ok ive done some searching around and came across a website called Linuxant that provides drivers for my modem/sound card/game controller anyhow.. i do as they say and download the generic package well when i run ripconfig this is what i get...

Linux RIPTIDE audio/communication drivers, version 0.6lnxtbeta03122800

WARNING: this is an EXPERIMENTAL BETA VERSION of the RIPTIDE drivers for Linux.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! See the file /usr/lib/riptide/LICENSE for details.

Conexant Systems neither distributes nor maintains this package.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT CONEXANT REGARDING THIS SOFTWARE!!!

If you require assistance or need more information, go to:
http://www.linuxant.com/drivers

When reporting a problem for the first time, please send
us the file generated by "ripconfig --dumpdiag".
grep: /proc/ksyms: No such file or directory
/usr/sbin/ripconfig: line 499: [: too many arguments

This package does not contain pre-built modules suitable for your system:
Distribution: Mandrake-10.2
Kernel arch: i686
Kernel version: linux-2.6.11-6mdk

Please obtain the appropriate variant of this package for your system
or try the generic RPM or tar version.

ok i have hit ye anouther road block...

in the software package installation utility, lspci isnt listed...

Driver
Module: unknown

it's just means it doesn't have a module for it...(I used mandrake before, for a year or so).

ok ok ... i went out and bought a linux compatible sound card.. i was reading the instalation instructions and i am blown away... if some one could please walk me through this...


STEPS TO BUILD DRIVER
================================================================================

1. Backup the Config.in and Makefile in the sound driver directory
(/usr/src/linux/driver/sound).
The Configure.help provide help when you config driver in step
4, please backup the original one (/usr/src/linux/Document) and
copy this file.
The cmpci is document for the driver in detail, please copy it
to /usr/src/linux/Document/sound so you can refer it. Backup if
there is already one.

2. Extract the tar file by 'tar xvzf cmpci-xx.tar.gz' in the above
directory.

3. Change directory to /usr/src/linux

4. Config cm8338 driver by 'make menuconfig', 'make config' or
'make xconfig' command.

5. Please select Sound Card (CONFIG_SOUND=m) support and CMPCI
driver (CONFIG_SOUND_CMPCI=m) as modules. Resident mode not tested.
For driver option, please refer 'DRIVER PARAMETER'

6. Compile the kernel if necessary.

7. Compile the modules by 'make modules'.

8. Install the modules by 'make modules_install'


INSTALL DRIVER
================================================================================

1. Before first time to run the driver, create module dependency by
'depmod -a'

2. To install the driver manually, enter 'modprobe cmpci'.

3. Driver installation for various distributions:

a. Slackware 4.0
Add the 'modprobe cmpci' command in your /etc/rc.d/rc.modules
file.so you can start the driver automatically each time booting.

b. Caldera OpenLinux 2.2
Use LISA to load the cmpci module.

c. RedHat 6.0 and S.u.S.E. 6.1
Add following command in /etc/conf.modules:

alias sound cmpci

here is some more info


[root@newpc mike]# /sbin/lsmod
Module Size Used by
sg 34268 0
scsi_mod 115784 1 sg
evdev 7744 0
cmpci 40116 0
opl3 14220 1 cmpci
mpu401 24932 1 cmpci
sound 71948 2 opl3,mpu401
soundcore 7104 2 cmpci,sound
gameport 3328 1 cmpci
nls_iso8859-1 3744 1
isofs 31512 1
raw 6720 1
md5 3648 1
ipv6 232320 12
rfcomm 33692 8
ipt_TOS 1888 12
ipt_REJECT 5600 4
ipt_pkttype 1248 4
ipt_LOG 6208 7
ipt_state 1376 10
ipt_multiport 2144 0
ipt_conntrack 1984 0
iptable_mangle 2080 1
ip_nat_irc 1568 0
ip_nat_tftp 1280 0
ip_nat_ftp 2272 0
iptable_nat 19068 3 ip_nat_irc,ip_nat_tftp,ip_nat_ftp
ip_conntrack_irc 70384 1 ip_nat_irc
ip_conntrack_tftp 3056 1 ip_nat_tftp
ip_conntrack_ftp 71344 1 ip_nat_ftp
ip_conntrack 37400 9 ipt_state,ipt_conntrack,ip_nat_irc,ip_nat_tftp,ip_nat_ftp,iptable_nat,ip_conntrack_irc,ip_conntrack_ tftp,ip_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 2144 1
ip_tables 18176 10 ipt_TOS,ipt_REJECT,ipt_pkttype,ipt_LOG,ipt_state,ipt_multiport,ipt_conntrack,iptable_mangle,iptable_ nat,iptable_filter
af_packet 16232 2
hsfusbcd2 56728 0
hsfmc97sis 47600 0
hsfmc97ati 45840 0
hsfmc97ali 52116 0
hsfmc97via 49144 0
hsfmc97ich 50896 0
hsfpcibasic2 56400 0
hsfserial 19012 7 hsfusbcd2,hsfmc97sis,hsfmc97ati,hsfmc97ali,hsfmc97via,hsfmc97ich,hsfpcibasic2
hsfengine 1299348 1 hsfserial
hsfosspec 82148 9 hsfusbcd2,hsfmc97sis,hsfmc97ati,hsfmc97ali,hsfmc97via,hsfmc97ich,hsfpcibasic2,hsfserial,hsfengine
hsfsoar 57312 7 hsfusbcd2,hsfmc97sis,hsfmc97ati,hsfmc97ali,hsfmc97via,hsfmc97ich,hsfpcibasic2
floppy 54736 0
dmfe 19484 0
ide-cd 36772 2
loop 13544 0
vfat 11200 0
fat 35964 1 vfat
supermount 32660 1
usbmouse 4640 0
via-agp 7424 1
agpgart 28264 1 via-agp
usbkbd 6208 0
hidp 11968 2
l2cap 20644 10 rfcomm,hidp
hci_usb 12232 6
bluetooth 41380 16 rfcomm,hidp,l2cap,hci_usb
ext3 123304 2
jbd 48344 1 ext3
usbhid 43328 0
uhci-hcd 28688 0
usbcore 105464 8 hsfusbcd2,hsfosspec,usbmouse,usbkbd,hci_usb,usbhid,uhci-hcd

ok i figured it out... i changed the drive in hardrake... I HAVE SOUND :-)

thanks everyone...

now if i could only figure out how to ajust the main volume

What happened while I blinked? Try kmix or alsamixer for mixer settings.

ok i figured it out, and how to add it to the tool bar...