Why did the volume control icon disappear from my taskbar notification area in Windows XP?

A Web Exclusive from FAQ for Windows
John Savill
Multimedia
InstantDoc #39410
FAQ for Windows

A. To display the volume icon in the taskbar notification area, you must select the "Place volume icon in the taskbar" check box in Control Panel Sounds and Audio Devices applet. If, when you try to select this check box, you receive the error

Error
Windows cannot display the volume control on the taskbar because the Volume Control program has not been installed. To install it, use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

you need to copy the sndvol32.exe image from your commercial XP installation media (not a vendor-supplied "recovery" CD-ROM) to the system32 folder by performing the following steps:

Start a command session.
Navigate to the CD-ROM drive by typing
```
<cd drive>:
```
Navigate to the i386 folder by typing
```
cd i386 
```

Expand the sndvol32.ex_ file by typing

expand -r sndvol32.ex_ %systemroot%\system32

End of Article

Thank you sooooooo much! I love you and I love this site! My volume control is back! Whoo-hooo!

Tiffany July 30, 2003

It works great on Windows 2000 too.
You don't need to restart.

Ed November 08, 2003

Only problem is that I dont know how to start a command session, otherwise it is inforamtive and helpful

My Secret November 20, 2003

Hi
can you help me install the volume control to computer? i deleted the volume control by mistake. i have windows 2000 professional.please help me!!!
Thank you for your coorperation.

kiki December 19, 2003

A great help.
This is the only place on net where i found the right solution for the problem.
THanks a lot

Hemanth December 24, 2003

TRIED THIS FIX AND IT SAYS, CANT OPEN INPUT FILE CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT ELSE I MIGHT TRY? THANKS

TIM January 04, 2004

i notice it supports the 'xp' but what about 'ME"? how can i reinstall my volume control?

don March 06, 2004

Worked like a charm.

LAT March 07, 2004

To expand and generalize on what has to occur:

1. Find the sndvol32.exe file anywhere you can find it. It may be in the wrong location on your hardrive. You can copy it from another computer if you cannot find it. You don't have to get it from the windows cd.

It may also be renamed snd132.exe********, so search for it using windows explorer search using snd132.exe*.* If it has a different name, rename the file to be snd132.exe

Once you locate this file, copy it to C:\WINNT\system32

As long as the file is here C:\WINNT\system32 You will be able to go into your control panel and click on the sounds and audio devices icon. Click on "place the volume control icon on your taskbar" box. Then click "Apply".

The problem usually occurs when you download and install some software that overides how sounds are handled by windows. It renames and/or moves this file.

Chris Bacon March 12, 2004

I don't have the commercial Xp installation media cd. I only have the recovery one.

Gee March 25, 2004

See More Comments 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

You must be a registered user or online subscriber to comment on this article. Please log on before posting a comment. Are you a new visitor? Register now