I have the feeling the grayed out "Place volume control on the task bar is symtomatic of something deeper but would like to get it back. Background: A friends computer (98SE) was working fine and she doesn't know when the sound went away System device manager says there is no conflict and the card is working properly (ha). In the Multimedia window the "Show.." is grayed out. All volumes are up, none are muted. Installed a Creative card, 98 found it and I put in the drivers which came with it. Nothing from the speakers. Exchanged them with a pair that I know work. Nothing. Uninstalled Multimedia and reinstalled it. Didn't help. Reinstalled 98 in hopes of "resetting" the Multi- media window. Didn't work. Short of wiping the HD and doing a fresh install, any suggestioins? Windows registry? What values set the display of the Multimedia dialog for that check box?

John, I had your same problem when I tried to upgrade audio drivers for my on-board Crystal Audio Codec Sound devices. Here is the solution presented to me by Tech support for my HP system. It worked in my case and I can't see it doing any harm to your friends system.I am running W98SE also so should be the same on any machine. Restart machine in the 'Safe' mode. Rightclick 'my computer' on desktop and click properties at the bottom of drop down. In the sys. prop, click the device mngr. tab and go down to the 'sound, video, & game controllers'. Click the plus beside this box, and you get a list of all these devices installed on the machine. Highlight each item and click on 'remove'. When you get to the last item and remove it, the entire catagory, 'sound,video,game', will disappear from device mngr. Reboot to standard mode and machine will re-recognize all devices you removed and re-install them. At this point, my speaker icon popped back up on my taskbar, and sound started working again. Went into MultiMedia in control panel and the 'Show' was no longer greyed out. Hope it works for you too and not just a solution for my particular problem. Luck!!!

Hi John Check to see that Volume Control is actually installed. 1. Go to Control Panel 2. Click Add/Remove Programs 3. Click Windows Setup tab 4. Click Multimedia 5. Check the box for Volume Control If it is already ticked, then uncheck and exit, then go back in to re enable it. You may need the Win 98 CD Good luck...Krystyna

Hi, There is no other go. Go ahead with formatting your Hard Drive and If possible Through the PC Ok !