>>NEVER mess with users settings. if the user mute His/Her computer that means He/She wants that computer to be dumb and no soubds must be hear from it.
>>Can you imagine what will happen with such application that will mess with MY settings? It will be uninstalled immediately!
>
>Normally I'd agree with you 100%, which I guess is why I don't have much experience controlling Windows from VFP. In this case though, this is an in-house app. The end users are employees in the field and the guy who owns the laptops and signs all of our checks wants the sound turned on. So, if one of the end users uninstalls the app, it my be the last time they get to see that particular autograph!

See http://www.foxite.com/archives/system-volume-0000048436.htm in addition to Anatoliy's suggestion.