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
    2015-07-01T00:17:46+00:00

    I had Windows 10 installed on mine.  It wasn't ready for prime time when I installed it (maybe a month ago) but it did install and run.

    Still had the problem with the Realtek I2S driver on Windows 10 that I have on Windows 8.1

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-01T00:07:03+00:00

    I came across this thread while looking to see if Windows 10 is compatible with my ativ 500t. I have windows 8.1 on my tablet and everything is running fine and all windows updates are installed as of today. I don't know why everyone else has problem with the sound. Here's what I have.

    Realtek I2S Audio Codec

    Driver Provider: REALTEK

    Driver Date: 10/20/2013

    Driver Version: 6.2.9600.3082

    Intel SST Audio Device (WDM)

    Driver Provider: Intel

    Driver Date: 7/3/2013

    Driver Version: 6.2.9200.34712

    In Windows "Sound" settings, the Intel SST device is chosen as the default device under Playback tab.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-24T15:37:31+00:00

    I have actually been using an old xbox 360 headset that plugs in usb works great for audio and mic I just wish Microsoft and Realtek would sort there lives out.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-24T04:36:13+00:00

    I think by now it's clear that the Realtek I2S driver and the 8.1 upgrade are the cause of the problem.  It's also obvious, to me anyway, that MS, Samsung, and Realtek are going to be and have been absolutely useless in helping resolve this (from the MS replies throughout this conversation to date it's obvious they haven't even read a post).

    With that said, we're obviously a bunch of sharp guys... lets figure out a workaround!

    I have the Realtek I2S driver uninstalled and Win 8.1 all up to date, but no sound.  I installed an old Bluetooth headset I had laying around and the audio works but not the mic.  I'm hoping the mic doesn't work because the driver isn't compatible with 8.1.  I just ordered a new headset to try so I'll know soon.

    I'll update when I know more.  In the meantime, anyone have any thoughts on a workaround?

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-06-18T20:11:49+00:00

    Same issues here, I have been working on my dad's 500t for a week straight now. Through trial and error I have found out for sure what the issue is. The REALTEK I2S software/drivers and windows 8.1 have some kind of failure syncing up and this seems to be preventing windows 8 from updating to 8.1. Then the problem after that is updating and reinstalling the sound drivers, every time I try it becomes unbootable. Its a good thing I have manually been creating restore points every step of the way after 8.1 finishes.

    This is what I did:

    1)reset windows 8 to factory specs

    2)uninstall all unnecessary apps and programs (Including antivirus programs) *Restart

    3)Update windows 8 all the way (*restart)

    4)Update any remaining apps all the way (*restart)

    5)uninstall realtek, then clean the disk out of junk (*restart)

    6)Setup the clean boot and restart

    7)Go to the Microsoft Store and Update to 8.1

    8)After 8.1 finishes IMMEDIATELY ENABLE DISK PROTECTION AND CREATE A RESTORE POINT.

    *From this point forward any progress you make and get a successful restart create a new restore point.

    1. Clean the disk again and undo the clean boot settings

    10)Start with important Windows Updates small chunks at a time (5 or so at a time restarting and creating restore points between each)

    Now I have just one problem to overcome, sound... Every time I try, even with other drivers, or from the device manager nothing works, someone needs to rewrite the driver from scratch instead of patching the old one.

    In fact I don't think I have seen one instance where a 500t is currently running 8.1 successfully.

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