Sound card does not play very loudly...

[Dhruva Reddy]

I have installed Linux 2.0 on two different Toshiba laptops (the 435CDS
and the 2515CDS).  On both of them, the sound card does not play as
loudly as it did on Winschmoes 95/98.

Two possibilities come to mind,
-I have the sound cards configured incorrectly
-I need to install one of those mixer thingies like I had on Windoze

Which is more likely?

Thanks,
Dhruva