AC97 Alsa woes. Updated instructions?

EhobaX · n00b Joined: 12 May 2002 Posts: 25 Location: DC

Okay, I've got Gentoo up and running.
Installing it: cake.
Installing X and Fluxbox: cake.
Installing Nvidia drivers: gravy.
Installing Alsa: HELL!

I was going through the steps when I got to the part where you type amixer. It gave me an error message. Sorry, I don't remember what it is offhand since I'm at work. Well, come to find out Gentoo updated it's Alsa packages, but I guess the instruction set isn't updated. Do'h! I've found the announcement which contains rudimentary instructions here:

https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=1997&highlight=alsa+ac97

So I'm asking you guys, is it as straightforward as it is in the list? Do I still edit the files like it says in the Desktop Guide? Or can I go back and re-emerge X using Alsa in the USE variable? I saw where someone posted that on the forums and it worked.

Oh yeah. My sound is on-board. The mobo is an ECS K7SEM-B. I believe it's the SiS730S chipset. It supposedly uses the AC97 codec. I don't have any experience setting up
Alsa b/c the other distros I used would automatically set it up for me. I know. The shame. :oops:

Thanks.

Peteroxxx · n00b Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Posts: 52 Location: Florida

My computer is a Compaq Deskpro p400 and I am pretty sure it uses the ac97 codec and I am having the same problem as you.

Followed the docs and also advice found in this forum but still no luck with amixer.

The error I get is Mixer Attach Default Error: No such device
These are the permissions on /dev/dsp
#ls -l /dev |grep dsp
/dev/dsp root audio drwxr-xr-x

Are you getting the same thing? Im glad to know I'm not the only one

-r0xxx

EhobaX · n00b Joined: 12 May 2002 Posts: 25 Location: DC

I took the easy way out and got a SB Live! 5.1. :roll:

delta407 · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2002 8:45 pm Post subject:

I didn't want to deal with my mobo's integrated AC97, so I got a SB PCI 512 for $50, which uses the same (emu10k1) chipset. Solved my problem, and let me get a 5 piece speaker set.

jtanner · Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2002 2:55 am Post subject: Re: Same prob

Peteroxxx · n00b Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Posts: 52 Location: Florida

Yes I Did.

j3rm · Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2002 5:51 am Post subject:

Yo, I'm having the same problem. My mobo is ECS K7VMA which also has AC97 integrated. There's gotta be a way to get it working without buying a soundcard, right?