I'm breaking my thumb whenever I have to increase or lower the volume. The Muting button is giving me the same problem. I need a replacement, or can I take it somewhere to get it fixed?

seems like lower button contacts are closed need to replace switch or tap on the lower button to see if it breaks open for you

From the manual:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01114193.pdf

Hotkeys are combinations of the fn key (lower left of keyboard) and one of the function keys:
Mute and restore speaker sound. fn+home
Increase speaker sound. fn+pg up
Decrease speaker sound. fn+pg dn
To use a hotkey command on the computer keyboard, follow either of these steps:
Briefly press the fn key, and then briefly press the second key of the hotkey command.
- or -
Press and hold down the fn key, briefly press the second key of the hotkey command, and then
release both keys at the same time.
Muting speaker sound (fn+home)
Press fn+home to mute speaker sound. Press the hotkey again to restore speaker sound.
Increasing speaker sound (fn+pg up)
Press fn+pg up to increase speaker sound. Hold down the hotkey to increase speaker sound incrementally.
Decreasing speaker sound (fn+pg dn)
Press fn+pg dn to decrease speaker sound. Hold down the hotkey to decrease speaker sound incrementally.


More manuals for this model:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=3678775&

Uniden offers a variety of electronics products including corded and cordless telephones. Each of these phones features the ability to mute the phone whenever you desire. Muting the phone can be done as often as you like and canceled as you desire. The steps to muting your phone will vary depending on the type of phone you are using.
b> Locate the "Mute" button on the phone. The button will be on the keypad near the number keys. Press the "Mute" button to mute the phone. Look for the "Mute" indicator on the phone's display to ensure that the phone is muted. Speakerphone Volume Use the VOL (+ or -) buttons to adjust the speakerphone listening volume while it is in use.

http://www.uniden.com/pdf/1380BKom.pdf users guide

Reliance on the remote instead of walking across the room to touch the unit will not solve anything. On many receivers, Muting is cancelled if the volume knob is turned to a louder level. Try that.

There's a used original remote for $12 delivered on eBay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Technics-RAK-SA301P-Audio-Remote-Tuner-TV-VCR-CD-/230644267386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b378397a

1. Press the Fn key and while holding it down, press the F8 key momentarily to toggle muting of the speaker. An icon of the speaker appears at the bottom middle of the screen showing muting on or off.
2. After making sure the muting is off (no slash symbol on the speaker icon), press and hold Fn again.
3. With Fn pressed, press the key with the upward triangle and speaker symbol to increase volume which is shown at the bottom middle of the screen by the green lettering & vertical bars Volume ''''''''''''
4. With Fn pressed, press the key with the downward triangle and speaker symbol to decrease volume which is shown at the bottom middle of the screen by the green lettering & vertical bars Volume '''

There are options in System Preferences :: Sound for a volume slider in the menu bar and in Displays for the brightness slider. This can get you by but your keys seem to be remapped--check Keyboard & Mouse that your shortcuts are not changed and you are not using them for F1.... (Restore should have fixed that.) -Ken

I think this a motherboard or may be a controller problem. Try contacting dell support.

if what Dark_Orbit said does not work try doing a master reset by ressing and holding the dvr/vcr button and stand by button simultaneously. This would erase all your assignments so you would need to reassign all your sources hooked up to your onkyo.

hit setup...then under AV setup...click over to the 3rd screen...and it should give you options for navagtion volume and and options for muting and overiding the sounds comming from the speakers either front left, right or both....

Did you check that you didn't activate mute?
If it is on mute. Press both volume buttons at the same time you will hear two descending audio tones.