Volume buttons are software based?

[akao]

Hi,

Are the volume buttons on the X300 software based? What I mean by this is that on my Thinkpad X40, pushing the mute button would mute the system regardless if the OS is booting or running. With the X300, I can't control the volume until after I log-in.

Is this right? Is there anyway to get the behavior like the X40? My problem is when I forget to mute my computer before sleeping or shutting down. Then when I turn it on in a meeting......


Cheers.