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
    2021-07-07T01:31:25+00:00

    I had the same problem this morning. Windows Update showed an optional update:

    2021-06 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based Systems (KB5003690) and I got my sound back.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T01:25:59+00:00

    Nothing. I have yet to hear anything, I even created my own thread for my same issue.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T00:54:14+00:00

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

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-07-07T00:53:39+00:00

    @finderAUT, thanks for your solution. It worked only once though then stopped working after a re-boot. Note that I am running the BAT file as Administrator.

    I will try again.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-07-06T07:55:53+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 ?

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