Missing Volume Icon . Have no volume. Tried to go through the properties on task bar but choices are "greyed out".

Try this, as long as you've had the volume icon installed previously and suffered no wipeout crashes since, go to Sound control panel, click OFF the Place Volume Icon In Taskbar square then click APPLY and OK and exit -- then do it it again except click it ON then APPLY and OK and exit. With luck the Sound icon should pop up in the taskbar!

I had the same problem...items grayed out.  I restarted my computer and my missing icons, power and volume, came back.  This has happened to me on more than one occasion, but the restart brought them back.  Good luck!

Hi!

I was having the same problem with the volume control icon missing from my taskbar. I found the following fix suggestion and tried it. IT WORKED!! I hope it works for you too! (NOTE: Method 2 is the one which worked for me)...

Volume icon is not displayed in the notification area, and you may receive an error message when you try to add it

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q319095

To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/end-support-windows-xp-sp2-windows-vista-without-service-packs)

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

On This Page

• !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)SYMPTOMS
• !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)CAUSE
• !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)RESOLUTION
  • !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)Method 1: Add the Volume icon
  • !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)Method 2: Save a new copy of the Sndvol32.exe file on your hard disk
    • !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)Prerequisites
• !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)NEXT STEPS
• !\[\](http://support.microsoft.com/library/images/support/kbgraphics/public/en-us/downarrow.gif)MORE INFORMATION

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SYMPTOMS

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

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.

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CAUSE

There are two possible causes of this problem: The Volume icon has not been adde...

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.

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RESOLUTION

Note You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first....

Note You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

By default, the Volume icon is not displayed when you first install Windows XP on your computer. To resolve this problem, try to add the Volume icon to the notification area.

Note If you have already tried to add the Volume icon and received an error, skip this section and go to method 2.

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Method 1: Add the Volume icon To add the Volumeicon 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.

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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.

Note If you do not have access to the Windows XP CD that contains the installation files, ask the network administrator for help if the computer is at your workplace, or contact Support. To contact Microsoft Support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/) 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_ <var>system_root</var>\system32\sndvol32.exe

Note <var>system_root</var> 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).

If the Volume icon is displayed in the notification area, you are finished. If the Volume icon is not displayed in the notification area, go to the "Next steps" section.

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NEXT STEPS

If these methods did not work for you, you might want to ask someone you know fo...

If these methods did not work for you, you might want to ask someone you know for help, or you might want to contact the network administrator for help. You can also use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site provides include the following:

• Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
• Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
• Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
• Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.

If you continue to have questions after you use these Microsoft Web sites or if you cannot find a solution on the Microsoft Support Services Web site, click the following link to contact Support.

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus)

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about icons that are displayed in the notification area, cl...

For more information about icons that are displayed in the notification area, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310578  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310578/ ) Windows system tray icons

For more information about how to troubleshoot sound problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307918  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307918/ ) How to troubleshoot sound problems in Windows XP

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• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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Can not figure out where my volume control icon went to on th ebottom in the task bar . I have tried several methods to get it reinstalled but nothing is working. Clicked on properties and tried to check booxes but theye area is "grayed out".

I tried a system restore but no help. It was working fine friday night after I moved my PC. I have exterior speakers also that were working ok . now nothing. What casued this and how do I get my volume and volume icon back. never happened before.  thanks.

Please let me know, have you installed sound driver into your system?

If no,

Please install sound driver into your system then check your problem again.

If yes,

Please perform following steps.

Click on Start and then click on Run.

Type SFC /scannow. (Please note that there is a space between SFC and /scannow) ****

Click on Ok to launch System File Checker.

Insert the Windows XP installation CD when and if it asks for.

It will repair all the damaged and corrupted System files.

Please reply, If you face any problem.

K M JHA Technical Support Executive (INDIA)