I have installed Fedora 11. I looked at the drivers for windows for this laptop and have found that Realtek HD audio 5.01 drivers are what I need..I think. I have downloaded the Linux drivers but they wont install. I have no idea what I am doing wrong...or right. I have figured out a little, but have worked for 2 weeks and cannot get it working. Can anyone help me? I have searched and cannot find any help.

Are you to trying to compile from source or are you trying to install a premade package? (rpm).

fedora has had sound issues since fedora 8
a question ??
is your fedora 11 FULLY updated ? if not update it !!
the sound on the fedora install cd and dvd did not work for a lot of people ( me included) an update did fix it .
there is no driver to install in fedora
it is handled by "pulse audio" and "alsa "
hal will auto detect your sound card( or chip) and try to use the correct one .

if sound is not working you might think about using a distro that is NOT " Fix Or Repair Daily"( FORD)
install Ubuntu.

You might also ( if you stay with fedora ) look at this guide page
"Fedora 11: Complete guide to fix PulseAudio and video/audio VLC Media Player issues "
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=225660

I think it is an RPM. Also, some of the updates wont install. It says that there are other packages needed first. I have downloaded Ubuntu, but I think I may have partitioned my hard drive wrong, because nothing will boot from the cd. It just goes to my Fedora installation.

then INSTALL THEM!!! the " other packages needed first"

If i do this, will I be able to eventually install Ubuntu? Thats what I should have done in the first place after reading alot of stuff while in my searches. I know I sound stupid. Especially about the updates. They didn't look as if they were for sound or anything, so didn't think they were that important. I am not good at all with the Linux stuff. Windows , yes...but I was sick of all the problems.