Hi people! I'm really newbie to linux world and i have not a few problems with all this stuff....
But i like it! My recent problem is that I cannot install my RealTek AC'97 audio sound card that is working properly under Windows XP. My stuff is an Intel P4 processor that runs at 3GHz on a Gigabyte motherboard. Recently I tried to install and configure correctly a Mandrake 9 distribution.
I found the updated drivers for my card,I tar'ed them but trying to './configure' and 'make config' I see that under /usr/src/ there is no linux-x.y.z or linux folder (nor kernel). In fact there is nowhere something like that. I read that i could d/l one and compile it. But if so, what is this that i'm running right now???? A linux mandrake without a kernel?? Wouldn't this damage the real one that came with my CD?
Please, help me listen to my sounds.....

I guess you don't have the kernel source and hence you are not able to compile...Its like trying to make coffee without the beans ...just kidding.

I think you would need to install the kernel source. The kernel is already installed.

open up a terminal and type

$ uname -r

this will give you your kernel version. I also suggest you check the HCL on this site and elsewhere on the net to find out if your sound card is supported.

Also, take a look here

Tux

Thanks, Tux for your reply.
Well,the card IS supported.
My kernel source is 2.4.19-16mdk and it's an about 12MB matter to d/l it.
Supposed to d/l, then what are he next steps?
Unzip the rpm into a /usr/src/linux/ folder (I guess)?
Needs any compilation and how? I need to know what will happen with my installed Mandrake kernel (anxious, huh?).
(Hey, that xfce seems really cool !...)

Mandrake must have a rpm package for kernel source. I suggest you look into the installation cd's too. All you need to do is to install the kernel-source rpm and it will take care of itself. I have no experience with Mandrake but its a very popular distro and installing kernel source should be easy.

Thanks for the XFCE comment