Re: CD-reader on SONY VAIO SR27K [+ kernel compile]

[blair.kelly@att.net]

Andre Eisenbach suggested:

> First thing I noticed is "hdc".
> On my notebook, the CD-ROM is /dev/hde
> 
> Try that, and let me know.

That did not work.

Andre Eisenbach also suggested:

Here is some more info from my installation:

> I have the ide_cs driver compiled into the kernel (not as
> module) - not that that makes a difference. Though judging
> from your log, I assume that kernel options are responsible
> for your problem.
> 
> Did you compile your own kernel? If so, what's the
> config? If not, well you should :D. It will allow you to
> enable sony's interrupt controller as well (to enabe the
> key combos and the jog-dial).

I fear that Andre is correct, that I will need to recompile
my kernel.

I was reading PCMCIA HOWTO from pcmcia-cs.sourceforge.net
and found that my problem matches section 3.2 "Some client
driver modules do not load".  Upon looking at
/etc/pcmcia/config, I found the entry

card "Ninja ATA"
  version " ", "NinjaATA-"
  bind "ide_cs" 

Now 'insmod ide_cs' gave the response "no module by that
name".  Upon looking in /lib/modules/2.4.18-686/pcmcia
I saw 'ide-cs.o" but no "ide_cs.o".

Doing 'insmod ide-cs' gives "ide-cs: GetFirstTuple: No more items".

Looking at the "PCMCIA in the 2.4 kernel series" says that
for ide-cs, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDECS must be set in the kernel
configuration.

I am using the 2.4.18-686 kernel that came with my distribution.
In the config file, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDECS is not set.

So as I said, I am afraid that I must recompile my kernel.

I am afraid of recompiling my kernel because all my previous
attempts to do so have been disasterous - requiring a complete
reinstall.  I find the various HOWTOs and hints for kernel
compilation inconsistent and lacking in details.

For example, my understanding of the kernel recompile
process is

1. unpack the source
2. make clean
3. make mrproper
4. copy old config file, make changes, then 'make oldconfig'
5. make dep
6. edit Makefile, set EXTRAVERSION=[some extension]
7. make
8. make bzImage
9. cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-[version/extension]
10. cp System.map /boot/System.map-[version/extension]
11. mv System.map System.map.old
12. mv vmlinuz vmlinuz.old
13. ln -s System.map-[version/extension] System.map
14. ln -s vmlinuz-[version/extension] vmlinuz
15. /sbin/lilo

Yet where in this process must I do 

M1. make modules
M2. make modules_install

I have seen various recommendations.  So what is the
earliest that I can do it ... and the latest?

Another question is that in my /boot directory there
is a boot.b link to /boot/boot-menu.b and
also a initrd.img-2.4.18-686.  Yet I find no discussion
about them in any HOWTO.  When and with what should
they be updated?

For example, I just tried the above kernel upgrade
procedure - doing M1 and M2 between steps 6 and 7.  

I now can reboot into my new kernel (which seems to have
less functionality that my old kernel; specifically,
I no longer seem to be able to cd to the Windows partition
from the Linux side) and my old kernel now gives me
a kernel panic and fails to boot.

Argghhh!

Perhaps some kind person will help me.

Blair