Realtek ac97 not working

tm2383 · 01-12-2007, 08:10 AM

Hi,
Now that I've got mandriva 2007 up and running on my Desktop system and finally worked out how to use it properly (steep learning curve :-) ) I'm now installing it on my laptop.

I can't get the sound to work on my Realtek ac97 sound card. I've found a driver for it at opendrivers , but I don't know how to install this, so that Mandriva recognises my sound card.

I think i read somewhere about having to make changes to the kernel, which really has me confused. I've only just sussed out tar and rpm installs :-)

Can anyone help me to do this?

tim

camorri · 01-12-2007, 08:59 AM

Most often you do not need to re-compile the kernel to get sound to work. Usually what is required is using a command called 'modprobe' to load a KLM, ( kernel loadable module ). Sounds complicated, but once you have the correct sound module, you issue the command once, load the module, and settle any other issues such as being muted.

There are two basic sound systems that will work, the older one is OSS ( Open Sound System ) and the newer one ALSA ( Advanced Linus Sound Architecture ). Each has a web site and list known cards and KLM's available for each card.

Mandriva has a lot of common sound drives in it when you install. If not they are available form the respiratorys.

If you could supply some more information about the sound driver, ( the URL where you found it ) I can have a look to see if it a KLM, or source for compiling. Also if you would post as much as you can about your sound card, so we're sure we have the correct driver.

Just a thought, have you looked to see if you have a sound module loaded? Open a konsole, and enter this command. '/sbin/lsmod | grep snd' As an example, here is what I see on my system. I have a different sound card, ( it is on the system board ). It uses the snd-es18xx driver, you will see it listed.

Code:

/sbin/lsmod | grep snd
snd_seq_dummy           2532  0
snd_seq_oss            31136  0
snd_seq_midi_event      5696  1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq                46960  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss            48960  0
snd_mixer_oss          16896  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_es18xx             27208  3
snd_pcm                79784  4 snd_pcm_oss,snd_es18xx
snd_page_alloc          8392  1 snd_pcm
snd_opl3_lib            8672  1 snd_es18xx
snd_timer              20548  3 snd_seq,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib
snd_hwdep               6848  1 snd_opl3_lib
snd_mpu401_uart         5664  1 snd_es18xx
snd_rawmidi            19616  1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device          6828  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_opl3_lib,snd_rawmidi
snd                    46116  16 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_es18xx,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_timer,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore               7008  1 snd

If your system returns no lines of information, then you do not have a driver loaded. That is what I would expect at this point.

tm2383 · 01-12-2007, 09:40 AM

Hi,
This is the url:

http://www.opendrivers.com/freedownl...-download.html

Thanks for the help. I cant test out the sound card module info until later though. When I was checking the sound card though, I tried to start one of the audio packages on the computer, I think I remember getting a big red error message sign on the desktop saying that the module was not loaded.

Thanks,
tim

camorri · 01-12-2007, 01:15 PM

This is a source package so you can compile your own executable KLM. Here are the instructions on how to compile the code.

Quote:

The source code copy from www.alsa-project.org. ver:A2.3
Linux Source Code for ALC audio codec

Installation:
This Source Code is from www.alsa-project.org.
For driver installation, please follow below steps.

Step 1. unzip source code
tar xfvj alcsound.tar.bz2

Step 2. Turn on sound support (soundcore module, default turn on)

Step 3. Complied source code
a. ./configure
b. make
c. make install
d. ./snddevices

Step 4. Edit your /etc/modules.conf or conf.modules depending on the distribution
(Please refer to the attached modules.conf)

Step 5. reboot your machine

Note: 1. The most detail information, can refer the alsa-kernel/Documenttation/ALSA-Configuration.txt
in the alcsound.tar.bz2.
2. Kernel Version must be 2.2.14 or later.
3. All mixer channels are muted by default. You must use a native
or OSS mixer program to unmute appropriate channels.
4. If can not compile the source code, try to rename the /usr/src/linux-2.x -> /usr/src/linux.
5. The driver added to support the SPDIF functoin.
6. Suggest use alsamixer to control mixer function. you can find it in the alsa-utils-0.9.4 (www.alsa-project.org).

At this point it may be worth looking for a snd-ac97 driver already compiled. There should be one for Mandriva. I have compiled some things, but I'm no expert.

Let me know which way you want to go, and we'll see if we can get'er done.

tm2383 · 01-14-2007, 12:47 PM

hi,
thanks for the rely. I'll not be able to use my laptop until the start of the week again, so ill have a go at things then and let you know.

thanks again,
tim