Hi guys,

I just installed Mandrake 8.2 on my wifes machine. I'm dual booting it with W2K Pro. During install it notified me that the sound card was not supported and to visit sourceforge.net/projects/aureal.net. I went there and, as usual, the instructions to install this driver are not writen for the newb. It assumes you have a strong grasp of the command line and how to navigate without a GUI. I'm still very new so I did the best I could. No luck.

I came back here and started searching the forum for answers. Looks like this is a pretty popular problem. I'm wondering if anyone knows a site I can go to that can help me with this problem that is written for a newbie. You know, detailed instructions and all. Windows identifies the card as an Aureal Vortex 8820 Audio (WDM). Linux identifies it as a Vortex 1.

If all else fails, I guess I could go buy a new sound card.

Thanks again in advance,
freezinbutt

Since my last post, I've done a bit more research on this Aureal issue. Seems to be a real problem with Linux. I went to the forum where I downloaded the driver from and it seems like getting it to work is pretty much hit-and-miss.

I tend to be a bit lazy when it comes to solving problems like this and I hate wasting days and days in front of the computer trying to get something to work. With that said, can anyone recommend a good sound card that is compatible with Mandy 8.2. I really think it would be easier to change the card out rather than fighting it. This computer is about 3 years old anyway and I've never been all that impressed with the sound. I don't need a super duper card or anything. We aren't into all the games and stuff. We listen to MP3's and CD's every now and then but nothing major. Just a simple PCI card that will got the job done and be compatible with Linux.

Thanks for any ideas,
freezinbutt

Don't throw away your Vortex Card just yet my friend. I managed to compile the drivers you downloaded from sourceforge and then installed the resulting module.

Surprised it worked? You betcha.
Anyway, extract the files from the tarball and you should wind up with a directory called aureal
cd aureal
make

This will not work, because the makefile is trying to find the linux source code to include it!
Anyway, if you haven't done so already, you need to install the linux source code.

After that, go back as root and try the make instruction again
This will not work either, but at least the error messages are more helpful - they will tell you what to change the first line of the makefile to in order for the source files to be found.

After the changes, the make instruction will work, as will the module instruction.

It will probably complain and say that you have tainted the kernel, but as a newbie myself, who cares. Linux works and my sound card works... Job done.

Now all I need to do is get my SMC1255TX Ethernet card to work...