Distro: Mandrake Linux V9.1 (2xCD version that came with Linux Format 06/03). KDE 3.1 running by default.
Platform: Acer Extensa 390CX Laptop (P166, 128MB Ram)

Issue: No sound hardware configured

Details: First off I know nothing about Linux of any flavour, this distro is the first time I've actually even used a Linux

varient and I'm really impressed at how smooth the auto-installation worked and everything so far seems fine and stable.

During the installation it couldn't autodetect my sound chip, so I manually chose one when it gave me the option. I'm not really

certain I got it right as I'm not sure exactly what it is in the laptop. Anyway after the initial install I'm pretty sure it was

making a few click noises (it was a late night so I can't be certain atm) but the following day when I turned the machine on and

tried to play a CD there was no sound (though it was playing on screen). So how do I go ahead and configure a sound "card" now

that it's done its installation?

I have been going through the menus one by one trying things out (its all new and exciting to me especially the configuration

menu but I can't find anything that allows for manual configuration or editing of hardware settings. I've looked in harddrake2

but there isn't any sound hardware listed at all (I'd have thought my installation settings would show up there at least even if

I chose the wrong sound chip during the install). There doesn't appear to be anyway for harddrake to "find" or add new hardware

(other than a couple of menu items for removable drives).

I've checked linux-laptop but this model isn't listed there and apart from not knowing if any other models listed

are close enough I have no idea about how to install the drivers suggested (I had a look at the Acer Extensa 355).

Anyone willing to help out an absolute newbie with this? I'm thinking there's probably no GUI app installed I can use and will

probably have to go hunting around in the shell somewhere but as I've never used any Linux variant I have no idea where to begin

or how to begin.



Thanks

pelmen

try typing sndconfig in the command line, i don't know if your distro has it, but i've seen it in a fex of them

i opened Gnome Terminal and typed sndconfig but it couldn't find it. Like I said I know NOTHING about using Linux, especially its command system so if I've done it wrong please give me some steps to follow. Is there a command that will tell me if the command exists?

thanks

Either try it as SU

1. In the terminal type: SU
2. Type in the root password (you will now be the SuperUser)
3. Type: sndconfig

As a normal user in the terminal type:

/sbin/sndconfig

If you are having no luck with either of these try typing:

whereis sndconfig

If the response is just

sndconfig:

Then sndconfig is not loaded on your system.

You can install it but you'll have to search on

www.google.com/linux

for it.

Cheers
Amos