Strange Happenings, and it ain't Holloween yet!

[onederer]

Greetings everyone!I purchased a new external 80GB hard drive to be plugged into the Fire Wire plug. I didn't want it for Windows, but only to try out different Linux distros. So I formatted it for EXT2 Journalized as /dev/sda. Then I tried to set it up and be ready to go, so I could install a different distro into it. I guess that Mandrake didn't like it when I tried to partition it, and also use similar partition names that already existed. It turned out that I could no longer boot into Mandrake. So out came the CDROM and I started to re-install the whole thing over again. I knew that even if I would specify to use a brand new install, and if I kept the same parameters, I would not lose any data.While it was doing it's thing, I walked away, and had supper. When I came back, it was finished, and I tweaked in the final information to get it running. I then discovered that it had accomplished something that I had tried before, without any success. It had successfully installed (in my absence) a dual boot loader in this machine! The last time that I tried that, it had destroyed the Windows XP's MBR. This time it didn't . I was also able to boot into Windows XP, but only in "SAFE" mode. So I set Windows XP's recovery back a few days to see if booting would normalize again. It did! So now, I don't have to use a floppy anymore to gain access to Mandrake Linux. Maybe the angels were guiding this installation in my absence.Too bad that I still have the same old deficit of not being able to get sound out of this machine, using Mandrake. The drivers still are not compatible with SB Live for DELL!. Everything gets routed to /dev/null. One change did happen though, when I experiment and try to change driver, this time when I give it the command to "Configure Module", the computer's CPU no longer goes into 100% overload. If you ask me why? Heck I don't know! The setup is the same as before I had to re-install this OS.So if anyone of you feels lucky and want to tackle making this Dell version of SBLive! sing in Linux, I am welcome to suggestions.Cheers!

[mike180]

onederer yo,Sound Blaster is one of the most basic of Mandrake´s install. Do you have onboard sound or pci sound? (cards) Both or one or the other. If both, go to bios and disable onboard. If on board, make sure it is enabled. If pci card. go to Mandrake Control Center-->hardware-->sound. Highlite sound and run the config tool on the bottom right side of the display pane. Once configured. Ctrl+Alt+F1 then Ctrl+Alt+F7. Once that is done. Go to Start(K)--Multimedia-->Sound-->Aumix. Make sure all sliders on the left are pushed to the right. Sliderdes on the right are for balance only and normally they are centered. Your ears should be blown off if there is a music CD in the CD-ROM.post

[mike180]

Hey. I forgot to say; be sure you have your CD player up and running.K (start)-->Multimedia-->Sound-->KsCD(player) or Grip(Player & ripper). :DP.S. Go to Mandrake Control Center -->System-->DrakeX Services--scroll to Sound and make sure it starts on boot.

[mike180]

http://opensource.creative.com/ This is the Creative open source. www.opensound.com has developed a new driver to solve the Dell Sound Blaster problem.Try that and then repost.

[mike180]

here SoundBlaster Live under Linux Frequently Asked Questions This document is intended to provide answers to the most common questions about running the SoundBlaster Live under Linux. If you have any comments or questions, please contact ghiebert@creativelabs.com . This FAQ generally assumes that you are using the current driver sources. If you are having problems and are not running the latest sources, then upgrading is often the answer to your problems. The latest version of this document is available at the Creative Open Source Web site . Last modified Wednesday February 12, 2003 Index of Questions: Section A - Common problems Q.A1- I get unresolved symbol errors when loading the driver Q.A2- I get a "device or resource busy" error when loading the driver Q.A3- MIDI soft-synth (/dev/sequencer) doesn't work Section B - Source Code Q.B1- Where is the source for the Linux driver? Q.B2- I want to develop Live drivers -- can I get a copy of the Emu10k1 specifications? Q.B3- Are ALSA drivers being developed? Q.B4- How do I submit patches? Section C - Driver Features Q.C1- What features are currently supported? Q.C2- What cards are supported by this driver? Common problems Q.A1- I get unresolved symbol errors when loading the driver 1: Make sure that the soundcore module is loaded before you load the driver. If soundcore isn't available, then your kernel probably wasn't compiled with sound support enabled. For instructions on re-compiling your kernel, please reference the Kernel-HOWTO and/or the Sound-HOWTO documents available at the Linux documentation project web site in their support section. Q.A2- I get a "device or resource busy" error when loading the driver This shouldn't be happening much with current kernels and drivers -- it used to be common on systems with ABIT B6 + HPT366 controller motherboards. On those systems, you must not use the `pci=reverse' kernel option. Usually this option is set in /etc/lilo.conf. Q.A3- MIDI soft-synth (/dev/sequencer) doesn't work The driver does not yet support MIDI soft-synth. Soundfonts are also not yet supported. The ALSA Emu10k1 driver does support this feature, so if you must have this, either use ALSA, wait for someone to back-port this feature from the ALSA driver, or jump in and do the backport yourself. Source Code Q.B1- Where is the source for the Linux driver? There is a link to the current location at the main Creative Open Source page. Q.B2- I want to develop Live drivers -- can I get a copy of the Emu10K1 specifications? It may be possible for us to arrange to get you specifications. You'll need to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Visit the Creative developer's home page for more info on how to become a registered developer. Also, please note that, while formal specs on the Emu10k1 have not been released, almost all of the basic register information has been released already. This info can be found in the 8010.h headerfile which is part of the existing open source codebase. Q.B3- Are ALSA drivers being developed? Yes. The ALSA project is working on Emu10k1 drivers based on the existing open source codebase. Q.B4- How do I submit patches? Hop on the emu10k1-devel mailing list at SourceForge and ask for current instructions. Driver Features Q.C1- What features are currently supported? Stereo wave audio input and output Rear speaker support Up to 32 simultaneous playback instances via multiple-open on /dev/dsp Digital SPDIF input and output Mixer support Joystick support External MIDI device support Works with 2.2 and 2.4 series kernels, with or without SMP Q.C2- What cards are supported by this driver? All Sound Blaster Live cards, the Sound Blaster PCI 512, the Sound Blaster Audigy cards, and the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 cards are supported, with a few notable exceptions: Dell ships a card with the Dimension line called the "SoundBlaster Live 5.1" (CT0200) which doesn't work with the EMU10K1 Linux driver. There is now a driver available from 4Front Technologies supporting this board (www.opensound.com). The digital/analog output jack on some OEM models isn't supported -- you'll get analog output only. Support for the Live and Audigy Drives is possible but requires the DSP microcode tools that come with the driver code. The gamer and MP3 variants are exactly the same card under Linux. Send comments regarding this page to Linux Support at Creative

[Bruno]

Hey Onederer, did you see that, Mike180 found a solution to your Dell-card problem !

Dell ships a card with the Dimension line called the "SoundBlaster Live 5.1" (CT0200) which doesn't work with the EMU10K1 Linux driver. There is now a driver available from 4Front Technologies supporting this board (www.opensound.com).The digital/analog output jack on some OEM models isn't supported -- you'll get analog output only.Support for the Live and Audigy Drives is possible but requires the DSP microcode tools that come with the driver code.The gamer and MP3 variants are exactly the same card under Linux.

Also I went to the link he provided, we will have a closer look into this as I come back from work . . . looks promissing ! :DGood man Mike ! Nice work. Bruno

[mike180]

Unfortunetly; I was to tired, and did not check the site out. And; only later found out, they charge for their drivers!!I am so sorry, Onederer. And thanks for letting me know.