See http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc...odule=intel8x0 and start from the top:
"Most modern distros come with soundcore compiled as a module. You can check this in numerous ways. The easiest way is to type. (from a terminal/console)

modinfo soundcore

If this command returns that you have this module, then you don't need to recompile your kernel."

Please tell us the result of the command modinfo soundcore ?

the problem is some software conflict .first shut down ks cd and mixer then open kontact and wait a minute or so then close out the windows [when i did it upon opening kontact with kscd on it crashed app but if its shut down and open mail it wont crash and in future you can leave kscd on and no worry afterward .next start up mixer click on green lights on on every input and output and set volumes .then go into kde control panel [not the mandrake one],go to sound and open mixer then there should be a window that says save current volumes and an option that says load volumes at user login check this option and save current volumes and reboot then you will have no problems with sound system

I couldnt have said it better.

I'm out of this thread. I've given you the tools to fix the problem. Have a nice day.

OK
I'm going to try these things

modinfo soundcore:

description: Core sound module
author: Alan Cox
license: GPL
alias: char-major-14-*
vermagic: 2.6.3-7mdk 586
depends:


modinfo snd-intel8x0:

author: Jaroslav Kysela <perex@suse.cz>
description: Intel 82801AA,82901AB,i810,i820,i830,i840,i845,MX440; SiS 7012; Ali 5455
license: GPL
parm: index:Index value for Intel i8x0 soundcard.
parm: id:ID string for Intel i8x0 soundcard.
parm: enable:Enable Intel i8x0 soundcard.
parm: ac97_clock:AC'97 codec clock (0 = auto-detect).
parm: ac97_quirk:AC'97 workaround for strange hardware.
parm: joystick:Enable joystick for Intel i8x0 soundcard.
parm: mpu_port:MPU401 port # for Intel i8x0 driver.
vermagic: 2.6.3-7mdk 586
depends: gameport,snd-ac97-codec,snd-pcm,snd-mpu401-uart,snd-page-alloc,snd
alias: pci:v00008086d00002415sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002425sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002445sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002485sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000024C5sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000024D5sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00007195sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00001039d00007012sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010DEd000001B1sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010DEd0000006Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010DEd000000DAsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010DEd000000EAsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00001022d0000746Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00001022d00007445sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000010B9d00005455sv*sd*bc*sc*i*


alsamixer:

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such devi


aplay:

aplay: main:502: audio open error: No such device


This is the output I get runnig these programs

I downloaded alsa driver 1.0.6
and installed it but what to do next

Still no sound

The files in /dev/sound appear and disappear frequently

I play a musical CD with KSCD and the progress bar is moving but there is no sound

XMMS is again crashing

And how to start linux with X server as root

I'm going to try installing 10.1 if that doesnt work, i'm going back to fedora.

I dunno if this will help, but I've got a mobo based on nVIDIA nForce2, and I had audio problems also...in fact, I still have.
I can hear sound, but my problem is that I can only hear one at the time.
The driver I'm using is ESD (Enlightened Sound Daemon). OSS, ALSA (and especially) aRts refuse to work so I've disabled them.
Hopefully this will help you guys get your sound working..(and help me too :P)

ok i've been searching online for a while to try and solve this problem, and this thread has been the most help. The error message i got every time i logged in was this:
Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device: default can't be opened for playback (Permission denied)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.
I went to the KDE Control Center, clicked on the Sound & Multimedia tab, Sound System and clicked on the "Hardware" tab.
The first thing you should see under that is "Select the Audio Device" with a pull down menu next to it. My pull down menu was set to "Autodetect" but once i tried selecting all the different options (Threaded Open Sound System, Enlightened Sound Daemon, Advanced Linux Sound Architecture, and Open Sound System), only the last one, Open Sound System worked. I cilcked apply, it restarted my sound system and no error message came up. Sound now works, so i hope this works for all the others with the same probelm