I'm having this issue as well, but have discovered a work-around:
1) Right click on an existing panel, choose New Panel.
2) Right click on the new panel, choose Properties.
3) In the Properties window, uncheck Expand from the General Tab.
4) Change the Orientation option to what you want it to be
For my system, the problem has been cured by the recent update to the kernel: I
am now running
Linux ubuntu 2.6.24-17-rt #1 SMP PREEMPT RT Thu May 1 16:23:33 UTC 2008 i686
GNU/Linux
and the sound device (VIA 8237) is now correctly recognised and both ALSA and
pulseAudio servers generate sound.
I'm having similar problems with Hardy Heron.
Gutsy Gibbon was ok for sound, but I get nothing having upgraded.
Appears to be a failure to recognise my on-board sound device.
I've packaged together output of files recommended by
DebuggingSoundDevices page.
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