Total n00b can't make a Genius Sound Maker 3DX work
 

Hi:

Someone just gave me an old PentiumII-233. So I though: "what the ..., I'll install linux on this piece of s***, and will put it to work"

I've decided to install Mandriva 10.2 (i586) 3CDs version. My problem is that the sound card, Genius Sound Maker 3DX, is not reconized by the distro.

This card has a Yamaha YMF419E-S chip and under Windows was listed as Yamaha OPL3-SAx Sound Card. No MIDI (I think), but it has a Joystick I/O port.

After Googleing awhile my problem, and a lot of trial and errors, found sndconfig and tried it; no results under listed alternatives for OPL3-SAx. Only using SoundBlaster parameters it's has been possible to hear some noise.

Question come obvious: How is this card configured? Keep in mind that this is my first contact with any linux at all.

:newbie:

Welcome to LQ!

Linux definitely supports OPL3 - in general. Try modprobe snd_opl3. What distro is Mandriva 10.2 anyhow? :scratch: Did you mean Mandrake?

Hi:

Thanks for answering!!

Well, this is what I've done. First, opened the Konsole; then, opened a Terminal in the root; type the password, and finally type modprobe snd_opl3.

This send me the folowing smessage:
FATAL: Module snd_opl3 not found

When tried using modprobe opl3sa2 nothing happened. No sound at all, neither. But after typing dmesg, at the end appeared this couple of lines:
opl3sa2: probe of 00:01.00 failed with error -16
opl3sa2: No PnP cards found

By the way, could somebody explain me what are this modprobe and dmesg for. :confused:

Yes, Mandriva was know before as Mandrake. The actual name of the ISOs that I've downloaded are: Mandriva-Linux-2005-Limited-Edition-Download-CD#.i586.iso
Where CD# are: CD1, CD2 and CD3

modprobe is used to add modules to the kernel. A module is a small piece of kernel code that can be loaded or unloaded at any time. In this case, the module adds support for your soundcard to the kernel. More info can be obtained by typing:

man modprobe

dmesg is a command that allows you to see the kernel level messages, and likewise:

man dmesg

Now, having said all of that (and not trying to sound like a dork), I would recommend you get a newer version of Linux. As far a hardware support goes, the newer the version of Linux, the more likely a piece of hardware will work.

If you still want to continue using the version you have installed, then it can work, but you may be forced to recompile your kernel (not really as hard as it sounds).

Anyway, welcome to Linux. I'll try to help out in any way I can, even if that means walking you through a kernel compile. :)

forrestt:

Thx for answering, your will to help and the warm welcome!!

I'll prefer not to install a newer version of Linux, since it's a 2005 version. In fact, I was thinking of installing an OLDER version of linux, because it takes not less than 5 minutes to fully load and to be able to use it. :Pengy:

Also, I'll prefer not to compile (if it's as complicated as it sounds); it may be let as last resource.

A closer look at dmesg output show a card found at I/O 0x530, irq 7 and dma 0,1. Nevertheless using such parameters in sndconfig got no results.

How can I find the right parameters of I/O, irq and dma to use with this card? and, where should I introduce them?

IF this is a sound blaster compatible sound card, shouldn't I use the SB parameters (I/O 220, etc)? After all, it made some noise when tried the sound blaster config.

Best regards

A newer version shouldn't take any more time to load than an older version provided you are running the same stuff at boot. The advantage is you get a newer kernel (and more resources to help get things working). I can try to go back in time mentally...