Installed Slackware 10.2 and, after running alsaconf - which detected my Via Tech VT8233 (AC97 audio controller) PCI soundard, I had sound.
Then, downloaded, installed and ran SWareT, upgraded several packages including Alsa and now no sound at all - alsaconf cannot detect PCI or legacy sound cards.
I get the following error message at boot up:

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device: default can't be opened for playback (No such device)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

I've searched the forum for any reports of similar happenings but can't find any. I'm assuming the upgrade screwed up something but, as I'm new to Slackware and command-line configs, I'm not sure what to do.
Help would be appreciated!

i'm pretty sure it was just the upgrade of alsa...i did this once, too. i fixed it by removing alsa, then reinstalling it from the installation disk. the only time i upgrade alsa is when i upgrade the kernel.

Thanks for that suggestion but, if you'll pardon my ignorance, how do I go about removing alsa and then re-installing it from the disk?

Hi again,
I've done the removing bit without any problems (I think!) using SWareT - now how do I install from the installation disk? If I'm using SWareT again, presumably I have to 'point' it at the disk, and if so, how?
Thanks.

1) Alsa should be blacklisted in swaret.conf (also kernel*, aaa*, *dl)

2) No need to use swaret to install packages fro mthe install disk. Mount the install disk. find the packages. Use "installpkg package_name". Note this is for installing only (which is what you want if you already removed the alsa packages).

The asla packages can be found in /l and /ap. There are 4.

**EDIT***

You may want to use "upgradepkg --install-new package_name", just in case you didn't remove all the alsa packages.

In swaret.conf file there is sexn that has
EXCLUDE=kernel and other exclusions wc shd include
EXCLUDE=aaa_
EXCLUDE=alsa kernel
according to download page.
God luck.

shilo - installed the new alsa files from CD - worked a treat! Now I'm going to try blacklisting alsa in swaret.conf to avoid future problems. Really appreciate the guidance guys - every day in every way I'm getting less baffled!

shilo/lestoil - just a follow up so I get this right - to blacklist alsa I'm adding:
EXCLUDE=aaa_
EXCLUDE=alsa kernel

is that all I need?

My EXCLUDE list will look like this:

# Basic Exclude
#
EXCLUDE=kernel
EXCLUDE=lilo swaret
EXCLUDE=MANIFEST.bz2$
EXCLUDE=.*dl$ .*PACKAGER$ .*MYBUILD$
EXCLUDE=aaa_
EXCLUDE=alsa kernel

Thanks.

Looks just like mine, now.

Shilo - appreciate that, thanks again.