Volume icon in taskbar

You experience one of the following symptoms on a Windows XP-based computer:

* The Volume icon is not displayed in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar.
* When you try to add the volume control icon to the notification area, you receive the following error message: "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. "

Therefore, you cannot start the Volume Control program and cannot adjust the volume and sound level settings of your computer.

There are two possible causes of this problem:

* The Volume icon has not been added to the notification area of your computer. (The Volume icon is not displayed automatically when you first install Windows XP.)
* The Sndvol32.exe file is damaged or missing.

Solution:

Method 1: Add the Volume icon

To add the Volume icon to the notification area of your computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Copy and paste or type the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:
mmsys.cpl
3. Click to select the Place volume icon in the taskbar check box.
4. Click OK.

If the Volume icon is displayed in the notification area of your computer, you are finished. If you cannot add the Volume icon or if you receive an error message when you try to add it, the Sndvol32.exe file might be damaged or missing. Go to method 2.

Method 2: Save a new copy of the Sndvol32.exe file on your hard disk

If the Sndvol32.exe file is damaged or missing, you must extract a new copy of the Sndvol32.exe file from the Windows XP CD and save it on your computer's hard disk.

Prerequisites
This method requires you to have your Windows XP installation CD.

To extract a copy of the Sndvol32.exe file from the Windows XP CD and save it on your computer’s hard disk, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD drive or DVD drive. Press and hold the SHIFT key as you insert the CD to prevent it from starting automatically.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. Copy and paste or type the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:
cmd
The command prompt opens.
4. Type the drive letter of the CD drive or DVD drive, type a colon, and then press ENTER. For example, if your computer’s CD drive is drive E, type the following, and then press ENTER:
e:
5. Copy and paste or type the following, and then press ENTER:
cd i386
6. Copy and paste or type the following, and then press ENTER:
expand sndvol32.ex_ system_root\system32\sndvol32.exe

Note: system_root is the path and folder name where the Windows system files are located on your computer. This is usually C:\Windows. If the folder that contains the Windows system files on your computer is C:\Windows, type the following, and then press ENTER:
expand sndvol32.ex_ c:\windows\system32\sndvol32.exe
Note There is a space between "ex_" and "c:\windows" in this command.

7. Type exit to exit the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
8. Verify that you can start Volume Control and that the Volume icon is displayed in the notification area (if you selected this option in method 1).

Hopefully the Volume icon is now displayed in the notification area.