Sound system configuration is flaky

[utu]

Here a few more ideas for you, Krishna:

I use the following /etc/rc.local to 'max-out' audio volume on my laptop:
added sudo amixer sset 'Master' 64;
sudo amixer sset 'Speaker' 64; and
sudo amixer sset 'PCI' 255.

Audio settings can be viewed and/or changed in an LXTerminal with 'alsamixer'.
(I don't know if driving alsamixer values 'into the red' is harmful;
I keep the apparent volume about the same as in Win7 usage.)