Need help installing Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Driver (for newbie) -- do not understand command-line...

Wells,

I just wrote this for you:
http://www.fusetext.com/2009/05/ubuntu-linux-creative-sound-blaster-x-fi-driver-installation-how-to/

Maybe it will help others in the future as well. Let me know if I need to edit it. I'm working on it in the spirit of the community help.

Sincerely,

Craig

And I understand your frustration. This should be fixed in the next release (if not before). The ALSA team (what will grant support for this) and the kernel team are actively working on it. In the meantime we have to rely on the proprietary drivers (and Creative's "ways") to make it work, unfortunately.

But think of this as like DOS. It's just a few:
cd, cd, cd
And then:
sudo make
Then:
make install

And you're good to go then because the rest is in Gnome (Graphical).

Again, I'd love your feedback. I really hope that helps. Creative did not release .deb's or any installers for the community to work with.

But at least we can look forward to:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

Craig

That fusetext you wrote up was a no-go. All I accomplished, evened tho it's not
spelled on there was to do a "Makdir Desktop". Everything else was downhill from
there with lots of "Directory not found type msgs" No matter how I tried varying the
syntax. I tried to get a screenshot of the output on Terminal, howsomever, when I ported
it over to my Windows drive it came up BLANK.

Time to P U N T !!

Wells

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:59:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
And I understand your frustration. This should be fixed in the next
release (if not before). The ALSA team (what will grant support for
this) and the kernel team are actively working on it. In the meantime we
have to rely on the proprietary drivers (and Creative's "ways") to make
it work, unfortunately.

But think of this as like DOS. It's just a few:
cd, cd, cd
And then:
sudo make
Then:
make install

And you're good to go then because the rest is in Gnome (Graphical).

Again, I'd love your feedback. I really hope that helps. Creative did
not release .deb's or any installers for the community to work with.

But at least we can look forward to:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

Craig

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=1

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Further, As an ex Mainframe Techie I got used to higher standards of software quality control.
Needless to say both Windows and Linux seem to fall far short of some Minimum Goals of usability.
I was just thinking, why in heavens name are such basic things as "Desktop" not set up by default.
I mean at lease a good sturdy Shell from within you can already work without having to create bits and
pieces :o(

Wells

________________________________
From: Wells <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:21:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

    Status: Answered => Open

You are still having a problem:
That fusetext you wrote up was a no-go. All I accomplished, evened tho it's not
spelled on there was to do a "Makdir Desktop". Everything else was downhill from
there with lots of "Directory not found type msgs" No matter how I tried varying the
syntax. I tried to get a screenshot of the output on Terminal, howsomever, when I ported
it over to my Windows drive it came up BLANK.

Time to P U N T !!

Wells

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:59:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
And I understand your frustration. This should be fixed in the next
release (if not before). The ALSA team (what will grant support for
this) and the kernel team are actively working on it. In the meantime we
have to rely on the proprietary drivers (and Creative's "ways") to make
it work, unfortunately.

But think of this as like DOS. It's just a few:
cd, cd, cd
And then:
sudo make
Then:
make install

And you're good to go then because the rest is in Gnome (Graphical).

Again, I'd love your feedback. I really hope that helps. Creative did
not release .deb's or any installers for the community to work with.

But at least we can look forward to:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

Craig

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=1

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

See, ya did it yourself. You threw out the term "Gnome Graphical" which
means squat diddly to this green NEWBIE !!!! :o( :o)

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:59:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
And I understand your frustration. This should be fixed in the next
release (if not before). The ALSA team (what will grant support for
this) and the kernel team are actively working on it. In the meantime we
have to rely on the proprietary drivers (and Creative's "ways") to make
it work, unfortunately.

But think of this as like DOS. It's just a few:
cd, cd, cd
And then:
sudo make
Then:
make install

And you're good to go then because the rest is in Gnome (Graphical).

Again, I'd love your feedback. I really hope that helps. Creative did
not release .deb's or any installers for the community to work with.

But at least we can look forward to:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

Craig

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=1

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

I think the main problem directories were not found was because you do not have the kernel headers installed.

Can you go to Synaptic Package Manager (System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager) and search for "linux-headers-generic"

Then double click this package. Click apply.

Now try again with the instructions. It should find the directories now.

IF this package was already installed (indicated by a "green box" next the package in Synaptic Package Manager when you opened it), then please let us know here. By default, it should have been installed with the system.

Craig,

About the only thing what worked her was the thing about "Synaptic Pkg Mgr" or whatever.
Beyond that I cound never get past an "Unknown File/Directory" or whatever message. Keep
the synapses of your brain firing on this one. Do you have any inside dope on the New Kernel
which will have this issue resolved in it ? I can wait if necessary. I'm a 65 yr old disabled Vietnam Vet
who did learn some patiencein the Army :o)

Wells

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:13:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

    Status: Open => Answered

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
I think the main problem directories were not found was because you do
not have the kernel headers installed.

Can you go to Synaptic Package Manager (System > Administration >
Synaptic Package Manager) and search for "linux-headers-generic"

Then double click this package. Click apply.

Now try again with the instructions. It should find the directories now.

IF this package was already installed (indicated by a "green box" next
the package in Synaptic Package Manager when you opened it), then please
let us know here. By default, it should have been installed with the
system.

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=5

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

It will be ready in 6 months or less we hope. You can read about it here:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

I'm sorry for your problems. I wish Creative released a simple point and click installer (.deb) file that would be easier for some users instead of the tar bar (what they have now) with something you have to compile from scratch (what you are doing).

Sincerely,

Craig

By the buy, what do you think if their top-gun card from ASUS which some at least have said beats
the Creative card at its' own game ? I'm looking for an expert's opinion.

Ya know, Craig, it isn't that I'm not used to dealing with cryptic-looking commands, heck, VM &
DOS & DOS/VSE on the mainframe had their share, but I believe in the KISS method and therefore
long to see commands which are intelligible at least and then, going one step beyond :o) and burying
the heiroglyphics completely in something like what we have in the world of Point & Click. What
ARE your THOUGHTS HERE ? I would be interested in reading them.

Regards & Thanks,

Wells

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:38:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

    Status: Open => Answered

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
It will be ready in 6 months or less we hope. You can read about it here:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

I'm sorry for your problems. I wish Creative released a simple point and
click installer (.deb) file that would be easier for some users instead
of the tar bar (what they have now) with something you have to compile
from scratch (what you are doing).

Sincerely,

Craig

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=7

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Hi, this is a community forum and almost everyone answering questions is unpaid and trying to fit answering questions around other commitments. Craig is a bit of an expert, particularly with sound issues but i don't think he works in kernel development nor on the Alsa team (luckily otherwise he wouldn't have time to be in Answers too). So although his knowledge and research gives his opinion more weight you might prefer trying to chat in the Alsa forums directly yourself too ;)

The main Alsa homepage appears to be
http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Main_Page

Creative seem to be one of the worst manufacturer's and it might be more productive to simply complain to Creative directly about their lack of support for OpenSource. At the very least they could give adequate information and a few cards to proper linux developers in the alsa team. Investing in just one OpenSource driver would swiftly mean that all the different linux's and Mac's would be able to use their hardware. While Creative continue to put barriers in the way and hide crucial information it's very difficult for people to write decent drivers by 'guesswork'. This is all just my own opinion of course. One chap from here returned his newly bought laptop and demanded a refund due to the manufacturers lack of support for linux! It's that sort of action that may make manufacturers take a bit more notice of Linux. The wierd thing i find is that each new version of Windows often requires a completely new different driver and yet all of linux and Mac needs only 1 properly OpenSource driver but yet when you speak to hardware manufacturers they will cite an excuse for lack of linux support "because of all the different drivers they would have to write as there are hundreds of different linux distros", which is blatantly exactly wrong. In the next breath they'll say they haven't got time to write an OpenSource driver because they have to write a new one for Vista or now for Windows7! They also miss the point that we don't want them to write the driver themselves, we just want them to give our experienced linux developers (not their Windows dev's) information and some resources - ideally at least a pre-release of their next card, so that the new drivers could be ready when the hardware hit the market. As i've already stated i'm just a volunteer visiting here and my views do not reflect anyone's nor any organisation's views - they are just my own opinions, take notice only at your own discretion.

When posting in this forum it's better if you can follow the link and post directly into the thread at the Launchpad website. If you do just reply to the email then please delete off the bottom everything we sent you because it's already here in forum's thread. Don't worry, we all did much the same when we first used launchpad too ;)

It does take a while to get used to the linux command line especially because it's all case sensitive so "cd /home/username/Documents" might work but "cd /home/username/documents" wont. However there are a bunch of neat tricks like using the "Tab" button mid-way through typing to autocomplete, or double clicking the Tab key to see what the choices are given what you've already typed so far.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CommandlineHowto

Somewhere here i think you mentioned about not having been given a desktop environment when you initially installed Ubuntu? That, and other comments, make me wonder if you chose the Server edition of Ubuntu rather than the Desktop 32bit version which is really the best Ubuntu :)
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

If you have used the Server Edition and want to install the Desktop one instead i have a neat trick to avoid losing any programs or stuff that you might have already installed but it sounds as though you might have sorted it out by just installing the standard desktop on top of what you had already ;) Either way is good.

Anyway, sorry for the rant earlier. Welcome to linux ;)
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

I heard that Asus soundcards are already supported. Is this true ? I just purchased a Asus Xonar card

for $179 which I hope sounds even better than my Creative Soundblaster X-Fi !\

Wells

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:38:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

    Status: Open => Answered

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
It will be ready in 6 months or less we hope. You can read about it here:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzI3MA

I'm sorry for your problems. I wish Creative released a simple point and
click installer (.deb) file that would be easier for some users instead
of the tar bar (what they have now) with something you have to compile
from scratch (what you are doing).

Sincerely,

Craig

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=7

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Wells, please post this as a new question
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+addquestion
Launchpad doesn't have a mechanism for looking at older questions so it's only pure luck that even 1 person (me) has seen this posting. Post a new question and then quite a few people should see it at the fron t desk

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

It's worth trying out the card quite quickly, hopefully allowing you to quickly return it citing inadequate support for linux, if it's not supported. Apart from just trying it out it might also be worth looking the card up in these links
https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/preparing-hardware.html
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport
https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/installation-guide/i386/ch02s04.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Sound

Although these links are unlikely to be fully up-to-date nor fully inclusive as this sort of thing tends to depend on users reporting when things do work lol. Still they tend to be quite helpful in a general way too ;)
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

It will depend on the brand and make of that Asus card. Generally, "Asus Matrix" cards are well supported. I recommend reading/printing:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCardsCreativeLabs
(for Creative Labs cards)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCards
(by brand, list)
http://alsa.opensrc.org/Alsa_Preferred_Soundcards
(ALSA preferred cards -- basically, this is what Linux/Ubuntu is using to "run the sound out of your speakers" like Windows is using a driver)
That page complements: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main

Cheers,

Craig

(P.S. - Pop in the card and see if it works, if it doesn't -- return it, buy a card on the list).

But just because you typed a command wrong doesn't mean anything. I think you just meant to "cd" to a directory.

There was no "mkdir" involved.

We are still willing to help you compile your driver and so are the folks over at Creative.com's forums as referenced above if you're willing to let us help you.

For that type of Money you paid, I would've just recommended you buy a $30 USB Soundcard (pop it in the USB drive) and it would've functioned right away...

Nice one Craig, there's better links there - mine were a bit too general i think. Wells, if you haven't got Ubuntu installed then you can always try using a LiveCd session to see if the card works in Ubuntu. Just put an Ubuntu Cd in the cd/dvd drive and reboot your machine. You should get to a menu with "Try Ubuntu without changes to the machine" as the default. This option should get you to a working desktop that's good as a demo of Ubuntu (amongst other uses)

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Ya know, Craig, this here Linux is just one-letter shy of being OBSCENE !! :o)

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 7:58:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
It will depend on the brand and make of that Asus card. Generally, "Asus
Matrix" cards are well supported. I recommend reading/printing:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCardsCreativeLabs
(for Creative Labs cards)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCards
(by brand, list)
http://alsa.opensrc.org/Alsa_Preferred_Soundcards
(ALSA preferred cards -- basically, this is what Linux/Ubuntu is using to "run the sound out of your speakers" like Windows is using a driver)
That page complements: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main

Cheers,

Craig

(P.S. - Pop in the card and see if it works, if it doesn't -- return it,
buy a card on the list).

But just because you typed a command wrong doesn't mean anything. I
think you just meant to "cd" to a directory.

There was no "mkdir" involved.

We are still willing to help you compile your driver and so are the
folks over at Creative.com's forums as referenced above if you're
willing to let us help you.

For that type of Money you paid, I would've just recommended you buy a
$30 USB Soundcard (pop it in the USB drive) and it would've functioned
right away...

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=13

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Craig,

I hope that I did not "cross the line" and say something
which was offensive to you.

Wells

________________________________
From: Wells <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2009 8:45:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

    Status: Answered => Open

You are still having a problem:
Ya know, Craig, this here Linux is just one-letter shy of being OBSCENE
!! :o)

________________________________
From: Craig Huffstetler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 7:58:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #71866]: The other explanation was not complete enuff for a newbie

Your question #71866 on alsa-driver in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Craig Huffstetler proposed the following answer:
It will depend on the brand and make of that Asus card. Generally, "Asus
Matrix" cards are well supported. I recommend reading/printing:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCardsCreativeLabs
(for Creative Labs cards)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCards
(by brand, list)
http://alsa.opensrc.org/Alsa_Preferred_Soundcards
(ALSA preferred cards -- basically, this is what Linux/Ubuntu is using to "run the sound out of your speakers" like Windows is using a driver)
That page complements: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main

Cheers,

Craig

(P.S. - Pop in the card and see if it works, if it doesn't -- return it,
buy a card on the list).

But just because you typed a command wrong doesn't mean anything. I
think you just meant to "cd" to a directory.

There was no "mkdir" involved.

We are still willing to help you compile your driver and so are the
folks over at Creative.com's forums as referenced above if you're
willing to let us help you.

For that type of Money you paid, I would've just recommended you buy a
$30 USB Soundcard (pop it in the USB drive) and it would've functioned
right away...

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866/+confirm?answer_id=13

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Wells, don't worry. It's difficult to keep track of Launchpad questions that are more than a day old. I think we are all frustrated and sometimes angry about the way hardware manufacturers behave in regards to linux and sometimes it's difficult to avoid exploding in the wrong direction. I imagine that Craig is used to it seems common in this area of expertise.

It might be worth asking your question again to get it back near the front of the queue to see if anyone has developed anything workable since you first posted this
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+addquestion
in launchpad please could you either navigate to the thread on the launchpad website to answer or else, if you email the reply, then just cut off all the bit that we sent you as we already have that bit here on the site in the thread of this question
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/71866

Alternatively you might like to try a more general linux forum
http://www.linuxquestions.org

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Tom is right. And Linux is not for everyone, I do admit. But, I do acknowledge there is a learning curve and it is different for everyone. I apologize for the troubles you have gone through. As Tom said, it's not with "us," but with the vendors themselves (like Creative) that you should be more concerned with. They should have provided more clear documentation, "opened up their drivers" and hardware to the community and none of this would be happening.

However, I do hope that you find a soundcard that fits your needs. I hope we provided enough material for you to do so.

USE THE LATEST VERSION OF ALSA:
http://monespaceperso.org/blog-en/2009/05/09/upgrade-alsa-1020-on-ubuntu-jaunty-904/

THEN LOAD THE XFI DRIVER:
http://wiki.debian.org/X-Fi OR http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/tiwai/snapshot/

NOW I AM GETTING 7.1 SURROUND ON UBUNTU 9.04