I'm using 8.1 beta and am having problems getting my sound and pcmcia cards (xircom 10/100 ethernet and 56k modem) working.The sound requires new modules for via82cxxx to be compiled and i want to know if i can compile just modules for the existing kernel(2.4.18) OR do I have to re-compile the whole kernel?
I've been trying with little success to compile a kernel which gives me -
sound,ide-scsi facilities so the /mnt/scd0 on /mnt/cdrom in fstab works AND ethernet and pcmcia modem working correctly.A tall order I know but if i can knock these off one at a time I'll be happy!
In the /boot dir I have a config-ide-2.4.18 file - is this the config Slackware used to compile the kernel I'm running at the moment?If it is i can def get the sound working and then tackle the pcmcia issues.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - I know this post is short of tech substance but i can supply log files etc. to anyone who requires them to sort this out.
Thanks a lot

It is usually best to rebuild the entire kernel and not just attempt to make modules and install. The kernel tree needs to be initialized and the other object files built etc. Especially the first time.

If you built from an ISO image, then look in the kernels directory of the CD. Locate the kernel that you are running and inside it there is a config file. Copy the file to the linux kernel top level directory and name it .config. Note the period in front of the filename.

Then run "make menuconfig" and the file will be loaded as defaults. enable the options you desire. I think there is a kernel HOWTO in the /usr/doc/Linux-HOWTOs directory for the remaining process.

For your sound though I would try

modprobe via82cxxx_audio
or
modprobe ac97

If either of them work then edit the /etc/rc.d/rc.modules and remove the remark on the driver so it will be loaded automatically at boot.

Look in the /lib/modules/2.4.18/ directory tree for other modules that you might want to try.

Also, there is a PCMCIA HOWTO that you might be interested in reading about your net card and modem.

Cheers

The compiling isn't a problem for me - I must have done it dozens of times recently - it's the options in the kernel.That's why I would like a copy of the config used for the current running config so i can just tweak that and not have to do a complete rebuild from scratch.The config file for the bare.i kernel won't compile and run as is so that's not an option - thanls for the reply though.