I am running Debian Linux. When I ran sndconfig from the command line, I get something that says:

You don't seem to be running a kernel with modular sound enabled (soundocre.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 2.2 or greater kernel.

I installed Debian woody, but then changed the sources to testing and ran apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade. uname -r gives 2.2.20-idepci

I installed a minimal system with only bash from a debian cd, then i apt-get x-window-system, wmaker, kde, and sndconfig.

you have to recompile your kernel to add the soundcore.o module. If you're going to recompile, nothing is probably stopping you from getting the new stable kernel - 2.4.20.

Here's one way of recompiling the kernel (it includes some things that make your life easier on a Debian system) or you can go the traditional way. just do a G4L search for compiling kernels.

http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/system/kernel-pkg.html

BTW, you may also want to check out ALSA:
http://www.alsa-project.org/

(Go with the development series, 0.9x)

Ok, I installed a newer kernel (i didn't compile it, i just used apt-get to get a 2.4.20 kernel).

sndconfig worked correctly and I heard Linus's voice

However, I still get an error message from KDE every time i start KDE saying that it couldn't find the sound device and will use the null output device.

Also, I have another small problem - since the new kernel, my DHCP internet access doesn't work anymore. It worked before with the 2.2 one.

Thanks for your help.

kde has its own sound device. I think its aRTs (ie. artsdsp). I don't have KDE, but a G4L should bring up enough information to help you through.

As for DHCP:
http://tldp.org/cgi-bin/ldpsrch.cgi

you may have to recompile the kernel - most likely you it did not include support for your card. BTW, how exactly did you go about compiling this kernel? You can't just apt-get it. You can get the source, but you still need to compile it. Plus, the compiling is not hard, but it sure will help optimizing your system for your hardware.

Ok, I got my internet to work. I didn't need to recompile the kernel. Earlier, I used apt-get to install a 2.4.20 amd k7 kernel binary. Then i ran modconf, added my network card, and ran dhcpcd.

I installed the arts package, but sound in kde still doesn't work, and i can't even click on test sound (the button is disabled) in the kde control center. It looks like sound is enabled in the kde control center.

I am running KDE 3.1.

Never mind, sound works. I am listening to music on XMMS right now!

Thanks for your help.

Cool. Glad to help.