Ok I installed the sndconfig and when I run it I get,

You don't seem to be running a kernel with modular sound │
│ enabled. (soundcore.o was not found in the module search path). │
│ To use sndconfig, you must be running a kernel with modular │
│ sound, such as the kernel images shipped with Debian Linux or │
│ a 2.2 or greater kernel.

and when I do xf86config and make a new file it never writes it it stays the same, so I did init 3 and I was gonna do it again but it did not do anything when I typed init 3.

Ok the sound only works in KDE not GNOME.

"Ok I installed the sndconfig and when I run it I get [...]

Did you, by any chance, follow the steps for configuring sound in the sticky:
Debian Configuration Post-Install? it might help you.

1.modconf
2.sndconfig
3.install aumix
4.add yourself to the audio group

"and when I do xf86config and make a new file it never writes it it stays the same, so I did init 3 and I was gonna do it again but it did not do anything when I typed init 3."

How could it? it's not a Debian configuration tool.

#dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

debian:~# modconf
-su: modconf: command not found

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
after I do that it still don't edit the file is stays the same yes I am doing it as root, and all that is wrong is I want 1280x1024 and this is the only distro I am having problems doing it in.

What kernel are you using? If you don't know, enter "uname -r"

To get modconf:

apt-get install modconf

Pretty simple, huh.

2.6.7

Roger that. The 2.6 kernel supports ALSA by default and not OSS. As I understand it, sndconfig is OSS stuff. You can use ALSA and read its docs. Look for my thread on sound here in the top 10 or so posts for some other hints.

To get the screen resolutions, execute the commands macondo has just given.

I have installed alsa and did alsaconf and it works in kde and i can play a song in juk but not xmms and i have no sound in gnome at all and about the screen resolutions whe it says do you want to write changes to file or somthing like that and i say yes it stays the same.

"debian:~# modconf
-su: modconf: command not found"


#apt-get install modconf
#modconf

look for your card/module

"dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
after I do that it still don't edit the file is stays the same yes I am doing it as root, and all that is wrong is I want 1280x1024 and this is the only distro I am having problems doing it in."

The problem is not Debian, the problem is you.

in 'dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86', you will come to a part where it asks you which option you want: Simple, Medium, and Advanced. Choose Advanced, you will be able to choose any resolution you want. A simple search on this site, will show this ad nauseum, to really understand the Debian xserver configuration read:

Sections 9 and 10
The Very Verbose Debian Installation Walkthrough
http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016

Ok I did all that edit the sync ranges and everything and saved the file and it is the same as before I know what I am doing but it is not saving the changes to the file.

Perhaps reading what is said at the beginning of /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 would give you some ideas about how to fix that?

google.com/linux

type your monitor brand and model, go to the site (s) and look for your v and h freqs.
ex: Optiquest V73

try the Medium maybe it has the resolutions list, i've never used it, only the Advanced, i got my monitor's vert and horiz freqs tattoed on my forearm.

Hope you used a small font size macondo, some day you'll want an upgrade.

"Hope you used a small font size macondo, some day you'll want an upgrade. "

Sorry, i don't know what you're referring to, please explain.