Problems while running Debian..(Power applet, Automatic wireless & mute on boot)
 

I have Debian running on my Dell Latitude C600 and I have a few minor problems
I am trying to fix. I was originally running the 2.4.27-6 kernel then I
installed the kernel-image-2.6.9-3 package and I am
currently using to boot from. I have these problems and I am asking for help
to solve:
1) My gnome power/battery applet does not work it gives me an error message
"Can't access ACPI events in /var/run/acpid.socket! Make sure the ACPI
subsystem is working and the acpid daemon is running."
2) How can I configure my wireless card to automatically connecy to available
wireless networks and retrive the DNS information from them. Right now I have
to follow many steps before I can connect to the internet over a wireless
network.
3) I am using the ALSA driver for my sound and the sound works just fine but every time my computer boots up my volume is set to mute.

on alsa question
su
<pw>
#alsamixer
configure bars with arrows and enable or disable services with "m" key
pay attantion that by default Master is [off]
when done ESC
#alsactl store
#reboot (important!)