I have just installed RedHat Linux 8.0 on my PC at home. The specs of my PC are :

Intel Pentium 4 2.26GHz
Intel Original 845GBV motherboard
Onboard sound Intel AC97 Audio
External 56.6Kbps D-Link Modem

I'm facing two problems.

1) RH8.0 Hardware Browser has detected Soundcard as -
Selected device: 82801Db AC
Manufacturer: Intel Corp.
Driver: i810_audio
Device: N/A
On startup , KDE gives the message that the default output device /dev/dsp cannot be opened. So it is using the null output device. Ultimately , I get no sound from my speakers. Play test sound gives no result.

2)Windows98 Device Manager detects my modem as "Conexant 56K Data/Fax/Voice Modem"
I cannot set up my modem to connect to the internet. I have tried with Internet Configuration Wizard in KDE. After giving required information, when I click the "Activate" button, the modem starts dialing some number and then nothing happens.

Could you please help me out ?? Its really frustrating to be using RedHat Linux 8.0 without sound and internet.

Hoping to hear from you soon,

I remain,

Yours faithfully

ANJAN MUSTAFI

check your modem if its a winmodem if it is goto www.linmodems.org

Ummm...
I don't know if Conexant makes anything but software modems, so it's probably like nakkaya says - go searching for a winmodem driver that matches your modem chipset. Hopefully you will be able to get the specifics from the Win98 properties sheet for the modem, or see what querying the modem from the diagnostics sheet reveals (look for model number specifics of the chipset.) I gave up on the grief of software modems (I have made one winmodem work) and bought a USR V.92 pure hardware modem - no more troubles ever.

The onboard sound may also require a Windows driver. See if your mobo is on the Hardware Compatibility List. I have a mobo that won't work with Linux, too (but I keep it as the last Microsoft machine I have - it's only for games. ;-)

You can also try the Knoppix CD as a quick-n-easy check without having to install it on your hard drive. That distro can make a lot of different hardware work, and it has become one of my most valuable troubleshooting tools.

Thanks nakkaya & 2Sleepy2 ! I'll try out your suggestions. Hope they work with my system . Will tell you about results soon.
Bye

You can get the conexant modem drivers from http://www.mbsi.ca/cnxtlindrv/.