[Alsa-user] amixer not seeing module

[David Ross]

Mandrake Linux 8.1 (2.4.8-26mdk - a little outdated, I know)

latest ALSA files:
driver 5.12a
libs 5.10b
utils 5.10

Dell Precision 410 workstation (integrated CS4236B chipset on audio).

driver compiles fine, as does libs & utils.  ran the ./snddevices script to create devices

modprobe works fine (apparently): modprobe snd-card-cs4236 snd_port=0x534 snd_cport=0x120 snd_mpu_port=0x300 snd_fm_port=0x388 snd_irq=5 snd_mpu_irq=9 snd_dma1=0 snd_dma2=1

no errors reported.

cat /proc/asound/cards yields:
0        [card1        ]:         CS4236-CS4237B
                        CS4237B at 0x534, irq 5, dma 0&1

Problem & my attempted workarounds:
        the /dev/snd symbolic link was broken - pointed to /proc/asound/dev (which does not exist) - I pointed it at /proc/asound/ just for testing (so there wasn't a broken link, don't know if this matters)

REAL problem - no sound!  I think the driver is muted, but when I attempt to run 'amixer' I get the message:
"The ALSA sound driver was not detected in this system."

Please help - I know enough to be dangerous here, so some gentleness may be required.