There is a silver lining to it ! you will most likely get a upgraded version of the vcr ! sometimes an accident isn't necessarily an accident !

going into an embarrassing explanation. It's all good, hubby just got off the phone with ATT and we're square. They're also upgrading our Internet speed starting next week (no charge...for now at least).

and I leave any electronic or mechanical problems strictly alone until I'm having a better day.

Likely you would have discovered the problem had you waited until a good night's sleep had put your brain in gear.

I think because we "assume" the "mute" situation, we don't automatically go to the lowest volume setting situation. I swear I don't know why hubby thought to do that, and he doesn't either!

There are just irrationalities in our lives...and actually, he was the one to try to increase the volume, even tho he didn't know why he lowered it to zero...go figure...

It is usually to make sure the sound does not come on. I use the closed captioning when I do that. A mute button can accidentally be stepped on by the cat. I doubt my neighbors would want to hear some things I watch on TV late at night.