Re: Talked into installing Red Hat 8.0

[Tony Dietrich <td transoft demon co uk>]

On Sat, 2002-12-28 at 22:50, Luke wrote:
> ...and I am frustrated as all get out.  I do tech support for internet service, and have worked with windows and macs for the past 5 years or so, so I am not a complete idiot in those areas, but when it comes to Red Hat I don't mind admitting that I am pretty close to a complete moron, so your help here would be GREATLY appreciated.
> 
> A friend I work with kept going on about how great linux is, and that I should really try red hat, so he got me some CD's.  Well, I very much enjoy what works of it (ie - GIMP - I love doing graphics for webpages, also the desktop switcher thing is great, plus there are lots of other features that I look forward to using) but there is quite a bit wrong with my install too (most likely my fault! :grin:.)
> 
> Lets see, where to start?  I'll give you a condensed list here first:
> -------
> 1:  Getting my dialup working (possible modem driver install issues?)
> 2:  Accessing seperate (data) partitions on my hard drive (one of which is in the NTFS format)
> 3:  XMMS won't load MP3 Files
> 4:  Audio configuration test (the little guitar lick) works, but while audio CD's load and appear to be playing in the CD player app, there is no sound.  (already checked volume controls).  Have not been able to test out digital music files (see problem #3)
> ------
> 
<snip lots>

Luke

1/ If its a Gateway system you probably have a winmodem.  That means
Linux can't use that modem directly, as the modem is designed to have a
lot of its processing done by Windows-specific drivers. Take a look at
www.linmodems.org for more info.  Some of the winmodems have had drivers
written for them, and if you are lucky you may get yours to work. 
Otherwise the best option is an external hardware-based modem.

2/ Not my best area, so I'll leave that to someone else.

3/  Because of licensing problems (some of the mp3 decoding software if
proprietry), mp3 decoders aren't release with a standard RH distro. 
Head off to the xmms site and download the mp3 decoder, install it and
that should solve that problem.

4/ Sound config is also a thorny issue on cheaper machines.  Try
locating the older sndconfig binaries, and running them on your system
(the rpm for RH is on one of the CDs, don't ask me which one :P).  This
often solves sound configuration problems that the newer RH installs
can't pick up, from the advice and reports I've seen.  There is a
possibility this problem is linked to your modem problem .. some
integrated cards share IRQs and IO ports.  Solving your modem problem
may solve your sound config problem, but solving your sound config
problem won't solve the modem problem. (sounds crazy, but thats how it
goes.)

BTW, no use solving (3) until you solve (4) <g> 


TD
PS.Check out the Linmodems mailing list as well.