Hi John D Lamb Thanks for the the advice > Re: [SLE]/usr/src/linux/Documentation/changes I see that you upgraded from 2.2.18 to 2.4.0 before SuSE 7.1 came out. That's what I wanted , but I wanted to make it easy, and use SuSE rpm's. I could use rpms from SuSE 7.1, but it's probably easier to use the tar.gz stuff in Documentation/changes. <> You right that it's easer to use the tar - downloads, than the suse7.1 rpm's as SuSE may need to do things to keep with their distro integrity - eg. dependances - library links - , and such. <> You also stated that ''gcc 2.91.66 is not a problem because linux doesn't need any gcc installed to run.'' I was concerned that there would possably be trouble when compiling for say, ALSA - or other - tar stuff , if the gcc was not upgraded to egcs 1.1.2 (gcc 2.91.66) I had egcs 1.x.x somthing before - couple years ago , and I was very impressed with it being reliable , and stable . anyway, I downloaded the egcs 1.1.2 (gcc 2.91.66) from ftp://sourceware.cygnus.com/pub/gcc/releases/egcs-1.1.2/egcs-1.1.2.tar.bz2 havn't installed it yet , but I'll get to it. I still have 2.95.2 from the SuSE 7.0 CD's . I installed the updated kernel rpm - k_deflt_2~i386.rpm - forgot now whether I used yast or rpm -Uvh k_deflt_2~i386.rpm I now have a uname -r > 2.4.2-4GB and /lib/modules/2.4.2-4GB which I don't know, could be causing any problems ?? I downloaded ALSA 0.9 beta 3 , and tried to compile it but got errors . basslake:/usr/src/Temp/alsa-driver-0.9.0beta3]# ./configure --with-debug=detect --with-isapnp=auto --with-sequencer=yes -- with-oss=yes --with-cards=ymfpci --with-moddir=/lib/modules/2.4.2-4G make install gives sound_oss.c:27: #error "Enable the OSS soundcore multiplexer (CONFIG_SOUND) in the kernel." make[1]: *** [sound_oss.o] Error 1 Which leads me to question if the stock kernel config has changed to foul dependencies of ALSA ? , or maybe the 2.4.2-4GB designation of module directory ? - which seems quite irregular to me. SOUND SUPPORT is of course, configured in the stock kernel because my alsa sound is functional - accept for recording sequences from synth-keyboard to the computer . ALSA 5.10 - (came with the k_deflt_2~i386.rpm) suse-ftp/update/70 it's the 2.4.2-4GB kernel. Thanks again for replys and advice . John W Mislan -- God does not play dice" -- Einstein "Not only does God play dice, he sometimes throws them where they can't be seen." -- Stephen Hawking