I would like some help with this problem. I've tried researching just about everywhere, but haven't found a solution to the unique problem I'm having. My SuSE 10.0/KDE3.5 is fairly new, and I didn't have this problem initially. However, AmaroK and Mplayer both will not use Xine unless I run them as root. When I switch AmaroK's engine to Xine as user, it complains "Xine was unable to initialize any audio-drivers." Mplayer has a similar error message when I start a film as user. I've temporarily fixed the problem by running these programs as root, but I'd like to be able to run them as user so I don't have to switch all the time.

Perhaps related, I also do not get multiple sounds working correctyl with ALSA. I have an Intel 82801 AC '97 on-board and USB headphones for Skype, and whenever there are multiple sounds, ALSA shoots the sound to the headphones instead of mixing into the AC '97.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Check your user account. Your regular user may not be assigned to video group and therefore you may not be watching videos with this user.

Regarding the sounds going to the headphones, can you check what happens when the headphones are not connected but there are multiple sounds?

my user is set up in the video and audio groups.

When I disconnect the headphones, I get no multiple sounds.