March Windows 8.1 update broke Realtek I2S audio

Anonymous
2015-03-31T21:34:51+00:00

Hi, I have a Samsung XE500T1C slate that till the beginning of March was working great.  After a Windows update the slate never booted back into Windows.  A system restore worked fine till the next week when the Windows updates were re-installed.  Regrettably my restore point was gone and I had to restore to factory and then upgrade to Windows 8.1.

After the update to 8.1 I was again not able to boot up.  Restarting in safe mode and eliminating devices one at a time revealed the Realtek I2S audio device was causing the problem.  Searching Bing (ok it was Google that found it) shows other have the same issue. 

As long as I leave the audio device disabled my slate works fine.  When I enable it audio works but the camera operational LED turns on.  Then if I restart the slate it never boots back up and its back to safe mode to disable the Realteck I2S audio device.

Windows 8.1 is fully updated.  My slate system software is fully updated...All updates are in place so please don't suggest that!

Removing the Windows updates that came down on March 10th did not work.

Any ideas how to get audio back?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-10-21T21:36:21+00:00

    Thanks for your effort, Curt!!  The outcome stinks but your figuring it ouy is very much appreciated.  I'm done with Samsung too.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-19T21:27:01+00:00

    FINAL UPDATE:

    Samsung's processes do not allow them to help solve this problem.  I recommend that this be the last Samsung product that you ever purchase.  

    The resolution to this problem, after working with Samsung for 5 months, is to take it to an authorized Service Center.  There is no mechanism for Samsung to test the product in the lab to verify that there is a driver contention issue between the sound and chipset drivers for Windows 8.1

    The last customer service person I spoke to at Samsung (Marie) indicated that there are documented issues with the upgrade from 8.0 to 8.1.  She couldn't/wouldn't elaborate.  Her only resolution is that this has to be fixed by a technician at an authorized service center. She indicated that other people have had this issue and they had theirs fixed through the service center route.  Given the age of these devices, any service will not be under warranty, which means you will pay out of your pocket to fix this (if the technician can fix it).  I am highly skeptical.

    So - this will be my last post on this subject.  Samsung service center (1-800-726-7864) was no real help.  You are pretty much on your own - unless you are willing to take your unit (they refer to it as a notebook) to an authorized service center (if you have on in your area) and have one of their technicians fix this problem for you at your cost.

    It's a driver compatibility problem.  But hey - maybe your service center guy can write a driver for you!

    I use a Samsung Galaxy S6.  It will be my last.  I kinda like the Zenphone.

    Curt

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-11T20:39:57+00:00

    UPDATE (I should start numbering them because who knows how long this is going to take?)

    I called back into Samsung again today to follow up with my case.  I was supposed to hear back from Samsung around August 17, but of course, there was no return phone call.  So this time when I called for an update, as has been the case each time I have called back, the Tech says: "So you are having trouble installing drivers?".  LMAO.  No, I'm not having trouble installing drivers; I'm having trouble getting Samsung to understand that its THEM that has the issue.  

    Anyway, I digress.  The gist of the conversation was that they have not heard back from Samsung Head Office yet - and that I am to expect a phone call from the person on my ticket in the next two business days for a verbal update.  I'll believe that when I see it.

    It certainly is interesting to see how unresponsive Samsung can be regarding this issue (which clearly affects a number of folks - like those on this thread).  

    I'll keep at it until I feel there is no hope.

    Cross your fingers!

    Curt

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-17T09:58:00+00:00

    If i was to guess it would be a firmware issue of sometype

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-08-17T09:56:07+00:00

    We should probably try and compile a list of model numbers and where it was broken, Ie mine

    xe500t1c-ha1ca was broke on 8.1  march update but was fixed by windows 10 and allways worked on 8.0

    Seems like some models never broke some only broke on 8.1 and some failed on 8.1 and 10

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