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
    2021-06-02T12:08:40+00:00

    19043.985 was the base release of 21H1. You mentioned that you had separately updated to 19043.1023. That is KB5003214 which was a "preview" update. Microsoft sends these "preview" updates out usually in the final week of the month. They are usually flagged as 'optional" updates, but it seems some people get them regardless. I don't know if it actually has a "preview" moniker associated with it once you install it, but if you installed it separately, it should be listed separately in your updates. If you installed 21H1 from the Media Creation Tool and it already contains it, then that KB would not show up. The second Tuesday of the following month is when Microsoft releases the "final" version of these updates. If you could back out KB5003214, then you would be back to 19043.985. Here is more information on KB5003214: https://www.tenforums.com/windows-10-news/179986-kb5003214-windows-10-2004-19041-1023-20h2-19042-1023-21h1-19043-1023-a.html

    I don't see any sound issue complaints there. Most people complaining about Taskbar issues and the new "News and Interest" icon on the taskbar.

    Good luck. I hope you can get your problem resolved.

    JohnD

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-05-31T13:59:17+00:00

    It seems those of you with an issue had updated to build 19043.1023. 1023 is a "preview" release and contains these updates:

    • News and interests on the taskbar is now available to anyone who installs this update!
    • Improves the hover experience by adding the Open on hover option (checked by default) on the News and interests submenu that appears when you right-click the Windows taskbar.
    • Updates an issue that might prevent users from opening phone apps that are pinned to the taskbar. This issue occurs after they update to Windows 10, version 2004 and then use the Your Phone app.
    • Updates an issue that prevents a touch device from working as a serial mouse in multiple monitor situations.
    • Updates an issue that might display items on the desktop after you have deleted them from the desktop.
    • Updates an error that might cause video playback to fail when you switch from an external high-dynamic-range (HDR) display to a built-in non-HDR display.
    • Updates an issue that fails to apply the spatial audio effect to sounds when you enable spatial audio.
    • Updates an issue with noise when you enable spatial audio and use Bluetooth USB headphones.
    • Updates an issue that prevents users from receiving geographic location information.

    Notice it messed with audio. Possibly this is the cause of the problem. There is also an issue with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio with this release. You could try reverting back to build 19043.985 and see if that resolves you problem.

    JohnD

    Thanks, but not possible so does not really help.

    Go back to older version -->

    "This option is no longer available because your PC was updated more than 10 days ago".

    Also, I am not seeing a Preview moniker anywhere on my PC - I think mine is the Release version of ver. 21H1.

    A few days ago I tried to go to the latest Developer Preview build - it had horrible bugs in Windows taskbar Notification area, with audio devices still all missing, so was no good. Thus I reverted it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-05-31T12:32:14+00:00

    It seems those of you with an issue had updated to build 19043.1023. 1023 is a "preview" release and contains these updates:

    • News and interests on the taskbar is now available to anyone who installs this update!
    • Improves the hover experience by adding the Open on hover option (checked by default) on the News and interests submenu that appears when you right-click the Windows taskbar.
    • Updates an issue that might prevent users from opening phone apps that are pinned to the taskbar. This issue occurs after they update to Windows 10, version 2004 and then use the Your Phone app.
    • Updates an issue that prevents a touch device from working as a serial mouse in multiple monitor situations.
    • Updates an issue that might display items on the desktop after you have deleted them from the desktop.
    • Updates an error that might cause video playback to fail when you switch from an external high-dynamic-range (HDR) display to a built-in non-HDR display.
    • Updates an issue that fails to apply the spatial audio effect to sounds when you enable spatial audio.
    • Updates an issue with noise when you enable spatial audio and use Bluetooth USB headphones.
    • Updates an issue that prevents users from receiving geographic location information.

    Notice it messed with audio. Possibly this is the cause of the problem. There is also an issue with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio with this release. You could try reverting back to build 19043.985 and see if that resolves you problem.

    JohnD

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-05-31T10:50:39+00:00

    This is incorrect!

    Yes, the fix has nothing to do with sound controllers, that part is correct.

    But the actual problem is exactly with them (plus input devices such as microphones).

    Hi,

    Some update.

    I did a clean install on a separate SSD yesterday. Installed 21h1 (Build 19043.985) - sound input/output controllers works fine. Then updated to a build 19043.1023 - the same thing, sound works just fine.

    My best guess, a problem somehow related to Windows audio service. But to confirm/deny that I'll have to find some time to do more digging.

    BR

    Due to Dropbox ransom, which I do not want to pay, I have no way to CLEAN reinstall my Windows 10 OS on this PC. (or any of my several PCs for that matter) So, your suggestion is not viable to me, and is useless.

    Nope, all fine in Services. That is not the issue, and not the fix either.

    IF there is a Service that causes the issue, it is not the Audio Service. If indeed a bad Service is the issue, which I guess is possible I am unsure how to identify which one ..

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-05-31T10:37:15+00:00

    This is incorrect!

    Yes, the fix has nothing to do with sound controllers, that part is correct.

    But the actual problem is exactly with them (plus input devices such as microphones).

    Hi,

    Some update.

    I did a clean install on a separate SSD yesterday. Installed 21h1 (Build 19043.985) - sound input/output controllers works fine. Then updated to a build 19043.1023 - the same thing, sound works just fine.

    My best guess, a problem somehow related to Windows audio service. But to confirm/deny that I'll have to find some time to do more digging.

    BR

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