Hello,

For the last year i have been using linux as my prefered OS, just recently i purchased a new computer with very high specs.
Ever since i have built this computer i have HAD to run Windows becuase driver problems linux end (motherboard). Since i cant stay away from linux i used vmware to have some form of the os. I have no idea how it does it but vmware seems to trick linux into thinking a different sound card is in the computer. The onboard sound + the onboard nic works through vmware but i have had a hard time trying to get the drivers to work. Even on various operating systems Redhat 9, Mandrake 9.2-10, Debian 30r2, Slackware 9.1,Freebsd4.5,Beos..

I was wondering if there is any way at all to "trick" linux into thinking i have different hardware installed, or alternitivly help me out configuring the drivers. Although i current do not have linux installed as a primary os i will format my hdd and start over.

This is the motherboard Here
The sound card and lan card (onboard) where causing problems, also on some distros (mandrake, redhat) there has been about 200meg of ram missing.

Audio CODEC: C-media 9739A
LAN: 3COM 940 1Gb LAN

These are the trouble makers..

If anyone at all has any ideas at all it would be really helpful.
I miss linux

Thanks for your time

Ben

No, you can not change how VMware works. VMware virtualizes such as sound devices and network interface cards. You could use USB sound devices with VMware. I suggest disable sound in VMware and use VMware's default NIC for networking. VMware takes some memory away from the host OS. If you set VMware to take something like 320 megabytes. The host OS will be little on memory. You have to remember VMware creates a virtual machine. LIke any computer it needs some amount of memory and other things to make it work.

He isn't asking how to change VMware, he wants to know how to get Linux (as the installed OS) working with his hardware.

All I can tell you is to try and figure out what modules Linux is loading from within VMware and then try to load them when Linux is the installed OS. It doesn't really matter if the driver is the "correct" one, as long as it works (for instance, you can use the Sound Blaster modules on nearly any sound card).

It is just going to be a matter of trial and error.

MS3FGX, have you used VMware. If had used VMware you will understand that you can not install drivers for your particular hardware. VMware creates its own hardware for video, sound, nic, usb, chipset, usb, serial, parallel. Hardware that VMware does not virtualizes is CD-ROM, ZIP, LS-120 (aka superdisk), floppy, a phyiscal hard drive, processor, devices that are connected through the parallel port, serial port, and USB port. Using the setup from the virtual machine will not help b3nji make his or her system work with LINUX. VMware states this on their site.

b3nji, to get sound working. Compile ALSA for intel 810. The chip C-media 9739A is a PHY compatible chip. This means the INTEL chipset and the processor controls the sound. For 3Com 1Gb NIC, go to 3Com's site and download the driver. Read the documentation file before installing it. If installing the drivers (modules) do not work, you may have to compile the kernel for some 1Gb NIC support. The best LINUX distribution that detects hardware with out installing is Knoppix. Next time you need to stick to the point. I was confused.

Right i will give that i try, knoppix is good but doesnt seem to detect my gfx card (nvidia) havent tryed to load it through the vesa drivers. Any ways when i get home later on this eveing i will install debian 30r2 again.

I will let you know how it goes.

Cheers

ben

Electro, you don't seem to understand.

b3nji doesn't want to use VMware. He wants to use Linux as the primary OS.

Yes MS3FGX your correct i do want to use linux as my primary OS i have ever since i have purchased the computer. I was just having a little trouble with the drivers and wondered if i could trick linux the way vmware does. After reciving your advice i will install a distro of linux when i return home.

I was just wondering would debian be the right choice to make?
I mean i have mandrake 10,rehat etc.. laying around but i am very fond of debian so it would be my prefered distro.

Ben

Right i have just installed mandrake community 10, and the sound doesnt seem to work but i am not getting any error messages.

Alsa is runing using the snd-intel8x0 drivers, alsa is running in my serivces and alsamixer is umuted.

[Edit]

i have been searching around the fourm and i am going to try the drivers the cmaudio provide. I will report on how it goes

Ben

Good luck with this... I hope things work out for you.

I am not surpirsed that Electro has been counterproductive... I just roll my eyes after reading most of his posts.

Anyway, I have a question for you:

How is that ECS motherboard? My first computer had an ECS board and it was an unstable mess. After I replaced the motherboard with an MSI offering the system has been rock solid. So, yah, how is the ECS board treating you? I just want to know because I have not had the chance to test out some of their newer offerings. After my first experience with them I have stayed clear.