That's always going to happen to folk that don't safeguard their stuff. As a test you take away the HDD, pop in a new HDD and get the OS working. If they lose anything then it means their backup system is flawed.
-> As to using system restore and loss I have yet to experience that in over a decade. I'm sure it will happen to someone, someday.
bob
Several weeks ago my laptop stopped producing sound. I have investigated multiple options and am wondering if there have been any recent known bugs in lost sound, due to upgrades or something else that caused problems for others. I have tried the following:
- double-checking all the keyboard "F" function keys
- using Dell's trouble-shooting tools and instructions, which tell me the sound components are in good order
- updating drivers/removing and re-installing drivers
- using Windows' and control panel's trouble-shooting tools
- Using Microsoft's trouble-shooting tools
- altering the sound "theme" offered by Windows
- adjusted the volume settings on my laptop
My laptop has IDT High Definition Audio CODEC as the default sound device. I don't use plug-in speakers or headphones.
I haven't dropped, jarred or otherwise damaged the laptop.
However, over the past several weeks I have:
- installed ERUNT as an emergency recovery utility; I received error messages when I logged on, so I removed it
- installed suggested Windows updates
- installed MS Office updates
- regularly run Spybot and Spyhunter in addition to Malwarebytes
I noticed that my browser is slow and often locking up. I have to go into the Task Manager to get things moving again. I wonder if this is caused by script problems - Java, Shockwave? Could one of these be affecting my sound?
A poster on another forum recommended I do a system restore. I've never done this and worry I could lose something valuable or cause worse problems.
I am running Windows 7 Home Edition on a Dell Inspiron N5010.
Thanks in advance for any assistance. It's driving me crazy not to have any sound.

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