* a newbie lies bleeding on the carpet, struggles up and tries to get help.

I have the driver I need to get my <darn stupid linux-objecting> motherboard functioning. An ALi 1689 chipset driver, that will hopefully let my graphics and ethernet cards be recognised, and transform a clunky system into a sanctuary away from the world of sense (?).

README file says the following:

"To install the driver, you should reconfigure and recompile your linux kernel as follows..."

and it has lost me. Reconfigure I assume means that I have to change the text in the files. Recompile I think I get that. The particular files referred to are not there. That of course is because Fedora Core 3 doesn't come with teh kernel, you have to download and deal with it yourself (shouldn't this be easier anyway?)

Please tell me how in newbie english?

hi there

reconfigure means
choosing a different configuration for ur kernel

recompiling means
following certaimstep which will build ur kernel

and i think there is kernel source in source rpms of fedora

also to build a kernel

it is better to load a predefined config file, which u have of your present kernel in the /boot sirectory
then choose ur motherboard drivers
and follow the build procedure to get urself a kenel

regards

I'm glad you understood that. Newbie English?

Anyone out there with a link to a plain english guide to WHY and HOW to RECOMPILE THE KERNEL in STEP BY STEP ENGLISH?

Sorry. I've lost it. MS is about to make a windfall gain.

i had given u a brief overview
the full procedure is a long one and u can find the full procedure here


http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ghlight=kernel

regards

Kernel configuration is not particularly newbie friendly. Doing a step by step in plain english would fill many pages. Also, if things go wrong, since you're dealing with the core of your OS, they can go really wrong. I probably did 8 or 9 kernels before I got my first to work at an acceptable level, and I still see things that I could do differently on the next one. Each kernel can run into specific problems that would be impossible to cover in a simple or even complicated explaination.

It's kind of like starting an auto mechanics class with rebuilding an engine. You're trying to do one of the most complicated things at the beginning.

Peace,
JimBass

Thanks, I compiled a kindof kernel which failed and had to reinstall. But I understand the process a lot better - I didn't even try to install the drivers just yet. It's another step forwards though.