Sure, it's not difficult, a system restore will return you to where your pc was last working, but maybe you need some software installed that wasn't there before the problem (and likely the problem), you'll restore, install the software you need, and get the same problem.
I personally don't use system restore at all, if I really fuck up my system that badly, I'd rather just nuke and restart (painless with partitions), as it is, I don't usually re-install more than once every couple of years, and that is mainly due to random shit I have put on slowing things down, or a new essential hardware upgrade.
Odd, I don't have that (jack sensing) on this system, but its a fairly old mobo so I am not surprised, if I did have it, I would turn it off if I was able, I just don't like things that are trying to solve a problem which doesnt exist.
Yes, I only read the part where he said about system restore, and didn't through to where he said he had tried it on a different system, but in most cases, hardware is the least likely thing to go unless you spill coke on it, yank the wires around etc.
Of course, hardware problems are usually easier (if more expensive) to fix though
