My speaker / Volume control icon has dissappeared from my desktop - any ideas ?

If you asked Why, I don't know but I know how to bring that thing back. Click Start, select Settings and open the Control Panel. Double click on Sounds and Audio Devices. Check the box "Place volume icon on the task bar". Click button OK.

Desktop Volume Control

If you haven't used it in awhile, some computers run a clean-up for unused icons. Just go into your menu, right click on it and pick send to > Desktop. I had that problem with mine, and all it was, was the comp running clean-up, because I hadn't accessed volume control from the desktop icon in a while.

This should be an easy fix if you have the Windows CD or even without it. Looks like one of your system files have gotten corrupted or deleted. Since you have XP you could do this: If you recall the day the volume control disappeared, you could try restoring the computer to the day before that. That comes under : Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore. Select the date and follow the steps. The other way is to repair the windows installation. This can be done by inserting the Windows CD and booting (restarting) the computer on it. Make sure you boot from the CD and once you are there, look for a repair option. Select the Windows Installation and repair it.

Try to make an short cut from Start\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment Volume control to your desk top.

Or the second methot enter in the control pannel and select Sound and audio devices and from the main window select the second option with" Place volume icon on the task bar. Peace

Go to control panal,click sounds property,click Put icon in tast bar.

There are lots of answers out there, but this is the only set of instructions that worked for me (my computer wouldn't allow me to make any changes to the volume icon). Super fast and easy (fast forward to 1:20 in the video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbyOyl_J-YY.