Were there any restore points that could go further back?
Have you uninstalled any programs, features or services lately?
Have you run any registry cleaners? If so did you create a backup before allowing it to delete?
If you go to control panel \ programs and features do you see any programs listed there that include Dell in the title or as the publisher? If so please list them.
No I don't see anything that says Dell
This is what I did do recently, but then had a problem and had to call a customer computer support place, they might have run a registry cleaner:
when I got my laptop, there was a note in it that I didn't see right away it says:
update to the latest computer bios and drivers. The computer bios and drivers are frequently updated. Once connected to the internet, follow these steps to ensure you have the latest version:
connect your computer to ac power
go to dell support website at support.dell.com
click drivers & downloads - select model
select the type of product in the select your product family list
select the product brand and select your product line list
select the model # in the select your product model list
click confirm
select the desired operating system; driver language category, and importance
a list of results will appear on the screen. click download now to download the desired driver or application
save the desired driver or application on your computer
run the driver or application that you downloaded and follow the instructions on the screen and restart your computer after the complete installation.
well when I did all that, it seemed like it was adding and deleting stuff, but then when it was restarting my screen when completely white and I had to take off the battery, and then the representative did some things (not sure exactly what, maybe did ran a registry cleaner like you were talking about; i know that he deleted unnecessary temporary files. he informed me that the steps that i performed that dell enclosed, he said I didn't have to do since i had windows 7 and that windows 7 automatically updates whatever needs to be updated. So not sure if that's when I lost the volume bar on my screen, I thought it still worked after that, but I can't remember now...I'm not sure.
I don't get what happened to it? They work, but I liked how that came up on the screen before