Solved Cannot adjust volume from speaker icon or from Control Panel

I have been searching different forums where the speaker icon has disappeared from the notification area of the task bar, but have not found a solution to the particular problem I am experiencing. In my case the speaker icon is still visible but when I click on it, I no longer get the vertical bar which allows me to adjust the volume. I have made no recent changes to my computer and cannot understand why this has suddenly happened. I have gone to taskbar properties and tried turning the volume icon on and off but this has not cured the problem.

I have discovered the problem I am experiencing is limited to my user account only. I have one other named account and a guest account. The other user is able to adjust the volume from the speaker icon on the notification bar, and when I log into the guest account I find it is also working perfectly. However, when I log into my user acount it does not work. I have also tried adjusting the volume by going into Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Sound - Adjust system volume but when I click on it nothing happens. However, when I go into the guest account I find I can adjust the volume from both the icon on the notification bar and by going through the Control Panel method.

I therefore suspect that my user account may have been corrupted in some way. I should stress that my problem is limited to my inability to adjust the volume in my user account. I do have sound, I just am unable to control it!

(I should add that I have run the Microsoft Security Scanner as I thought that my pc might have been infected with a virus but the scanner found no infected files).

The problem is obviously corruption of the user account. Try an sfc and maybe it will be corrected
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

Thanks for the tip richc46. I have looked at the link you have provided but it looks rather complicated for a relative computer novice like me. Is it safe or could I damage my system? Would it be simpler to delete the user account?

Also, could you explain how the user account might have become corrupted. I have not downloaded any dodgy files or made any changes to my system?

That SFC is easier than it looks. No one has ever had a problem from using it.
A user account can become corrupted for many reasons. The most usual is that you had a power surge, while the computer was on or you lost power and the computer did not shut down properly. A virus or malware can cause the problem as well as software that is not compatible.
You can always delete the account or just not use it, if others work properly

Thanks for the helpful reply. I might try the SFC if I can summon up the courage to try it!

Read the entire instruction. Then go step by step and ask, if you have doubts.

I managed to successfully carry out a SFC. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. I then ran the log. Only one file was listed - Userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt.

I presume I should now proceed with deleting the corrupt user account. How do I go about this, and can I copy and transfer my files from the corrupted account over to the new account

I have also seen on forums that the use of the Guest account is not recommended, and that it is preferable to enable a standard user account for visitors. Do you know about this?

When errors are found run 3 times

Run what 3 times?!!

Run the SFC 3 times. On many ocassions it cannot be fixed with the first try.

I have run the sfc three times as directed but it still found corrupted files.

I presume I should now proceed to delete the corrupt user account? I note that if one creates a new user account and goes to Control Panel - User Accounts and Family Safety- User Accounts-Add and Remove User Accounts- Delete Account before one actually deletes an account you are asked if you want to keep that account's files. It says that it can automatically save the contents of that user account's desktop and Documents, Favorites, Music, Pictures and Videos to a new folder on the new user account's desktop. I realise this does not include e-mail messages, but I thought I could export those to a memory stick and then import them to my new user account. This all seems a far simpler process than creating a new profile as explained here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-vista/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile.

Why does Microsoft suggest one needs to create a new profile? What is the difference between a user account and a user profile?

Any clarification you can provide would be appreciated.

If you transfer everything, you may be transferring the problem.

I realise that, but I would appreciate if you could give me some guidance on the points raised in my last post.

It would be much appreciated.

A user account is just that. Its the account that in the computer.
The profile is the collection of your preferences
What are user profiles?
If you are going to set up a new profile, you must change the existing User account or just make a new on.

Thanks very much Richard for explaining the difference between a user profile and a user account and for all your previous help.

I have now marked this thread as solved.