xw4100 BIOS update

[Jeffrey Peloquin]

I purchased an xw4100 with Windows XP because of a special offer program which made it cheaper than any thing with linux. The first thing I did was install red hat 9.0. I was able to build the ethernet drivers using the driver rpm from HP's BSD site. However the audio drivers did not result in me being able to hear sound. I ever got the lastest version of ALSA as HP was providing a 1 year old version. Still no luck.

I have not as yet updated the BIOS. I am concerned that since I purchesed the computer the windows that the BIOS upgrate for linux may not mix well.

Does anyone know if I install the linux bios on top of the XP bios if I will have a meltdown?

Any hints on the audio?

Thanks
Jeff

[Steven E. Protter]

What you need to do now is stop, go to http://www.redhat.com

Check the hardware compatiability list. There may actually be drivers on that site.

Further, don't do a bios upgrade unless the documentation at Red Hat says so, unless the process has a backup.

I'd work with the drivers before the BIOS, because your concerns are valid.

BIOS is usually operating system independent. Every computer I've worked with hasn't required a BIOS upgrade or change to work with Linux.

If you didn't check the compatability of this box prior to buying it you may have a problem if sound is your objective. You might need to wait for Red Hat 10 and its long promised increased hardware support.

SEP

[Jerome Henry]

Did you try these drivers ?
http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix314651en_US.html
What happens when you try to play a sound from your box (not a CD, but a machine sound). Did you use hat /system settings /sound card detection ?

What do you logs say ?

J