I have probably asked this question in 15 different ways in the last month, but I feel I have only made marginal progress in understanding. I downloaded the kernel source and compiled it. All went fairly well. I'm now working on getting everything into modules which I'm hoping will be supported by the new modutils-2.4.2. One thing I still don't understand is how ALSA relates to the kernel modules. It is my understanding that ALSA provides its own modules which are distinct from the kernel's. One such module appears to be named 'snd-card-sbawe.o' and is found in /lib/modules/2.4.0-4GB/misc/ /lib/modules/2.2.18/misc/. I can see by rpm -qlp k_deflt_24-2.4.2-4.i386.rpm that this module is in the kernel RPM file for the updated pre-built kernel. If you know the answer to #5 below that would be a great place to start. So what I want is: 1) My sound to work. 2) Do the least amount of work to maintain functioning sound, and still be able to compile the kernel. 3) Get the modules that 'should' be in the /lib/modules/<version> tree into that tree at the proper place. This means the modules which are from my build, as well as the ones that do not come from the kernel, e.g., the ALSA modules. 4) Get /lib/modules/<version>/modules.* for my build configured properly so that these modules load when the system boots, or whenever they are 'supposed' to load. 5) Install the new pre-built kernel from my directory rather than from the FTP site. In the past the only way I have installed the pre-built kernel has been by selecting yast-> System Administration -> kernel and boot configuration -> Select boot kernel. I have never installed an updated, pre-built kernel because I know how to build the kernel, but I don't knwo how to install an updated pre-built kernel. I'm sure that sounds backwards, but that's how things have been till now. IIRC if I merely install the RPM for the new pre-built, that doesn't do everything I need done. YaST does not let me choose where to look for the kernel it installs. At least I don't see the option. 6) Have some clue as to what I'm doing. TIA, Steve