Newbie Sound Problems... Any Advice?

[youngsket]

hi i just converted to linux last week and its taking a while to get used to one problem i cant get round is my sounds.

1) when i open volume control i get: No volume control GStreamer plugins and/or devices found.
2) Sound card WAS working before i switched over (although hasn't been used in a few months...)
3) when i run JuK i get an information artsmessage: Error while initializing the sound driver:
device /dev/dsp can't be opened (No such file or directory)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

can anybody tell me what im doing wrong (in very simple steps) or how i can sort this out as i'm starting to go crazy in the silence... thanks in advanced

Kris

[youngsket]

Gstreamer is installed version so i'm sure its either the sound card thats broke or something i'm doing wrong (more likely the latter lol) please can anybody help me...or at least tell me i'm not the only one?