Volume Control Slider Moves to Lowest Level Automatically

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

When you try to set the volume to a higher level on a computer that uses an ESS Technologies 1989 sound card, the volume control slider slowly moves to the lowest level.

This issue occurs because the value of the following subkey is 0 instead of 1:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Enable HW Volume Control
3. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
4. Type 1, and then press ENTER.

Note You must restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

This is an issue with the ESS Technologies reference driver.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.