Windows 10 audio stops working after installing Intel Smart Sound Technology driver (version 09.21.00.3755)

Earlier this week, Intel unintentionally released version 9.21.00.3755 of the Intel Smart Sound Technology (ISST) Driver through Windows Update, and inadvertently offered it to a range of devices running Window 10 version 1803 or 1809. If your device contained<br> a compatible audio driver, the new driver overrode it and caused audio to stop working.<br><br><br><br><br><br>We are working with Intel to resolve this issue, and as soon as we learned of the issue on October 11, we made sure the driver was no longer being offered through Windows Update. If it was already installed on your device, you will need to uninstall the<br> driver using the following instructions.<br><br> <br><br>  <br><br><ol><br><li><span style="color:#333333">From the Start menu, type <strong>Device Manager </strong><br>in the search box. Select <strong>Device Manager</strong> from the search results.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Find and expand <strong>Sound, video, and game controllers.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Look for a Realtek device, or a device that has a yellow triangle with an exclamation point.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Click on the device to select it.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Go to the Device Manager <strong>View</strong> menu, and then select<br><strong>Devices by connection</strong>.<br><br><br><br></span><a href="https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/048ccab5-e448-412c-b600-b4b3aea9fe18?platform=QnA target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/048ccab5-e448-412c-b600-b4b3aea9fe18?platform=QnA style="color:#333333"><br><br></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Look at the controller device - this should be called<br><strong>Intel Smart Sound Technology driver version 09.21.00.3755.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Right-click the controller device.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Choose <strong>Properties.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">You should get a dialog like below. Click on the <strong><br>Driver</strong> tab as shown:</span></li></ol><br>  <br><br>  <br><br> <br><br>  <br><br>10.  If the driver version is<br>9.21.0.3755, you have the driver that was sent to you incorrectly. <br><br>11.  Click Uninstall Device. You will get a popup asking if you want to remove the driver. <br><br>  <br><br> <br><br>  <br><br>13.  Check the<br>checkbox as shown, so the driver will be removed. <br><br>14.  Click<br>Uninstall. <br><br>15.  When the driver is uninstalled, reboot your system. <br><br>16.  Your audio (speakers and headphones) should work after the reboot.

Earlier this week, Intel unintentionally released version 9.21.00.3755 of the Intel Smart Sound Technology (ISST) Driver through Windows Update, and inadvertently offered it to a range of devices running Window 10 version 1803 or 1809. If your device contained<br> a compatible audio driver, the new driver overrode it and caused audio to stop working.<br><br><br><br><br><br>We are working with Intel to resolve this issue, and as soon as we learned of the issue on October 11, we made sure the driver was no longer being offered through Windows Update. If it was already installed on your device, you will need to uninstall the<br> driver using the following instructions.<br><br> <br><br>  <br><br><ol><br><li><span style="color:#333333">From the Start menu, type <strong>Device Manager </strong><br>in the search box. Select <strong>Device Manager</strong> from the search results.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Find and expand <strong>Sound, video, and game controllers.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Look for a Realtek device, or a device that has a yellow triangle with an exclamation point.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Click on the device to select it.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Go to the Device Manager <strong>View</strong> menu, and then select<br><strong>Devices by connection</strong>.<br><br><br><br></span><a href="https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/048ccab5-e448-412c-b600-b4b3aea9fe18?platform=QnA target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/048ccab5-e448-412c-b600-b4b3aea9fe18?platform=QnA style="color:#333333"><br><br></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Look at the controller device - this should be called<br><strong>Intel Smart Sound Technology driver version 09.21.00.3755.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Right-click the controller device.</span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">Choose <strong>Properties.</strong></span></li><li><span style="color:#333333">You should get a dialog like below. Click on the <strong><br>Driver</strong> tab as shown:</span></li></ol><br>  <br><br>  <br><br> <br><br>  <br><br>10.  If the driver version is<br>9.21.0.3755, you have the driver that was sent to you incorrectly. <br><br>11.  Click Uninstall Device. You will get a popup asking if you want to remove the driver. <br><br>  <br><br> <br><br>  <br><br>13.  Check the<br>checkbox as shown, so the driver will be removed. <br><br>14.  Click<br>Uninstall. <br><br>15.  When the driver is uninstalled, reboot your system. <br><br>16.  Your audio (speakers and headphones) should work after the reboot.

This stuff is very time consuming and it has cut into my work in a bad way.

Your not the only one Linda, I have been trying to get this sorted for what feels like a week, but it's probably about 3 days.

Even that is 3 days to long.  What boils me up is that Microsoft can get away with charging a motza for a operating system that continually has to be fixed.

My next computer looks like it's going to be of the Apple-Mac variety.  Both my son & daughter have them and they never seem to have a problem with their OS.

Hi J D Hartigan,

At this stage I have no idea what Microsoft are going to do, and I don't think

they know themselves.  This update has affected so many in so many different

ways, I don't think they have any idea of how to fix this stuff up.

I am about to give up and wipe the damn lot after saving all my files. 

Then start over with a new with a new install of Windows 10.

Just thinking now though, before I do that I'm going to try doing another Restore Point recovery

back a little further than I have already done.  I'll see what happens with that.

Cheers

BillyBono

Add me to the list but my problems are a little different.

I have retained sound through the Laptop speakers but it is very bad quality.

No sound at all through headphones at all. (which is a must) 

I have tried every fix that has been put forward but no results for any of them.

So it looks like I just keep trying everthing that comes up plus what I can think of myself.

My Laptop is a Toshiba 64bit.

This is the same issue I am having; bad/distorted/garbled sound all the sudden. HP Envy custom-laptop; 64-bit

Any idea when a new Windows update will resolve? nothing working and although I did get rid of the Intel SSD the sound is still garbled.