How to control a black box overlay "volume" on center of screen?

[Karen McCorkle Thompson]

I have a new HP laptop since April 2008, with Windows Vista. On it I
repeatedly get a black overlay box on my screen, with the word "volume" on it
in white, followed by a row of dots of increasing size, in varying quantity.
The box has curved corners, and the label appears to be referring to sound,
but it is not the way in which I control sound on my laptop. This box is an
overlay, such as the panel for gadgets. I can see through it, but I cannot
click on anything which is behind it. I cannot move it, and it is in the
center of the screen. I cannot make it go away. Until it goes away on its
own, I can only try to move things to other parts of the screen. I have
wondered whether I am accidentally activating it with the mouse pad.
Sometimes it takes quite a while to go away. It is quite annoying.

 

[Bob I]

Not something that is part of Microsoft Office, which is what this group
is about. Perhaps since this is a new computer, you should talk to the
HP tech support instead?

 

[Karen McCorkle Thompson]

I thought it was a Windows Vista problem, and I was trying to get to a place
to ask that question. I went to the highest level I could find. I'll try
HP; that's a good suggestion. I really don't know what is generating it, so
I don't know where to ask! Thank you.

 

[Bob I]

You're welcome, if HP tech support doesn't have a clue, you could try
asking in the Vista group though. They might have an idea what it is.

 

[Karen McCorkle Thompson]

That was what I was trying to find. Can you tell me how to locate it?

 

[Bob I]

Link below, or look in the left pane for Windows Vista

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...DDB-D18D-FA0E-A366-6E527B0FBA67&lang=en&cr=US