SB live and linux

[Donkey]

I've just managed to install and setup Mandrake 6.1 on my computer but it won't configure the sound card. It says SB live found and that it is not supported. I know that the card will run on 16 bit drivers as that it what happens in dos so is there anyone who knows how i can configure it manually to set it up as a SB 16 or maybe even something better.
I'm still really new to all this linux stuff so slow patient explanations would be much appreciated.
Donkey

[U-96]

As I remember the SB Live doesn't even contain 16-bit hardware, the SB16 DOS compatible mode is a software-only emulation which I can imagine is similar in principle to the winmodem/Linux issue. I'm certain this problem has been raised recently in the Operating Systems forum. Hopefully there might be a workaround, I suppose it depends how generous CL are with their driver code http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
If I find the thread(s) I'll post them back here.

U-96

[CMonster]

I'm sure that there are Linux drivers for your SB live somewhere out there in cyber space by now - keep looking and so will I - you may even have a loadable module, possibly experimental, that came with your distribution of Linux.

I once managed to get a non-supported sound card (OPTI 82C931)to work in Linux (old version) by initializing the plug-n-play in Windows first (so that the card would have an IRQ/DMA/IO address) and then "soft-booting" to Linux and using standard SB drivers in Linux.

It's been a while but this is basically what I remember: first you need to copy a dos command called "loadlin.exe" and your "vmlinuz" kernel image onto your Windows C: drive - after that you have booted into Windows you would Shut down to DOS prompt and enter C:\loadlin vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 (Linux root partition or disk is indicated by "hda2" but this must reflect the actual location of your Linux root partition and could be different such as hda3, hda4, hda5, etc). Now your machine will boot into Linux and the standard SB drivers should work BUT the sound may be crappy and noisy.

My first sound card with an older version of Linux took nearly 3 weeks of daily work an hour or two a day to get working - I lost all my hair and half my liver from eating too much Tylenol! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif On the other hand the modem took a whole of 2 minutes to configure. I sure am glad that the new kernels are so sound friendly.

Good luck - all hail open source and free software!

[Mntsnow]

You can get Linux drivers for your soundblaster live Value from creative's website. I dont have the link right now but they are there!

Mntsnow