I have a stupid Viao

[Zeenit]

Not only has my desktop icons vanish but my volume control thing at the bottom of your task bar also gone to the Buttons in the sky........i had called sony when I was back in the UK and they could not help get either back for me.

I need my volume key urgently as i can now use my sykpe but its very quiet I and cant heard the person on the other side.

I wish I never bought a Viao.

Thanks in advance.

[durain]

click on start, then control panel, then look for "sounds and audio device properties". you can control the volume from there. should be a tick box for "place volume icon in the taskbar".

if you are using a webcam and it comes with a mic, your computer might be using that as a mic instead of either the build in mic on the computer or headset. you can check this in the "sounds and audio device properties" and goto the "audio" tab. check that the "sound playback" and "sound recording" has a audio device on it.

[sierra2469alpha]

Check ALL your drivers - also note that the last build of Skype was a bit, shall I say, dodgy!

HTH, P

[Zeenit]

My vista went on the blink before skype update came along. Vista............i so hate it

[sierra2469alpha]

Zeenit - a couple more suggestions for ya, then:

Anything in your system logs (My Computer/Manage)...look back to see if anything went critical around the time you originally experienced the problem?

Do you have an image copy of your hard drive or a re-image partition? Worst comes to worst, backup your data and launch that???

HTH, P

[durain]

ooops... my instructions is for windows xp. here's for vista...

you need t goto device manager to check the sound driver is there and working OK. click on the start button, then control panel, then system and maintenance, then device manager. expand the sound, video and game controllers. check the sound driver is listed there. also check other devices if any other sound device is installed.

and lastly, if you insert an audio CD, does the sound works? i suspect the sound is working OK but not the volume. you should get the volume slider in the sound, video and game controllers.

i havent got a vaio with me but sometimes you can control the volume using certain keys on the keyboard, for example pressing a Fn key together with the up/down volume key which is shared with another key.

[sierra2469alpha]

Durain - good point - could be the keyboard/usb keyboard driver got belted (same with the Dell keyboard sound buttons - play/pause/mute/etc).

Good pickup!

So if it is, then suggestion to Zeenit...

Unplug ALL your USB device (ie. the ones you plug in).
Go to Device Manager, delete ALL the USB ports and controllers.
Reboot (cold reboot)
Let Vista rediscover the USB Hubs and roots.
Selectively (i.e. one by one see if your keyboard stuff works)

Always ensure you have the image copy of before, or at least a re-install CD.

Be careful with my advice, Zeenit....it's a last resort so I will defer to better people here.

Fingers crossed for you, Mr. P.