via82cxxx and esd

general: esd fails, although I can send sound files to
/dev/dsp
distribution: Debian woody
kernel: 2.4.2
motherboard: MSI 694D Pro (MS-6321), dual processor,
Via VT82C686A (352BGA)
via82cxxx version: 1.1.14

esd fails with the following messages:

unsupported playback rate: 44100
Audio device open for 44.1Khz, stereo, 16bit failed
Trying 44.1Khz, 8bit stereo.
unsupported playback rate: 44100
Audio device open for 44.1Khz, stereo, 8bit failed
Trying 48Khz, 16bit stereo.
unsupported playback rate: 48000
[It tries a bunch more playback rates...]
Sound device inadequate for Esound. Fatal.

With the 2.2.17 kernel, everything worked fine. At that
point, the /etc/modules.conf file had the lines:

alias sound-slot-0 via82cxxx
options sb support=1

With the 2.4.2 kernel, the lines in /etc/modules.conf
are now:

alias sound via82cxxx_audio
alias sound-slot-0 sound

Relevant lines from "cat /proc/modules" command:

via82cxxx_audio 16960 0
soundcore 4272 2 [via82cxxx_audio]
ac97_codec 7664 0 [via82cxxx_audio]

Relevant lines from dmesg:

Via 686a audio driver 1.1.14a
ac97_codec: AC97 Audio codec, id: 0x5745:0x4301
(Unknown)
via82cxxx: IRQ fixup, 0x3C==0x0A
via82cxxx: board #1 at 0xBC00, IRQ 18

Results of via-audio-diag -aps:

via-audio-diag.c:v1.00 05/06/2000 Jeff Garzik
(jgarzik@mandrakesoft.com)
Index #1: Found a via 686a audio adapter at 0xbc00.
AC97 RESET = 0x6C00 (27648)
AC97 MASTER_VOL_STEREO = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 HEADPHONE_VOL = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 MASTER_VOL_MONO = 0x000A (10)
AC97 MASTER_TONE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCBEEP_VOL = 0x000A (10)
AC97 PHONE_VOL = 0x000A (10)
AC97 MIC_VOL = 0x8000 (32768)
AC97 LINEIN_VOL = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 CD_VOL = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 VIDEO_VOL = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 AUX_VOL = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 PCMOUT_VOL = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 RECORD_SELECT = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 RECORD_GAIN = 0x0A0A (2570)
AC97 RECORD_GAIN_MIC = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 GENERAL_PURPOSE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 3D_CONTROL = 0x0800 (2048)
AC97 MODEM_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 POWER_CONTROL = 0x000F (15)
AC97 EXTENDED_ID = 0xC000 (49152)
AC97 EXTENDED_STATUS = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCM_FRONT_DAC_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCM_SURR_DAC_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCM_LFE_DAC_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCM_LR_ADC_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 PCM_MIC_ADC_RATE = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 CENTER_LFE_MASTER = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 SURROUND_MASTER = 0x0000 (0)
AC97 RESERVED_3A = 0x0000 (0)
SGD Playback : 00 00 87 00000000 00000000
SGD Record : 00 00 00 00000000 00000000
SGD FM : 00 00 00 00000000 00000000
SGD Modem Playback : 00 00 00 00000000 00000000
SGD Modem Record : 00 00 00 00000000 00000000
SGD reg 0x80 = 0x00BA0000
SGD reg 0x84 = 0x00000000
SGD reg 0x88 = 0x00000000
SGD reg 0x8C = 0x00000000
PCI reg 0x10 = 0xD0000008
PCI reg 0x3C = 0x00
PCI reg 0x40 = 0x00
PCI reg 0x41 = 0x00
PCI reg 0x42 = 0x00
PCI reg 0x43 = 0x00
PCI reg 0x44 = 0x00
PCI reg 0x48 = 0x00

The BIOS has the following options:
Legacy Audio
Soundblaster
MPU-401
I've enabled all of these, but it seems be be no
different if they are disabled.