Sound problems, now no sound at all.

[Bakudan00]

I'm running Ubuntu 9.10 32bit on a Gateway nv5214u.

First off, I got to this point trying to fix two problems:

1) My built-in microphone will not work.
2) Sound in 3D games (OpenArena, Torcs, Flightgear) is either bloody awful, like a swarm of bees in an old radio, or just disappears completely after some amount of time performing normally (Nexuiz).

I've read that Pulseaudio might be to blame for these problems, and following a suggestion I found to fix the microphone problem by installing pavucontrol, I've lost all sound completely, in games and everywhere else. Volume levels in everything I can think of - alsamixer, Rhythmbox, the panel applet, - are at max, yet the only sound I hear is the drum beat at the login screen, but nothing once I enter my pass and press enter. I removed pavucontrol and still have no sound.

I just want it back the way it was when I started, but if anyone can help me with the first two problems, my happiness would not be contained.

[Bakudan00]

Bump.

[Bakudan00]

One more bump. Anyone?

Edit: I found this page in another thread and managed to get my sound back, but the first two problems are still there.