Windows 7 Issues!! What's going on?!

[Chester86]

Morning everyone,

I am using a Dell D630 laptop with Windows 7 Ultimate. Last night I was plugging my usb drive into the slot when I noticed it did not alert me of new hardware attached. I noticed that the network settings, sound settings, and usb slots were disabled. The internet was disconnected, sound was muted, and external hardware couldn't be seen. This has happend before and fortunately I just restored the comp to an earlier date. However, this time there were no restore points . .:thumbsdown:. I tried updating the drivers and no cigar there. I am all out of ideas . . Last resort is to re-install windows over the current OS and salvage my hard drive. Looking for any advice. . thanks folks!!!

 

[Athadeus]

Perhaps a really nasty virus? Do you have another computer with really good AV installed that you can connect it to as a secondary drive?

The only other reasonably likely thing I can think of (and I never would have thought of it until I saw it recently) is that someone is messing with your BIOS settings. I just got an Asus G73Jh, and in the AMI bios, I noticed there is a section for I/O interface security, and literally ever one of the things you mentioned are listed in mine as being disableable. Unlikely that a Dell even has those options, but it is really easy to check anyways.

 

[Gooberlx2]

How old is the D630? That model's a few years old now right? I'm guessing that if a bios check, AV scan and/or format/reinstall don't work, something could have happened to the mainboard. Network + Sound + USB failing at the same time sounds suspicious.