Hey, I'm new to linux ,
I decided to buy a copy (I know its free but I dont have broardband) because im hoping to go to Edinburgh uni after summer and the earth sciences department use this operating system for some of their data collection/processing . So I thought I'd have a look at it beforehard .
I've got a copy of Mandrake 10 off ebay and I've installed it in a new partition on my IBM thinkpad 600e laptop (no problems here) . I'm using the gnome desktop at the moment , however I cannot get the internal modem to work or the sound card .
The modem is a standard Thinkpad internal modem on com3 (occording to my win2000 setup)
The Sound Card is a Crystal WDM .
Linux recongises the soundcard correctly (it appears on the hardware list)but for some reason does not startup the appropriate drivers and the sound icon is shown as being muted , when I try and unmute it , it says something like there are components missing in certain directorys???
The modem is somewhat of a mystery , linux so far has not recongised it (it dosnt appear in the hardware list) , I've tried to setup and internet connection using com3 as my modem location but to no avail .
The final problem I have is that certain folders within linux are restricted (they appear with a red cross in the top right of the icon) aparrently I am not an administrator so I cannot view these directorys ????
If anyone knows how to sort these out it would be a great help.
Cheers ,
Max

For the modem - grab the mwave driver from here http://www.124.ibm.com/acpmodem
once you've installed it, as root - modprobe mwave and then type mwavem.
You should be able to set up the modem after that.

For sound - there are quite a few threads in this forum regarding sound and the 600e, try the search button.

Ok thats very confusing !!!
I've got the file mwavem-2.0-1.i386.rpm off the wabsite you suggested and double clicked on it , its asked me if I want to install it and I've said yes , then the window dissapears and the watch times comes on and nothing else happens ???? I've looking in the packages installed list and its there , so it must be installed ! ??
when you say 'as root - modprobe mwave and then type mwavem' Does that mean :
1) log in under root (I can access all the folders now )
2)go through the directory sequence modprob/mwave/ and then run mwavem ?????
Or do you mean from the console just type modprobe mwave , and then type mwavem ?
Thing is when I try to install the downloaded package a directory called modprob or mwave is not created ! So im totally confused .
I've tried Downloading the source code and had a go at compiling that , but when I try in the console it says im missing a C compiler in path$ ????
Help !!! So far as a new linux user its not a toutch on Windows ! ( Please prove me wrong and help me out !!! )
Thanks ,
Max

Hey , I've had a play about ,
In the Terminal I typed 'modprobe mwave' , and it said:
WARNING: /etc/modprobe.conf line 2: ignoring bad line starting with 'proball'
WARNING: /etc/modprobe.conf line 4: ignoring bad line starting with 'above'
FATAL: Error instering mwave (/lib/modules/2.6.3-7mdk/kernel/drivers/char/mwave/mwave.ko.gz): Input/output error

Ok so what does that mean ??? It can fully install the package ??

Sorry, yes I guess it was somewhat cryptic.

OK, try this:

1. Bring up a console.
2. type : su and then give your password.
3. type : modprobe mwave
4. if you don't get an error message type : mwavem
5. exit
6. if you use kde, launch kppp and configure your coordinates.
7. hit the connect button and you should be good to go!

Hope this helps.

Hey , I've Tried that but I get the error message as follows :

WARNING: /etc/modprobe.conf line 2: ignoring bad line starting with 'proball'
WARNING: /etc/modprobe.conf line 4: ignoring bad line starting with 'above'
FATAL: Error instering mwave (/lib/modules/2.6.3-7mdk/kernel/drivers/char/mwave/mwave.ko.gz): Input/output error

So I guess it cant install the drivers ??

What do you recomend next? (Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me !)
Cheers ,
Max

Hmmm,

The only thing I can recommend is to see if you can get any info from the Mandrake forums. As you can see I use Slackware and Debian, and setting it up with Slack wasn't really a problem.

BTW got you sound working yet?

Hey Thanks , I'll have a look around . I havnt really been trying to get the sound working yet , the modem is kinda a priority at the moment , once I get that sorted I can download the files I need and look at forums and the like directly from my laptop instead of my desktop .
Cheers , I'll keep trying ,
Also could you reccomend a different version / type of linux to use with my laptop ? As mandrake 10 dosent seem to be ideal .
Max

Try Libranet. It's based on Debian, has a pretty painless install, and configures most hardware fairly easily with it's Adminmenu feature. I've been using it for about 18 months and love it. There's a free download of the 2.7 version and they'll be releasing a spanking new version later this summer. I suggest you download the free one and see how it goes and if you like it, buy the new release when it becomes available.

Cheers.

Ok thanks , I'll have a go with that then , Im in the middle of my A level exams at the moment so it'll have to be in a couple of weeks tho .
I'll post back with how im doing.
Cheers ,
Max