I have SuSE 8.1 Personal. I am an extreme newbie. I just installed Linux and have no sound. My sound was working when I first installed it but doesn't any longer. I went into YaST2 and looked for my sound card configuration. It lists my sound card name (VT82C686 AC97 Audio Controller) but under status it says card removed. The card is on my motherboard (I forget the word..integrated?) and therefor cannot be removed. Why does it say my sound card is removed? How can I get my sound back? P.S. Just switched to Linux from Windows so if there are any complicated things to do, I would appreciate detailed instructions. Also, I just inbstalled and don't even know how to install packages. So if you can't help on the sound card problem but can tell me how to install a package, please do. Please, I really need my sound back. Mplayer won't run, tells me couldn't open/init audio device -> NOSOUND. Please help...

Try using YaST2 to uninstall and reinstall the settings for your sound card (sorry I can't be more detailed than that, I don't have YaST2 to try it with).

As for installing packages, you must be root to do it. I am using the package "gtk-gnutella-0.90.2-0.i386.rpm" in these examples, replace it with the name of the package you are using. To install, run "rpm -ivh gtk-gnutella-0.90.2-0.i386.rpm". The i is for install, the v is for verify, the h is for hash. To upgrade, do "rpm -Uvh gtk-gnutella-0.90.2-0.i386.rpm" (U for upgrade, yes, capitalization DOES matter). To uninstall a package, do "rpm -e gtk-gnutella" (e is for erase, and you just use the base name of the package, no version number or .rpm extension). To get more information on rpm (the program you use to install packages) type "man rpm".

Thanks for the installation directions. I will try them. Anyone have a resolution to my sound card problem?

yast2>hardware>sound, delete configured soundcard/chip, click finish. yast2>hardware>sound, configure new, accept all defaults, click finish.