High Definition Audio Controller (Code: 10) Issue

When i try and install the latest drivers from Msi, manually, windows blocks me saying the .inf does not contain drivers for my device. I know for a fact that this is not true. I believe the driver install is being blocked because the system thinks the device is a system device, which is wrong. I unhid the devices in device manager, and any device listed related to related or a-volume, usa listed as not being attached to the system. There is even a phantom realtek device in the sound category. I tried removing it, as well as a the erroneous entry in the system listing,  but it won't accept the driver.

Although risky, and not for the faint of heart, I wonder if we could go in to the registry and move the devices location of the device manually from system to sound, video, and game controllers.

Hello! Thanks for your help, but I've went through the checklist and nothing's helped; It's not a sound controller that's the problem, but rather a System Device. 

Just had this issue crop up on a brand spanking new msi ge73 laptop after upgrading from 1803 to 1809. Have installed and uninstalled the latest nahimic and realtek drivers from msi multiple times, but for some reason this device is being listed as a system device and not a sound device. Because of this, the driver install process is not recognizing the proper drivers. And to make things worse, M$, in their infinite wisdom, removed the hardware troubleshooter from 1809, because analytics showed it was the least used troubleshooter. I call bs on that decision. If the troubleshooter was still present, it might, just might, be able to help solve the issue.

I'm sorry Greg, but I've tried downloading the sound controller from MSI's website. 

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/B360-GAMING-PLUS#down-driver&Win10%2064

I've installed both the Realtek HD Universal Driver and the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver, and Nahimic 3 but the weird thing is, is that it never appears in the Device Manager. I've done a fresh install of Windows 10 and the problem persists. I can't do Steps 1-5 because my computer doesn't detect any sound devices AT ALL. I've confirmed it's not a problem with my headset because it works on my laptop.

Could it do with this?

I'm starting to think its a hardware issue

That is a sound controller which is in error and it needs updating from its manufacturers or the PC manufacturers website. I gave you all possible ways to do this.