ac97 audio onboard an ASUSP4800 SE motherboard..
After looking through the directory of the MOBO cd/audio drivers I realized it had a directory for linux, but they look like source codes, which will give me a headache....The most "source code" ive been able to understand is the source to webpages..Compiling the kernel isnt gonna be pretty....

Im under XP right now but thinking about formatting/Reinstalling Knoppix to give it another shot....
The Sound Configuration utility picked up my Audio device automatically and said it was configured properly and played a test sound but I didnt hear anything.
I tried listening to a cd, with the volume raised and didnt hear anything,

I fianlly got so ticked off, after searching google for literally hours last night, that I reinstalled Xp.
I found lots of other people complaining about the same exact problem, Ac97 would be detected but would get no sound.
i read into ALSA for some time, only got really confused...i couldnt figure that out for the life of me.

Im about to reinstall knoppix, and dedicate my friday night to finding an answer to this.I loved working under knoppix/linux, I was already learning aliot, and had most of the most used commands down. It was going VERY smooth untill I went to listen to music and realized I had no sound.
Obviously sound in general is one of those things you cannot do without


if anyone can help, Ill see to it myself that you be blessed