How to Uninstall Volume Control

You can uninstall the volume control in Windows, but Microsoft recommends repairing it.

The volume control program in Microsoft Windows XP operating systems enables you to adjust the volume of the computer's sound card via a device icon on the desktop toolbar. According to Jake Ludington, the installation of the device drivers for a new sound card can damage the volume control program. Also, certain viruses can corrupt the volume control executable file (sndvol32.exe). While you can uninstall this program by removing the executable file, Microsoft recommends overwriting the corrupted or damaged version with a new version of the executable.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation disc

Instructions

Repair Volume Control

1. Put the Windows XP installation disc in your CD drive and depress the "Shift" key when closing the CD drive to keep your computer from auto-loading it.

2. Open the Windows XP installation disc. Click "Start," then click "Run." In the Run box that appears, type "cmd" (without the quotes) and click "OK" to open the Command Prompt. Steps 3 through 6 all require you to enter text in this same Command Prompt. Do not close it or expect Windows to open another Command Prompt.

3. Type "D:" (without the quotes) in the Command Prompt and press the "Enter" key. If you have switched the default name of the CD drive (Windows automatically sets it at D:), then type the name of the CD drive into the Command Prompt and press "Enter."

4. Instruct the CD to locate the volume control executable in the CD. Type "cd i386" (without the quotes) and hit "Enter." Copy "expand sndvol32.ex_ system_root\system32\sndvol32.exe" (without the quotes) and paste that line into the Command Prompt and hit "Enter." (This line tells Windows to locate the volume control executable.)

5. Instruct the CD to move a copy of the volume control executable to your hard drive. Copy "expand sndvol32.ex_ c:\windows\system32\sndvol32.exe" (without the quotes) and hit "Enter." If you have changed the name of your hard drive (Windows default sets it at C:), enter the letter you gave your hard drive in place of "C:."

6. Exit the Command Prompt by typing "Exit" and hitting the "Enter" key.

7. Restart your computer.

Uninstall Volume Control

1. Click "Start," then click "Run." In the Run box that appears, type "cmd" (without the quotes) and click "OK." This opens the Command Prompt. Close any other open programs.

2. Open the Task Manager. Click "Start," then click "Run." In the Run box that appears, type "taskmgr.exe" (without the quotes) and hit the "Enter" key.

3. Close the volume control in the Task Manager. Locate "sndvol32.exe" in the list of active programs. Click on it, then click the "End Process" button.

4. Uninstall the volume control in the Command Prompt. Type "DEL sndvol32" and hit the "Enter" key. Close the Command Prompt by typing "Exit" and hitting "Enter."

5. Reconfigure Windows Explorer. Click the "File" button in the menu bar of Task Manager, then click "New Task." In the application window that appears, type "exporer.exe" (without the quotes) and click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• While your computer can operate without the volume control, some device drivers rely on the sndvol32.exe executable file to operate properly. Without the sndvol32.exe file, your sound card, speakers or other audio devices may not work.

References

• Microsoft Support: Volume icon is not displayed in the notification area, and you may receive an error message when you try to add it
• Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle: Windows Volume Control program has not been installed
• The Elder Geek: Delete A File That Is Seemingly "Undeletable"

Resources

• Microsoft Support: How to troubleshoot sound problems in Windows XP