Orig. tried replying in http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/199701-no-volume-control-line-sigma-tel.html#post919229 but could not since the thread is too old.
I am aware of this new thread: http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/64250-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.html but am frankly afraid to download and install anything new from Sigmatel.
OK, enough preamble. Problem was that it seemed that "intermittently" (ie, between boot-ups) I was able to/not able to get to the Volume Mixer/Volume Control utility provided by the Sigmatel drivers and accessible via the speaker icon found in the lower-right-hand corner in Windows Explorer. [I am on a Gateway ML6228 laptop (an oldie but a goodie... well, maybe...) w/ Vista 32-bit, SP2, for anyone who cares.] Thus I could not adjust the volume from Windows Explorer, but only from my media players (which support a much-more limited range of volume as we all know).
I am guessing this is a bug/oversight on their part but this appears to be the issue: If on bootup when the S'tel drivers load they detect an output-receiving device, such as speakers or a headphone, they suppress access to the volume control. I have no idea why they might do this but that seems to be the precipitating factor. If you boot up however with any and all audio output-receiving devices disconnected from your machine, you get the familiar Volume Mixer/Volume Control utility back in the lower-right corner of Windows Explorer.
This is really dumb, but there it is. One could go nuts installing and reinstalling drivers all day to no avail. I am lucky to have stumbled across this seeming fix and hope this post saves others time and grief.
I am aware of this new thread: http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/64250-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.html but am frankly afraid to download and install anything new from Sigmatel.
OK, enough preamble. Problem was that it seemed that "intermittently" (ie, between boot-ups) I was able to/not able to get to the Volume Mixer/Volume Control utility provided by the Sigmatel drivers and accessible via the speaker icon found in the lower-right-hand corner in Windows Explorer. [I am on a Gateway ML6228 laptop (an oldie but a goodie... well, maybe...) w/ Vista 32-bit, SP2, for anyone who cares.] Thus I could not adjust the volume from Windows Explorer, but only from my media players (which support a much-more limited range of volume as we all know).
I am guessing this is a bug/oversight on their part but this appears to be the issue: If on bootup when the S'tel drivers load they detect an output-receiving device, such as speakers or a headphone, they suppress access to the volume control. I have no idea why they might do this but that seems to be the precipitating factor. If you boot up however with any and all audio output-receiving devices disconnected from your machine, you get the familiar Volume Mixer/Volume Control utility back in the lower-right corner of Windows Explorer.
This is really dumb, but there it is. One could go nuts installing and reinstalling drivers all day to no avail. I am lucky to have stumbled across this seeming fix and hope this post saves others time and grief.