Volume appears to be disabled

[Lee]

I have a laptop computer running Windows XP Professional. I don't know why
but the volume icon has disappeared from the system tray and when I go to
control panel and call up the volume setting everything on the volume tab
is grayed out and I can't click anything. Currently there is no audio when
I play a video but strangely I hear a loud beep on some error messages.
How can I get my volumne back?

 

[Don Phillipson]

I have a laptop computer running Windows XP Professional. I don't know why
but the volume icon has disappeared from the system tray and when I go to
control panel and call up the volume setting everything on the volume tab
is grayed out and I can't click anything. Currently there is no audio
when
I play a video but strangely I hear a loud beep on some error messages.
How can I get my volumne back?

Most laptops are equipped with a rotary manual switch for
audio volume (which overrides software sittings and is not
indicated by any software.). We do not know the brand of your laptop.

 

[Lee]

It is a Dell Latitude D620. There are 2 buttons with symbols that look
like speakers near the power button. I tried pressing both of these but
the volumne symbol does not reappear in the system tray at the bottom of
the screen. Do I need to restart the computer?

 

[Lee]

I just have a reinstallation CD. Will that work?

 

[Don Phillipson]

It is a Dell Latitude D620. There are 2 buttons with symbols that look
like speakers near the power button. I tried pressing both of these but
the volumne symbol does not reappear in the system tray at the bottom of
the screen. Do I need to restart the computer?

For hardware information, consult a Dell manual.

Hardware buttons seldom/never show their function on screen.
The SysTray is controlled by software, not hardware.

Whenever in doubt, it usually helps to restart the PC.

 

[Lee]

Thank you. Restarting the computer appears to have worked.