I own a Debian Sarge r1 distro on 14 CDs. I've previously (and successfully) installed that distro on this laptop. However, I had issues with my WinModem (Agere AC'97). I've followed previous suggestions and read other tutorials in configuring that modem using 'slmodemd' driver. I'm not computer illiterate, but I am NEW to Linux in particular. I don't want to be a Microsoft slave. Further issues ensued with my Sound. I run a SoundMax Integrated Audio when under Windows XP. Which, sadly, I am once again using Windows at the moment as it's the only OS which will support my winmodem (redundant, isn't it?). Please, help me? I would like to transition successfully to a more stable, and reliable OS that updates frequently (not every 3+ years or so). Further details on my laptop, and problems which I would like to resolve. As I'm new to Linux, bear in mind (although I'm not computer illiterate) I'm ignorant. I know a little C, Visual Basic, Basic(QBasic), Javascript and HTML. That doesn't make me a professional programmer, though. I've modified the Makefile to include the source for my Kernel (I installed the 2.6 Kernel optionally since the 2.4 kernel refused to load without having a Kernel Panic on boot. The 2.6 worked fine, though.) and ran Make. Followed the directions for installing the driver to a 'T'. Still, the modem refused to work. My primary concern is getting online with Debian, the sound I can work out afterwards.

--HP Pavilion zv5000--
*Agere Systems AC'97 Dialup Modem (Doesn't work under Debian - tried the slmodemd driver provided on another website)
*SoundMax digital Audio (Doesn't work either)
*ATI Mobility Radeon 9000/9100 IGP (works)
*ALPS Mouse (works okay)
*USB 2.0 ports (3 of them work fine)
*Intel Celeron 2.8ghz processor
*1.12 gb SDRAM
*30 gb harddrive
*DVD/CD-RW HL-DT-ST GCC-4241N

I'm sure people here can help you, but you probably need to break issues down with a bit more detail.

Can you give specifics about the modem problem? If there are any errors displayed, can you provide text? You may need to "dump" your text file or if you can, cut and paste into a text file, and then post it.

Also, if you give specifics about the sound problem in the same way - that will help also.

Check the system logs, you may see something like "error cannot locate driver" or something like that...

If you need a little more guidance on how capture this info, let us know.

Okay, basically here is the issue. I don't get an error, at all. The Modem simply will not dial (Before trying to run MAKE to compile the slmodemd driver). So, I've edited the Makefile for the slmodemd as the instructions suggested, then ran Make. But, the modem still will not work. Unfortunately I do not have Debian on this Laptop anymore. Though when I get time I'm considering just formatting this harddrive, booting into Knoppix and using the 'qtpart' utility. Then install Linux into one partition and Windows into another. Though I will note: I have never done partitioning before. Could anyone guide me through the process of partitioning, and setting up a Dual Boot WindowsXP/Debian GNULinux system? Then, maybe I can troubleshoot the problems with Debian and hopefully get internet working with that distro. Then once I've became more familiar with Linux, I'll discard all dependancies on Microsoft.