no sound with alsa driver: Slackware 10.2, K2.6.16.5, intel AC97 audio
 

Hello, I just upgraded from slackware 9.0 to 10.2, and I've been trying to get my audio
working for the past 2 days now. I've run out of ideas so I'm giving in and asking for
help. Here's what' I've done so far:

1. Fresh install of slackware 10.2

2. Upgraded to kernel 2.6.16.5 with alsa compiled in, and modular support for the Intel
AC97 on board audio device (snd-intel8x0)

3. Installed most current alsa packages from slackware web site (under linux-2.6x section)
alsa-driver-1.0.10_2.6.15.3-i486-1.tgz
alsa-lib-1.0.10-i486-1.tgz
alsa-oss-1.0.10-i486-1.tgz
alsa-oss-1.0.10-i486-1.tgz

4. Ran alsaconf.

an error flashes right before It goes into config utility:

modinfo: could not find module snd

it goes into configure utility, finds the correct card, modifies the /etc/modprob.conf,
and says sound driver is configured. It then goes on to run the alsa init script
/etc/r.d/rc.alsa. I get the following messages:

Loading driver...
Loading ALSA mixer settings: /usr/sbin/alsactl restore
Loading OSS compatibility modules for ALSA.
FATAL: Module snd_pcm_oss not found.
FATAL: Module snd_mixer_oss not found.
FATAL: Module snd_seq_oss not found.
Setting default volumes...

and then:

Now ALSA is ready to use.
For adjustment of volumes, use your favorite mixer.

Have a lot of fun!

5. configured sound levels with alsamixer.

6. gpasswd -a <username> audio (per gentoo alsa guide, not sure if relevent to slack)

With that being done, I still do not get any audio. Am I missing an important step
somewhere? Do the messages I am getting indicate a particular problem? Sorry this is so
long, I was trying to be thurough. Thank you to anyone taking the time to read and
respond!

...drkstr

sounds like you don't have soundcore module.
Do lsmod and see if you have the following line

soundcore 3300 4 [snd]

or something similar ( the numbers will probably be different )

you need to have the soundcore module to use alsa, I have had this problem several times when I forget to compile in soundcore support.

once you have the snd part right the other parts that rely on it (snd-pcm-oss, snd-mixer-oss etc) should be ok.

remember to run alsamixer to unmute and set sound levels and then alsactl store to keep settings for future use.

Hope this helps.

Phunkymunky

also the alsa pages have a good install walkthrough just pick the section relevent to your soundcard.

I had soundcore hard coded (not sure of correct terminology) into the kernel. I switched it over to modular and it works beautifully. Thanks a million!

...drkstr