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
    2021-06-27T21:02:46+00:00

    I got annoyed by doing the workaround manually.

    As it (in my case) is enough to open the ease of use audio settings it's easy to script.

    It just opens the settings, waits some seconds to make sure it really got fully opened and then closes the settings again.

    You can either set this up with Task Scheduler to run on user login or add it as a link to the (common) startup folder. (Use win+r, shell:startup to quickly open it. For common it is shell:common startup)

    .bat version

    start ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio

    sleep 5

    taskkill /f /im SystemSettings.exe

    or Powershell (.ps1) (you need to set the ExecutionPolicy accordingly or use the bypass)

    Start-Process ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio

    Start-Sleep -Seconds 5

    Stop-Process -Name SystemSettings

    Maybe someone can find out what exactly happens on opening the settings so we can directly trigger that.

    I also tried stopping/starting audiosrv but it didn't help.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-06-23T20:14:19+00:00

    I have a super gaming system and had the same problem and followed several steps that did not work.  I solved my issue with my sound by cutting off my speakers to my desktop.  But first I restored my W10 computer to an earlier time before the 21H1 update.  Installed update cut speakers back on and POW!!!  I have sound again with update installed.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-06-23T20:10:41+00:00

    I have a super gaming system and had the same problem and followed several steps that did not work.  I solved my issue with my sound by cutting off my speakers to my desktop.  But first I restored my W10 computer to an earlier time before the 21H1 update.  Installed update cut speakers back on and POW!!!  I have sound again with update installed.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-06-22T02:35:52+00:00

    This is the first solution I've found that has worked for me. It's still temporary like you said but it does indeed work.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2021-06-19T16:55:24+00:00

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