I just installed Slackware 9 and am getting this prompt when KDE loads.

'Sound server information message
Error while initializing sound driver
Device /dev/dsp can't be opened (no such device)
The sound server willl continue using the null output device'

I have a Epox8k7a motherboard which has onboard sound... I have a /dev/dsp file and tried chmod 551 /dev/dsp which didn't have any effect. When i login as root it says its a unknown device, and when i login as my normal user and it tries to access it, i get a permission denied error.

Stupid question. Do you have installed your sounddriver?`Or did you configure your soundcard. It isn't the way that everything is precongured like in Redhat or Suse.
Look at www.alsa-project.org if that is the case and compile the modules for your soundcard. Also look for a Howto or use alsaconf.

Forgot to answer to the problem, that you do not get access with a normal user. There should be a group called audio.
type
adduser user audio

Don't know about 551, but I did chmod 666 on /dev/dsp and /dev/mixer to get the sound working as I wished. No need for a separate group.

Not unless it was installed durring the slackware installation. I did a lsmod and soundcore shows up. I went to http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/ and am not sure which driver i would need to install. Heres my sound card specs:

Built-in AC97 Digital Audio (by VT82C686B) :
Dual full-duplex Direct Sound channels
H/W Sound Blaster Pro for DOS legacy compatibility
FM synthesis for legacy compatibility
Supports game and MIDI port

How would i tell if alsa is installed? Its not in the packages list and doesn't show up with the whereis command so its probably not installed?