I left it running again and had the same problem. I was woken up by my computer telling me about the error. I was running Winamp (with ambient tunes) while I was sleeping so it should not have went into the mute phase because Winamp is an exception program. Is it possible it has something to do with my computer going to the password screen after 30 minutes? I keep my computer secure by timing out at 30 minutes and I have the option ' On resume: display Welcome screen' checked.

Here are my settings...

[Settings]
idletime=30
latetime=0
mutewhenidle=1
mutingstart=0000
mutingend=0000
programs=winamp.exe,
mutecommand=C:\WINXPTPC\system32\sndvol32.exe
mutecommanddir=C:\WINXPTPC\system32
mutecommandhide=0
unmutecommand=
unmutecommanddir=
unmutecommandhide=0
latecommand=
latecommanddir=
latecommandhide=0
startmuted=2
lastmute=0
fademuting=1
hotkeymute=
hotkeyvolumeup=
hotkeyvolumedown=
volumechange=10
showvolumebar=0
playsound=C:\WINXPTPC\Media\ding.wav

I have a tablet PC and I use it practically everywhere I go. I need to adjust the main volume based on the environment I am in. At work it is generally 50% and plugged through the line-in to my desktop. At home when I am awake I use it on the coffee table (or holding it) and sometimes adjust the volume up or down depending on the situation (watching TV, showing video, etcetera). Also, I listen to an ambient playlist when myself and the GF are sleeping so I need to fine tune it really low. Having the volume control come up when my computer is idle and muted (except when running apps in the 'do not mute' list) it is a bonus to have the ability to see what my volume is at since I change it so often. Saves me opening it up. :) One thing most might not have is custom sounds tied to Windows events. It's because of this that I have very specific settings in SndVol32.

Perhaps you are right in that there needs to be a volume preset application made, all the better if this could be combined into a single 'audio control' application. It would be useful in half the situations. However, I would still want to know the current volume setting when I come back to my computer.