Volume buttons do not work

I have a Dell Multi Media 6400 and about a week ago the same problem has appeared, i.e. the volume and mute buttons on both the front of the computer and the hot buttons do not work although I can vary the volume with the icon on the tray.  I tried a restore but that did not work.  The diagnotics indicates it is software in that I can hear all the music and sounds

Any suggestions from Dell.  Seems like this is a general problem.

It might have to do with Dell Quickset. Look on the taskbar and see if you have the Dell Quickset icon there. It's in the shape of a blue Q with a yellow tail sticking out of it. Click the icon and uncheck 'disable onscreen volume meter.' (On some versions you must right click it.)

If the icon is missing look under Start/All Programs and see if you have the Dell Quickset program. Follow the arrow to the word 'Quickset' and click on it and the 'Q' icon should appear on the taskbar.

If you don't have the Quickset program you can download it from your downloads page under 'Applications'.

Quickset's main function is to start the power management wizard; however, clicking the icon lets you enable or disable the Fn keys for volume and screen brightness, and it is necessary for Media Direct to function.

I am sorry, I should have mentioned that I had disabled and then enabled the quickset several times with no luck.  Also updated the audio driver.  Hope Dell can suggest something as I see this goes back to 2004.  I suspect people just live with what they have.

"Any suggestions from Dell.  Seems like this is a general problem."

"Hope Dell can suggest something as I see this goes back to 2004."

As far as the posts since 2004, keeble150 could not get any sound at all from his computer which is not a symptom of  a problem with the volume button, and Comatose09 had a loose cable, even his lights were out so obiously his was a rare hardware problem. I just haven't seen a bunch of posts about the buttons not working on the Inspiron 6400/E1505 (or is it a Latitude E6400?).

I would try reinstalling Quickset in case it has become corrupted.

I removed and reinstalled v7.1.12 and the buttons on the front and page up and page down are still inoperative.  The laptop is a 6400/E1505 Inspiron and has never been off my desk so doubt if it could be a lose wire or connection.  However, do you have any suggestions on opening it up and what to look for and which wires to give a tug on.

The possibility of a loose palm rest connection in the i8000 series used to be mentioned regularly by AussieChris who was technician and a regular on the Laptop Audio board. Apparently that model line was particularly prone to having that problem.

try fn+esc key