8-ball,

If I understand you correctly, the answer is yes easily. Go to the Windows Master Volume Controls and place a checkmark in the mute all box, under Play Control.

To do this,

• right click the volume icon in your systray and select open volume controls, or
• left click the volume icon and merely check the mute box.

DavidGregg

ADDON: though the more I think about it, the more I believe that your problem may be related to your speakers; and if this is the case, then muting your Windows Master Volume Controls will not eliminate cracking and popping. If that should be the case, then you would need to disable the speaker. Since the speaker in the Inspiron is internal, I do not know how you would do that, other than by disabling your onboard sound completely via BIOS.

Message Edited by DavidGregg on 10-31-2004 10:23 AM

That's exactly what I would like to do automatically.  I'm trying to avoid having to manually mute every time I shut down and un-mute when I want to play music.  Right now I just unplug my audio cable when I boot up, but that's a lot of wear and tear on the headphone jack.  I thought that perhaps a command-line option could be used.  If not, I'll probably just go with a low-tech inline switch.

Have you tried alternate audio drivers?  Some (but not all) of the typical Dell and MS drivers for Win9X operating systems are noted for that annoying pop, but there are some alternate drivers (that audio device was used by a number of manufacturers) which don't produce it, nor do the latest MS Windows XP drivers for that ESS Maestro audio device.  (Another good reason to upgrade to WinXP.) 

8-ball,

You've got me behind you? @#%! That is, I'm not entirely certain I understand your desire.

You wrote: "That's exactly what I would like to do automatically. I'm trying to avoid having to manually mute every time I shut down and un-mute when I want to play music."

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Using the above-described technique for muting my master volume controls, those settings will remain fixed until I manually re-adjust them. Rebooting does not require a constant checking, or unchecking of the procedure. Once the box is checked, it remains that way.

For example, I can establish a command-line option to begin playing a file at startup, with my version 6.40 Windows mediaplayer; but if I have muted my master volume controls previously, I must manually unmute the master if I wish to HEAR that file, even though the little mediaplayer's mute button is open (or unmuted).

Is it your suggestion that my command-line option should not only begin playing my file at startup, but also unmute my muted master volume control?

I suppose that's easily programmed. But I do not know how to do it.

You may find a solution by going to the Microsoft Windows Media Player newsgroup, or by contacting someone like Chris Lanier, or Zach Demian, and seeing if he knows how to do it. As I recall, Demian had all sorts of command-line options in his WMP Mini-FAQ section.

As an aside to all of this: I really do not find muting, or unmuting via the volume icon time-consuming. It usually takes less than 3 seconds, and places no strain on my troubled mind, or fingers. Everything else in life should be so easy.

DavidGregg