I computer dummy: iphone and laptop content

I am 32. I have build 2 computers, I have used Linux on my own machines. I have installed and uninstalled operating systems. I should not be this dumb.

I really think lack of time is what's keeping me from being current. I remember as a kid just playing around with computers until stuff worked. I just can't figure out simple crap anymore.

iphone 5s. Ringer volume is set to 75%ish, not in 'do not disturb' mode, when someone calls, it doesn't ring. It vibrates and everything, but no ring. What the heck happened?

Asus [something] laptop. Windows 8.1 touchscreen. We often use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo thing. The other day, the touchpad stopped working. No mouse pointer movement, no clicking, nothing. Driver says it's working properly, enabled, doesn't matter if it's on it's normal with HDMI output to another screen or not, doesn't matter if the wireless thing is plugged in or not, restart didn't do anything, no pending updates (which is astonishing, actually). Can this actually be a hardware issue?

On the iPhone - next to the 2 thumb buttons on the left side is a tiny rocker switch. Flip it toward the screen so you can't see the orange bar.

Duke wrote: On the iPhone - next to the 2 thumb buttons on the left side is a tiny rocker switch. Flip it toward the screen so you can't see the orange bar.

I love you!

1: How did it flip off when I have a Otterbox thing?
2: What a stupid design!!!

The switch should still be accessible when the phone is in the otterbox.

It's a hardware mute so when you go into a situation where ringers are inappropriate you can quickly mute them. (ie, Church, movies, etc)

If it makes you feel any better, I've probably built closer to 200 computers, written about as many programs, and installed, repaired and modified many OSes...and some of the awful, backwards interfaces being made today confuse the hell out of me. I'm looking at you, Win8 Metro interface.

In reply to dculberson:

It's covered by a... cover.

Anyway, can't there be some indication when I go to increase the ringer volume? That would totally make sense.

I've found with wireless keyboards and mice, especially the Microsoft ones, I have to reset them every few weeks/months or else they manage to lose track of how to talk to each other properly. Mice far more than keypads.

There will never be an error code, all indications are everything is fine. They just don't work, or don't work at all. Reset both the keyboard/mouse AND the transponder thingie plugged into the computer, and everything goes to working fine. For a few more weeks/months.

On the touchpad, check in the BIOS and/or the driver software that there isn't an option to disable trackpad when another input device is installed or the like.

Also, some laptops have ways to enable and disable hardware and options via the Function keys or switches on the devices themselves, might be worth double checking that there isn't something like that to get bumped, etc.

There is no software indication that it has been disabled, but I'll check the hardware indications.