Constant (annoying) tone through sound card & more

Hi

Ok - i'm completly new to Linux - just got extremly annoyed with windows so decided to go with Linux instead but got a few problems
I am running Suse 9.1

1. My sound card (sound blaster CT4760 according to linux) only gives out a continous tone from as soon as linux loads up - if i try playing music i get some interference with the tone, but mainly the tone.

2. The Gaim messenger program doesn't seem to want to connect me to msn - i dont know if this is because i am using a gmail account (which is registered with .net stuff) or if its because the password has capitals in it (i read somewhere linux can be funny with capslock passwords)

3. I still have windows installed just not set up as a dual boot - is it possible to now configure linux to put it in the boot menu - until i'm confident with linux i still would like it there as a back up!

Thanks for your help

Mike

Well i sorted my sound card out, for those who ever need help:
First, disable the KDE-specific mixer support and use only the sound mixer of the ALSA sound system (e.g., KAmix). To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Make sure that no mixer application is loaded. The tray next to the clock should not contain any loudspeaker icon. If it does, right-click it and select the entry "Quit" from the context menu.
2. If the query [Should KAMix start automatically when you log in?] is displayed when closing the mixer, confirm with "Yes" and skip step 13 and step 14 below.
3. In the YaST Control Center, go to:
* Software
* Install and Remove Software
4. Search for the keyword "kdemultimedia".
5. Right-click the package "kdemultimedia3-mixer" and select the entry "Delete" from the context menu.
6. Click the button "Accept" at the bottom right.
7. Close the YaST Control Center.
8. Open a console (e.g., by pressing [Alt]+[F2] and entering the command "konsole).
9. In the console, enter the command "su -".
10. You will be prompted to enter the administrator (root) password. Your input will not be displayed.
11. Enter the following commands in the indicated order:
* rcalsasound stop
* rm /etc/asound.state
* rcalsasound start
* alsactl store
12. Log out from the root identity in the console by pressing the key combination [Ctrl]+[D].
13. Enter the command "kamix & ".
14. Confirm the message [KDEInit could not launch "CheckHardware".].
15. Close the console by pressing the key combination [Ctrl]+[D].




Any ideas about the other problems stated?????????????

I'm sorry,
I don't know any solutions for your other problems,
in fact, I pose a similar problems with you.

The sound produced here on my Mandrake is VERY rough,
there're so many distortion when a sound is played.
It sounds like my speaker is damaged and produced only harsh output.

I used Mandrake 10.0 and KDE 3.2,
and unfortunately, I couldn't follow your instructions,
because KAmix isn't even exist in my system,

the only loudspeaker icon beside the clock is the Kmix, not KAmix.

I wonder how to fix this up...