I did not get an email alert to this response - and that explains my late reply.
'automaximizes' = becomes maximum automatically - WHAT maximizes ? - the volume.
Your post refers to automatic reduction - my problem is the opposite : automatic maximization.
I have found audio scales in various 'locations' where I can change the volume level, there is even an audio scale visible at top left of the desktop. and in each case the slider either returns to 100% IMMEDIATELY, or after a reboot. So I CAN reduce the volume, but only momentarily. It is all the worse because something like an (irreduceable) alarm sounds when the laptop boots. BIOS appears to offer NO audio settings.