problems w/ changing volume using Volume Meter please help.

Hi,

I'm not sure if i can descibe this but... i have a Dell Inspiron 1100 notebook. For the past few days i have been having problems with changing the volume using the Volume meter. ( a combination of holding "Fn" key and Page Up and Page Dn keys) When i try to increase or decrease the volume using the keyboard shortcuts, they do not move at all! I also noticed that the Volume Control icon is not on my taskbar. By default that icon should be on the taskbar. I tried going to the control panel ---> Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices ---> Sounds and Audio Devices --> Under "Volume" tab,  i clicked "Place volume icon in the taskbar" and clicked Apply. But it still did not work.  

 

I also tried to change the volume in the control panel and that worked perfectly.. i just cant change it using the keyboard shortcuts.. nor can i click on the icon to change in the taskbar.

 

I restarted my computer several times... still no different.

 

Anyone know what my problem is?? It would seriously make my life easier if I could have the option of using shortcut keys or clicking on the icon to change the volume instead of going all the way to the control panel.

 

Thanks for any help or suggestions! i appreciate it..