how can I start the sound volume control directly? I mean the one, which you start by going to control panel/audio devices>"show sound volume control in task bar". is there a way to start it directly as icon in the tray, without going to control panel/audio devices ...

If you check marked the box, then it will be at the right side of the taskbar, and "hidden if inactive" in the System Tray. Click the arrow to show more icons. Then double click speaker icon.

that's the problem - the icon does not appear on start, I have to delay the start of the icon for a minute, for that I use the programme startup delayer, which delays the starting of the programmes which create icons in the taskbar, but this only works with programmes which are defined as startup ones in the startup folder/registry, and this programme does not appear there. so I have to create an direct link to it, put it into the startup folder and then tell Startup delayer to load it. but I don't have the direct link to it

" I have to delay the start of the icon for a minute, for that I use the programme startup delayer," Im confused, why do you want to delay anything during startup?? Have you tried to disable the delayer program to see if that helps?

I have to delay because the icons don't appear in the tray bar. common windows xp bug. the programmes are started, but the icons in the tray bar appear only if one delays the start for a minute. ok, anyway, this thread is too far away, nobody will notice it anyway any longer, it's a pity the threads with new replies don't move up like on all other forums.

I have found a solution, although it's not the best one. Try to enable Active Desktop - then all scheduled prorgams and especially that Volume Control icon will show up. I don't know why but it works. There is just one bad thing - now the text of desktop icons are showing on a color rectangle box like it was in win 9x. In XP there are some special shadows of the fonts of icons, but when you enable active desktop, it disappear. But in this way every time every icon is showing in the tray (even if Hide Inactive is enabled).