I have a PC running Win XP Pro that serves as an audible alarm. The problem is that the wonderfully... umm... smart people that use it keep turning it down.. :-/??

I need to disable all of the software volume controls on it so that they can no longer do this. I have gotten rid of the volume control panel, however there are two other places that they still have access to.

In Start-->Control Panel-->Sounds and Audio Devices-->Volume, there is the "Device Volume" slider that allows them to alter the volume.

Also, if you click on "Speaker Volume" in the Speaker Settings panel in the that same window, it brings up yet another volume control section.

I've been wading through the registry but have yet to find anything worth-while. If anyone can lend their expertise, it would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Hi there Cleffer
Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
Click File, and then click Add/Remove Snap-ins.
Click Add, click Group Policy, click Add, click Group Policy or Local Policy, and then click Finish.
Click Close, and then click OK.
Expand User Configuration, and then expand Administrative Template.
Click Control Panel.
On the right pane of the Policy menu, double-click Hide specified control panel applets policy.
Click Enable, click Show, click Add, type Mmsys.cpl ( see list for any others ) to deny access, click OK, and then click OK.
Repeat step 8 for every tool you want to hide.
Click Apply, and then click OK. Save at the prompt e.g. console one.



.cpl File Control Panel Tools
------------------------------------------------
Access.cpl Accessibility
Appwiz.cpl Add/Remove Program
Desk.cpl Display
Desk.cpl Printers
Fax.cpl Fax wizard
Hdwwiz.cpl Add/Remove Hardware
Intl.cpl International
Joy.cpl Game controller
Liccpa.cpl Licensing
Main.cpl Mouse
Mlcfg.cpl Mail
Mmsys.cpl Sound and multimedia
Modem.cpl Phone and Modem
Ncpa.cpl Network and connectivity
Netcpl.cpl Network and Dial-up Connectivity
Nwc.cpl Netware client connectivity
Odbccp32.cpl Open database connectivity
Powercfg.cpl Power management
Sticpl.cpl Scanner and camera
Sysdm.cpl System
Telephon.cpl Dialing rule and modem
Timedate. Cpl Date Time and Time zone
Wspcpl.cpl WSP Client
Wspcpl32.cpl WSP Client


Don't forget to delete any other shortcuts from the start menu/entertainment etc.

Oh and don't forget to untick "Place volume in the taskbar" on control panel/Sounds and audio devices before you do these changes.