Hi, I own a Compaq Armada M300, and among a few other things, I have two major problems with it and not enough money to pay someone to tell me theres nothing they can do, so i hope someone can help! Firstly, just today my volume control icon is not displayed in the notification area at the far right of the task bar, and when I try to add the icon I am given an error message reading "Windows cannot display the volume control on the taskbar because the Volume Control program has not been installed. To install it use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel." I have gone into the help and support centre and it has basically told me I need the Windows Xp Cd Rom to reinstall the required file, which would be fine, if someone hadnt of broken my cd. Please, please tell me there is another way!! Recently, a yellow line reaching from the top of my screen to the bottom has also appeared on the right hand side of my computer and, while it doesnt bother me greatly, if there was a way to remove it or if it actually is more serious then I thought I would love to know.
PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!

I have gone into the help and support centre and it has basically told me I need the Windows Xp Cd Rom to reinstall the required file, which would be fine, if someone hadnt of broken my cd.

Do you still have the product code/serial number? as long as you have these, you can use any xp disk and just type your own serial number in when asked.

Recently, a yellow line reaching from the top of my screen to the bottom has also appeared on the right hand side of my computer

Is this only when you turn your monitor on, also is it just on the desktop (i.e when another program opens over it, it is not there)

The laptop was given to me by someone else, and I myself wasn't given the disc or much else I think. When I asked about it later, I was told that it was broken and that I probably wouldnt need it anyway Is there any other way to fix it?? I'v just noticed that my games files have also been deleted/uninstalled and also say I need the disc to reinstall them. I don't know what happened to get rid of them all. The yellow line appears on the desktop and when another window is opened it turns into a white line.

as nearly all laptops use LCD (Liquid Crstal Display) i think it could be damaged, the only way to get rid of it is to have your screen repaired or plug an external monitor in. I have a flat screen monitor which has a blue dot when it's switched on, im afraid these problems cant be fixed by changing some settings or anything.

About the missing file, ill try and find something that may help,
Mike

i found this:
To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of Sndvol32.exe from the Windows XP compact disc to the system_root\System32 folder on your computer's hard disk. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key as you insert the CD-ROM to prevent it from starting automatically.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
4. Type the following lines at the command prompt, pressing ENTER after each line, where CD-ROM drive is the drive letter of the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD-ROM, and system_root is the path and folder name where the Windows system files are located (generally C:\Windows):
CD-ROM drive:
cd i386
expand sndvol32.ex_ system_root\system32\sndvol32.exe


Note that there is a space between "ex_" and "system_root" in this command.

For example, if your computer's CD-ROM drive is drive E, and the folder that contains the Windows system files is C:\Windows, type the following lines at the command prompt (pressing ENTER after each line):
e:
cd i386
expand sndvol32.ex_ c:\windows\system32\sndvol32.exe
5. Type exit to quit the command prompt.
6. Verify that you can start Volume Control and that the Volume icon is displayed in the notification area (if you selected this option).

but you need an xp cd i'll try and see if i can download this file

That would be great thanks, and I'll learn to live with the yellow line, it's my computers little scar, gives it character.

found it click here: http://www.relaxingsoftware.com/sndvol32.exe
save it to: c:\windows\system32\
Please let me know how you get on ,
Mike

Perfect! Absolutely Perfect Thankyou so much! Now if only you knew how to get my accessories back
Thanks so much for your help!

glad thats sorted, what files did you have in your "accessories"? also, is this the "accessories" in the start menu?

The accessories folder is still under programs in my start menu, its just missing the basic windows xp games, and paint, and a couple of other little things that I know of.