rh7, don't have sound, why?

[suprastyxx]

ok i am semi new to linux so i am still gettinng the hang of it...bear with me.
questions
1. i am not getting any sound at all. how do i go about configuring my sound card so that it will work?
2. when i try to play a video it says "unable to open dir/file.mpg with the following command: xanim +f %f" what does this mean and how do i fix it?
3. i have tried to install numerous programs (gaim, quake, doom, xine....) and none of them will work. they are *.tar.gz files...are those compatible with rh7? the only file i got to work was a .rpm and that AIM.

if you can help please post here or IM me on AIM at inversekinematic
Thanks
Andrew

[l_Kriss]

I think redhat gives you "soundconfig" or "sndconfig" (not shure). Do a "lsmod" and see if any sound modules are loaded.

2. Are you shure you are typing the correct filename? try to let the TAB button autocomplete for you.-

3.

yes, its source so it should work with any distro. unpack it this way: tar xvzf file.tar.gz or tar xvjf file.tar.bz2 and get into that dir, and type "./configure && make && su -c "make install""

also, read the INSTALL file to see if there are anything special you have to do.

Good luck

[Dolda2000]

2: You shouldn't be using xanim at all. Go download MPlayer instead.

[suprastyxx]

thanks for the quick replies, when i try to open videos i am using x-windows and just double clicking the icon so i know im noot messing that part up. i will get mplayer and try to install it but for some reason i can't ever get anything installed and working.
Thanks
Andrew
PS: any more suggestions and tips are more than welcomed