apt-get update 1st. Synaptic-- under base system-- should list kernel-images available. apt-cache policy kernel-image would also list available kenel-images.

A helpful site in uk is http://www.debianhelp.co.uk/ It has great guides and tips as well as links to other good links. Enjoy Debian

Thanks, i'll try those, although i forgot to mention that i'm not using an X window system. This particular machine doens't even have a monitor attached, and it's only got a graphics card for the rare occasions when i need to do something like fsck. I Was actually planning to use mpg321 from an SSH session.

Still, with that in mind i'll give it a go. Thanks.

Okay, i tried installing all those packages - they were all up to date! I did apt-get install update before i even began all of this. Alsa still fails to detect the card, all it ever gives me is:

modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd: no module by that name found
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: (none loaded).
Building card database...
modinfo: snd-opl3sa2: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4236: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4232: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-cs4231: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-es18xx: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-es1688: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-sb16: no module by that name found
modinfo: snd-sb8: no module by that name found


I can't understand why this is being so difficult. I just can't see what's wrong - as far as i can tell, i've done everything correctly.

If you have alsa,etc installed then modprobe snd-emu10k1 should load module. There is always oss option.
Another link: http://uclinux.info/wiki/index.php/ look for Using a Sound Blaster Live Sound Card with Debian. Hope that helps...