If you've installed Mandrake 9.0 or 9.1 and have no sound here is the solution to one possible problem. If you've got your module configured correctly and it initializes at boot up but still no sound and you have found the problem is aumix is muted upon boot, no matter what you do. Here is a solution.

In each user's directory open the (hidden) .bashrc file. At the end of the file add the line

aumix -L

and save it. This will unmute the aumix program. The way to test this first is boot into Mandrake and before doing anything (don't unmute your sound) open a terminal. Then type aumix -L and enter. You should have sound now. If this works the fix above will work for you. If this doesn't work you have another problem to find.

Like I said over at Mandrakeuser.org, this buggs me that something as basic as this is a problem for so many people. Why the hell do they have the mixer muted in a desktop-oriented os with no discernable way to turn it on permanently?