Unable to boot into Mandrake - ALSA driver loading problem
 

Hi, I have tried Mandrake 9.0 and Redhat 8.0. I have a Sound Blaster Live! Value sound card...and this is the problem:

For Mandrake 9.0: Despite installation is successful, my first boot failed because the system just hanged there while loading the ALSA sound drivers (which should appear as "OK" if loaded). I have tried booting several times, still the same.

For Redhat 8.0: Ok...nice interface and system...but there is no sound. It pops out a message saying that my sound server failed to load properly. I have tried to configure the sound card by going into admin panel...try to "enable" it but nothing happens.

So...quite upset (the world turns gloomy without sounds...), can anyone "diagnose" for me what could be the causes for this? Thanks!

can you get in at all? did you try going into failsafe, or use the bootfloppy to get in? with the floppy you should be able to get into failsafe at the boot prompt.

i'm not positive about the sound blaster. with my on-board ac97 i know that alsa has 15 modules where if i install them myself i can get it down to three. might be hanging up on the module install for it. here's a couple that i found in /lib/modules/ker/modules.dep-

/lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/sb.o.gz: /lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/sb_lib.o.gz

/lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/sb_lib.o.gz: /lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/sound.o.gz \
/lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/uart401.o.gz \
/lib/modules/2.4.19-16mdk/kernel/drivers/sound/soundcore.o.gz

i'm not positive if it will work for you, but it's worth a chance. do a modprobe sb.o.gz and then check your lsmod to see if they are all in. you might have to edit you /etc/modules.conf. add the line alias sound-slot-0 sb. (that's a zero) like i said though i'm not positive about the sound blaster so the sb might be wrong, should work though.

good luck.