Comment 82 for bug 192382

>I also had exactly the same problem like you guys.
>I fixed it with just typing 4 commands. I hope it works for you:

>sudo apt-get install module-assistant
>sudo m-a update
>sudo m-a prepare
>sudo m-a a-i alsa

>After this you just have to restart your system. It should work now

Yes, this wokrs

m-a -f get alsa-sources
m-a prepare,update alsa
m-a build,install alsa
reboot

After the restart alsamixer works

my configuration:
alex@linux:~# aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: ALC861 Analog [ALC861 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
alex@linux:~# uname -a
Linux gutsy 2.6.24-16-generic #1 SMP Thu Apr 10 13:23:42 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux