PLEASE HELP!!!!! Our son who has autism is driving us mad with the computer - can anyone help this loud problem?? Would be VVVVVVVVVVVVV grateful

[stillenacht]

Does anyone know how to permanently remove the 'sound and sudio' device from the control panel?

our little boy who has low functioning autism keeps turning the sound up to full (he can get into the control panel and do this! Despite the fact he doesn't know how old he is or other basic things.....)He is obsessed with one youtube clip in particular and keeps turning it up the second I have turned it down. Its driving us all mad. We have to listen to the same clip at full volume at least 200 times a day. Removing the speakers isn't an option as he would go mad - we really want to stop him having access to the 'audio deive' icon on the control panel (I have tried hiding it behind others but he finds it and drags it out!)

Thank you would be really grateful!

'sound and audio' that is meant to read

If you were to unplug the speakers would he figure that out?

He would go absolutely nuts if we took the speakers out. He would prob break (smash up)the computer

We just want it permanently stuck to a low volume (he does it through headphones too and turns it right up so it is then v loud and crackly through headphoes) It really is driving me and DH and other DS absolutely nuts!

Anyone? please help - it really is making us go mad

I don't think you can. Though there is an application available which locks the volume... but he may find a way around that, if he is already capable of using control panel.

So Volume Lock (it has a trial period, so you can test it out for free) could be installed.
Then create him his own login - which he must use every time. Limit him so that he has no administrative rights, so with luck he will find it a lot harder to change things.

no idea, but can't help but ask, what is the youtube clip?

I care for children with autism so know your pain! Try to remember that no system will be a guaranteed solution... it will only work until they find a way around it - these children can be very intelligent and find ways around a lot of things if they put their energy into doing so. So view any solution that works as being a temporary solution only.

Download Volume Lock there is one version for Vista, one for other versions of Windows (I am assuming you are running Windows... if you have a different operarating system, please specify what you have).
Install it and have it running as a Service.
If there is the option of hiding the icon from appearing in the System Tray, then hide it - I don't know if it gives you that option though.
If you find that solves the problem... pay to register the software (it's around $15).
If you create him his own computer login, that may help enable you to hide some things he has access to, while still letting you access them. Sell him that idea by telling him he can have all his own icons on the desktop, his own background etc. He may fall for it at first! Then password protect your/the administrative login.

DH says you can disable it.

Go to device manager in control panel and find the sound device, right click and select disable.

Hope that works. Of not let me know and I'll ask him again

To be more specific,
Windows XP: Control Panel, select System.
Click on Hardware tab, then select Device Manager
In Device Manager, scroll down to the "Sound, Audio and game controllers" section, and your audio device will be listed in there. Right click on it, and select disable.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 are virtually same method, except Device Manager is in main control panel menu.

There you go - I let him use my netbook just for you ;)

Thanks so much for all your help - DH has just spent last hour or so fiddling about and we have taken a few things off the start up (my computer and control panel - he has apparantly put them in the recycle bin on the desktop or something??!)so hopefully he won't notice and it will be a little quieter for a while.

This is his youtube clip www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk8qTtokQdQ

Ah a coaster fan! Don't tell him there are DVD's of coasters - or has he already got those!

stille
the other thing you can do is get him to use headphones - in case he figure how to reverse your disabling. It took us about three years to realise and buy him a pair and peace has reigned ever since

DS2 also has astonishing abilities on the computer and is able to do things that neither we, nor his 16 year old very very bright brother can figure out [sigh]
If he could hold a conversation or understand basic questions he could rule the world.

He wouldn't understand anyway even if I did tell him - he is 6 with mental age of 18 months. He hasn't got a Scooby Doo what a DVD is. Thanks for your help with this nannynick but please be aware that 'caring' for autistic children is not the same as being a mother of one. At the end of your day I guess you can say goodbye to autism - I can't. I know how sneaky he can be with regard to this stuff and that it will only ever be a temporary solution - I don't mean to sound snidy but after all, I do live with him. Thanks genuinely though for your help

the problem is pag is that he turns it up soooooooooooooooooo loud on the headphones we can still hear it with all its crackly glory as well. Fingers crossed we have an albeit temporary solution.