Travelmate mic feedback

[Christopher M. Kelty]

Does anyone have experience with microphone feedback on a laptop? 
I'm using 2.2.r3 with 2.4.0 on a Travelmate 732TLV.  I'm using the 
essolo1.o and the sound.o modules.  If I use any mixer (like gmix) I 
can mute the microphone, but when I reboot the settings are lost and 
I am reminded of this fact by a very loud high pitched noise at 
bootup :)

does anyone know a way to keep the mic muted?
thanks
Chris Kelty