Trying to get sound to work (AAAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!)

[bigrobot]

First of all, I've installed Knoppix 3.7 onto my hard drive (beginner) and am using the 3.6 kernel. I have AC '97 onboard sound.

Ok, here's what I get when I boot up:

Informational-artsmessage

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device: default can't be opened for playback (No such device)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

I hear static in my speakers, but if I do play startup.ogg from the command line, I can barely hear it. Same goes if I open up XMMS and play KDE chimes, I can barely hear it behind all of the static.

Here's what I've done:

In Control Center - Sound System I enabled the sound system and selected ALSA as the device.
I made sure noting was muted in aumix.
I opened up wmXMMS and increased the volume, so I can hear the sound more loudly from behind the static.
added ALSA=Intel8x10 in lilo.conf
changed everything to "true" in /home/(username)/.kde/share/config/knotifyrc
did adduser username audio

Why all of the static? I can hear sounds if I play them, but nothing otherwise (system sounds, notifications, etc.)

[OErjan]

the static might be a result of you having IEC958 and/or Mic unmuted, my guess is the first.
try muting that, it is a "comon" error.

[bigrobot]

Thanks for the reply - I found that if I mute "Line in" in aumix and kmix, the static goes away. Now I hear the system sounds no problem. What is IEC958? - I couldn't find it anywhere to mute. I have muted Microphone too, but unmuted it doesn't cause static.