Whenever a non-root user logs in the get the error 'can't find device /dev/sound/mixer'. So as root i went and changed the permissions (in gnome by right clicking). I then logged in as a user and still got the same error. I then used chmod to change all the permissions. I logged in as a user, i still got the error, but i had permission to /dev/sound/mixer. I rebooted, logged in as a user, and all my permissions for /dev/sound/mixer were gone. How can i fix this?? Is there a group i can add users to that will fix the problem(there is no audio group on my system (how do i create one with the propper permissions?))?

i think the first question is does audio perform ok as root?

I had this problem, too.

Try running the sound card detector (if you have red hat) - somewhere in system tools or similar.

click "play test sound" - turn your speakers way up for a moment, like nearly full - you should just barely hear a sound (well, I did, with my ear up close to the speaker).

then click "yes", you heard it. then turn speakers down, then go to sound volume and put the volume option full, and the next option on the right almost full - t

hen try play an mp3 or whatever - it should work fine. muck around with other settings if need be.

hope that works.

The audio performs fine as root. And i'm running arch linux, not redhat. I'll go and see if there are any packages for sndconfig for my distro.