No Sound ... No FUN !!!

I have no sound on my laptop *Gateway MT3423*. When I try to go check the Sound Card/Sound Driver I get this message : Can't Collect Information. Cannot access Windows Instrumentation Software. Windows Management files may be moved or missing But how did filed move or go missing cuz I didn't touch anything. I tried going to the Gateway website to download a new sound driver but that didn't work. I also keep getting pop-up messages that say Host Process for Windows Services stopped working. Everything was working fine the other day but all of a sudden things just crashed. I believe the Power Surge we had a few days back did something or my computer got hacked or something. Can someone please help me get sound back on my laptop ?? Games are no fun to play with no sound. I'd greatly appreciate the help !!

 

Nobody has an answer ?? I did a system restore but now my sound works fine everywhere else except in my games. Help !!