Problem with Windows 10 ver. 21H1 -- all audio input/output devices missing in Sound settings, red X on volume icon

Anonymous
2021-05-19T09:59:57+00:00

For 2-3 days, I am getting no sound at all from my several audio devices/Windows computer here - I have TWO monitors with HDMI audio, plus headphones jack connected to motherboard audio card. I was able to fix it one time by doing lots of tinkering in Device Manager, but I am unable to replicate the fix a 2nd time.

So, asking here.

System is a desktop PC, running an Intel Core i3 Haswell CPU (2 cores, 4 threads), 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, on a ASUS H81M2 motherboard, GPU is AMD Radeon R9 390 (8 GB). Audio card is the built-in Realtek. 1 Crucial SSD, plus 2 HDDs -- WD and Seagate. Logitech Full HD webcam , Logitech wireless mouse, wired Razer keyboard.

The volume icon in lower right (Notification area) shows with a red X. In Settings of Windows 10 OS, Sounds, NO input or output devices show at all.

No sounds possible in any software, i.e. browser, actual OS does not make the Start Windows sound like it used to/etc.

Also, no recording or voice chat possible with my Logitech webcam (which has a stereo microphone), so no Skype, Viber/etc voice calls.

In Device Manager, nothing shows wrong - all audio, system devices appear to be working fine. In AMD Radeon GPU settings, nothing wrong shows either.

I tried the Windows 10 Sound Troubleshooter, but it unfortunately says it cannot identify the issue.

What can I do to fix this?

(Please do not suggest a reinstall Windows OS or Reset OS, I cannot do those.)

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T12:47:04+00:00

    any update on this ? any comments/suggestions/fixes from MS ? The audio issue still persists, regardless the updates uninstalling/installing, except I still got the KB5003367 & KB5003254 failing every time system reboots causing BSOD . Not to mention that system fails to upgrade to 21H1 which also leads to BSOD with further rollback. Any attempts to remove ( the removable) updates won't help , there are still unremovable ones which (IMHO) causing this problem , like Servicing Stack 10.0.19041.1022.

    Temporary solutions (for every reboot) suggested here sometimes work, sometimes not , which is also frustrating. An this is getting really wierd and annoying every time to fix the audio after system launch .

    Not sure nut one of the reasons might be the new Microsoft Audio HD Drvier triggers the conflict with original Realtek audio drivers, and I think this is the only reason...

    Nikolay, what's your status ?

    Status is in "status-quo" -- all the same, no change -- issue NOT fixed.

    Every morning, I turn on my Windows 10 PC and "hear" the dreaded sound - i.e. NO Windows startup sound nor any sounds at all, well except the fans and HDDs of the PC spinning up.

    Then I have to go to Settings, Sounds, Ease of access to get my sounds to work.

    I am getting very good at it but also tired to do it every SINGLE day...

    REPEAT: For the umpteenth time -- this is NOT any audio drivers issue, at least this is not my issue at all.

    Also, NO audio conflicts of any kind - that is also not the issue.

    Realtek audio used or not, issue exists.

    All audio output and input drivers ARE working fine for me - please note there is a system component that stands between the OS/motherboard and the sound output & input devices that is causing the issue, NOT the audio drivers, which are perfectly fine.

    So, any possible driver version update or downgrade, of Realtek audio card or AMD Radeon HDMI audio drivers is NOT the solution, and cannot work.

    If you have any issue that a driver update can fix, that is another issue and not the one here -- post your own thread, if so.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T09:00:32+00:00

    Just a silly question ... what is Microsoft doing about it?

    My guess is -- they are doing nothing at all, and likely do not even have the issue in their bug-tracking system.

    So, no fix in sight most likely.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T07:24:17+00:00

    yes it does!

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T02:48:14+00:00

    kluless.one ? Do you mean that your audio works fine now?

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