Windows 7 volume control won't open

[smood]

Another thing I noticed is if I try to run sndvol.exe directly, the loading cursor appears and then nothing happens but when I check processes, it is listed there! So it is running but its just not showing up visually.

[JOSEA]

When I look at audiodg.exe I appear to have a differnent version (on Win 7 home up to date with all MS patches) 6.1.7601.17514 (123 KB). If you want to rename your file and replace it with a copy of the one from my machine I have attached a zipped copy.
OR you could run SFC How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7

[smood]

Hey man sorry for the late response, was out of town and using only my laptop so I didn't have the issue at that time.

I tried SFC and no errors were found. I'll try your audiodg files. Thanks man!

Anyway I went ahead today and ordered a Asus Xonar DG. Hopefully that will fix it if nothing else will. Although I think maybe it won't because the problem seems to be with win7 rather than my audio chip driver.

Oh and ya I updated the audio chip driver to a even newer one and it had no impact on the problem.

[au4all]

If you go to your start menu and type sndvol (don't type exe) into the dialog box and then right-click and say Run as Administrator what happens?

[smood]

au4all this is crazy man, but your solution worked, but ONLY 1 time. I did what you said, it ran and opened the levels, I closed it, tried to open from system tray did not work, then I did ctrl-alt-del and terminated sndvol and tried your method again and it does not work anymore.

This is really insane.

Oh and by the way... I have the Xonar DG installed (after a lot of fighting with it, the driver was not installing, turns out I had to disconnect the front panel connector from the card for the driver to install) and it does not change the problem at all as I suspected.

[smood]

I was just thinking maybe there is some kind of corruption with my sndvol, is there any good way to repair it or check for corruption? I guess I could find a sndvol.exe for win7 and compare the file size.

I have not tried safe mode yet or replacing josea's audiodg yet.

[Ferrari353]

Can you change it through Windows Mobility Center (Winkey + X)?

[smood]

Tried win + x, and it does nothing.

[stiky]

Okaay! finally figured it out after reading all of this and being stuck for like an hour, read soo much stuff an none of it worked but I ended up figuring it out myself! obvi I have the same problem as you. what you gotta do is right click the sound icon, and click playback devices. once that pops up select speakers and click properties on the bottom right. once another window pops up click properties again under 'controller information'. after the window pops up click change settings on the bottom that has the little administrator logo. that should reload that current window 'cept change settings shouldnt be there. now click the driver tab and click roll-back driver because you most likely already have the up to date one, this brought me back to 2010. then click update driver and viola! that let me open up the sound bar again, thank friggin god! i just hope anybody with the same prob notices that theres two pages unlike me the first time i read this ahaha

but i bet you dont even have this problem any more thou;p

[smood]

The only problem is I don't see a change settings options or any administrator icon. I can roll back the driver of course and restore it back.

Can you post a picture of the change settings option you can see?