There is software out there to look at /dev/sndstat to find out wether a sound driver is installed. If you have such software sniggering at you "no soundcard found", try the following (before giving up): rm /dev/sndstat ln -s /proc/asound/sndstat /dev/sndstat If the software is complaining about having no access to the devices with your current UID, you need to set the proper permissions (as root): chmod a+rw /dev/mi* /dev/dsp* /dev/seq* This should do the job. Alternatively, add your user to the audio group and make sure the above /dev files are chgrp'd to the audio group and have group read and write access.