Ok update... I just formatted a drive and reinstalled Windows from the OEM reinstall disk... Ran the drivers/diagnostic CD and installed the chipset drivers, installed the QuickSet driver and then installed all other drivers, restarting each time. I open my volume control in the bottom right corner and hit the volume keys and again, only the down volume button works, up and mute do not work... I'm very frustrated.

I don't know if this will solve your problem but here are a couple of thoughts. On those older laptops with AC97 audio and XP, you should install Dell Notebook System Software and restart before installing the Intel Mobile Chipset software.

Also, after installing SP1a and the original drivers, I would update to SP2 before upgrading the drivers to newer versions.

Hey Jim, I'm reinstalling the OS right now after a clean format. I'll install the DNSS and then the IMCS. I thought I did this before, but may of been the chipset first then the notebook system software.

and that failed to work. Again only the volume DOWN and MUTE key works. Next laptop only the UP key works... :(

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=42775F842B68DFA8E040A68F272819A4&docid=3690A8CC21FAF290E040A68F5B281A12

I'll keep thinking about it. Nothing comes to mind right now.

Is there another driver I could install from say a D500 or maybe D800 series that might work??? Or are they all the same?

Both of those models used the same audio drivers as the D600, but you might consider the earlier versions of the drivers. When you are looking at a driver on the D600 downloads page , if you look to the left and click on the driver's name (instead of the 'download' button on the right) and you go to the driver's page, for example the current Sigmatel driver, on that page click 'Other Versions' to get to the links to the 5 earlier versions. The same goes for Quickset.

You probably know all of that. Somebody else just posted that the buttons are not working on a D620. I am going to suggest looking at Quickset and hope that fixes it. That model has HD audio instead of the D600's AC97 type but I don't know if that matters re the buttons.

Hey Jim, yea I did the same thing you mentioned, downloading previous versions of the drivers. Something after a format makes these go wacky. Not sure what it is though. I mean could 45 laptops all have bad power boards??? Hmm.