Thursday, February 28, 2008

Loading custom compiled ALSA modules

While trying to debug the soundcard on my Clevo M720R I had the pleasure of trying to find out how to avoid loading the ubuntu supplied kernel modules and instead loading the custom compiled ones.
These instructions have only been verified to work while using Ubuntu Hardy current.

I use the following steps to set up my environment:
1. Enter the module directory of your current kernel ( /lib/modules/2.6.24-...). You can check what kernel you're currently running by issuing the 'uname -a' command on a terminal.
2. Move the 'ubuntu' subdirectory to somewhere safe (your home folder preferably). Do not put it in the /tmp directory, as it gets swiped during each reboot.
3. Build and install the custom ALSA kernel modules.
4. Reboot the system
5. Your system should now have loaded the custom modules. If not, try to do a 'sudo modprobe "sound kernel module"' (snd-hda-intel in my case).
6. To return the system state to normal, enter the kernel module directory as stated in 1. and move the 'ubuntu' directory back from where you put it.

That's it!

Should you screw up, reinstall the ubuntu modules by issuing the following command on the terminal: sudo apt-get --reinstall install linux-ubuntu-modules-`uname -r`

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