Summary: On-screen volume indicators are handy, but surprisingly they're not actually part of Windows. We'll look at alternatives.
I am running Windows XP home edition on a new Gateway notebook (Model MX7515). My Gateway desktop and older laptop both indicate the volume on the screen by showing green vertical bars (the same as on most TVs). My new notebook changes the volume while pressing the increase and decrease buttons on the keyboard, but there are no green vertical bars on my screen, so I don't know how high or low the volume is.
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Those on-screen displays are kinda handy. I have something similar on my desktop, including the volume up/down controls on my keyboard. Quite nice.
But on my laptop? No such luck. I'm in the same boat you are.
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The "problem" is that those volume indicators are not part of Windows. They're actually added by some of the additional software installed on your machine. Typically they're installed by the keyboard software for keyboards that include volume controls.
Things get a little more complicated with laptops, because they may have dedicated volume control keys, or they may have key-combinations that perform the same function. The manufacturer of the keyboard software may, or may not, elect to include an on-screen display.
It gets even more confusing, because when you purchase the same type of equipment from the same manufacturer, you might expect it to have the same feature set. Two laptops from Gateway, for example, separated by a couple of years, for example. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Even within models separated by less time, manufacturers are typically always on the look-out for better or less expensive hardware components, and if it doesn't make a substantial difference in functionality, even the same model of machine might come with different, though similar, components from several manufacturers. And needless to say, the supporting software included with those components might be different.
The only real advice I have is to check the control panel applets for both your keyboard and sound card. Look around for options that might control the on-screen display. There are so many different manufacturers that it's possible that some allow you some control, and perhaps default it off.
Past that, I'd check with the manufacturer's support to find out if your specific model even has this feature.
Related:
Article C2583 - March 6, 2006
The indicator bars were an add on feature from the Multi-Function Keyboard. When I purchased my computer it had Windows ME, and the keyboard volume control would show the green indicator bars on the lower right hand corner of the screen, a very nice feature over the audio icon in the task bar that isn't always displayed. At any rate, when I was forced to change the operating system to Windows XP, I lost the on screen indicators. YOU CAN CORRECT THIS BY GOING TO HP Upgrade Keyboard, and download the following file: SP26752. This will reinstall the volume indicator bars that change with the volume control knob on the keyboard. The bars will now be a gray color instead of green. (No big deal to me).
Posted by: Ron McAmis at October 26, 2008 10:42 PMTo bring back the green volume indicator, go to Control Panel>Keyboard>Key Settings>scroll down to bottom and highlight Volume>hit EDIT, check the box, problem solved. The volume indicators ARE part of windows.
Posted by: Madpauly at December 6, 2008 12:39 PMwell, that tip from kevin foster doesn't work because i clicked the link and the i got a page not found error. where was the link for the .gif (or .zip) moved to? i really want that volume indicator. yes, i tried that R97343.exe and no, it doesn't work because i don't have a dell. the installer fails. intellitype doesn't look anything like the volume indicator i had. mine was green bars in the bottom center of my screen and had the word "Volume" above it. it was far more useful than the stupid crap that comes with windows.
Posted by: Shinzami at January 2, 2009 4:19 PMThe on-screen green-colored volume & brightness indicator which previously appeared on my laptop suddenly gone since last two days... I did follow the way suggested by Manpauly but my ACER laptop does not have Key Setting inside the Keyboard page..
Posted by: PeiYen at March 11, 2009 10:17 PMReally wish that anyone who have idea about this and teach me as soon as possible as it's really inconvenient without the on-screen indicators.
Actually, as far as Volume indication goes, almost any OSD application should do (that doesn't apply for, say, brightness indication).
Since I bought a Dell notebook, where this job was performed by a really ugly QuickSet application, I've been looking for its replacement.
My personal choice was to install Microsoft's IntelliType Pro drivers, but that is, uhm, illegal, since I don't have that keyboard. However, apparently there are freeware applications that do this task, for example this one called WN Volume OSD.
Posted by: RQ at March 21, 2009 12:48 PMI have the same missing volume level indicator bars on my IBM T42....had em, then they disappeared...anyone? Cheers
Posted by: jerry at May 18, 2009 9:48 AMI've been using volume display: http://volumedisplay.com/
Posted by: The Jonas Brother at June 9, 2009 5:29 PMands it's worked out pretty good for me so far. Looks slick too.
I was having problems with my volume indicator display having disappeared after 3 years. I have an HP running Windows XP and I even contacted HP customer support and they couldn't help me either. During a google search I ran across this site and I did the suggestion of searching for ehtray.exe and clicked on it and voila! Thanks for all your help!
Posted by: J at August 7, 2009 3:35 PMI have had the trouble of trying to get it them back as well. I'm on a Dell 1525 Inspiron and I believe that Norton is the culprit. Not sure how they do it, but it stopped when I installed. I now do not have Dell Quickset at all (if I do I can't find it) and I can't seem to reinstall. :\
Posted by: Luke at August 24, 2009 6:56 PMi do not have a green volume indicator i have a small icon bottom rght of screen ost how do i get it back? thanks much.....
Posted by: Arthur at October 31, 2009 5:40 PM