Is whatever code Knoppix uses to detect the sound card available on its own?

I have a mostly working Debian system, but I simply can not get my sound card (SB AWE 32) working. It was supported just fine under 2.2 / OSS, but I made the mistake of upgrading to 2.6, and somehow installed some 2.6 only programs so the 2.2 kernel won't boot any more.