OK
..have you configured alsa sound, oss-emul, etc as modules or built in <*> ?
I've always configured sound devices as modules until yesterday (or was it the day before?), when I reconfigured them all as <*>
That solved a headache with 'udev with tarball' not making /dev/mixer, and swapping dsp & dsp1 on my 2-card setup. And now I'm running with NO tarball and all is well with my onboard sound and my Skype USB phone...
mvh
"I am not bound to please thee with my answers" W.S.