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
    2021-05-21T19:24:03+00:00

    Good Day Nikolai,

    I appreciate your time getting back to this thread, here's the steps you can try.

    -Press Windows key + X
    -Go to Device Manager
    -Expand the Sound and Video Game Controllers
    -Look for Audio driver that was installed
    -Right click and Uninstall.

    Once uninstalled, go to this link below and download the driver.

    https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/R...

    Once downloaded and installed, restart your computer and check the audio try to turn it on.

    I hope the information above helps. Please let me know how it goes.
    Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

    Sincerely, Carlo T.

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Did not work, sorry. This is very similar/same to what Benedict P suggested, and I tried it a few days ago.

    The only change was a useless extra Speaker icon got added to the Notification Area, which has a few links in the right-click menu that lead nowhere useful.

    Any suggestion that goes deeper than audio drivers?

    From doing extensive  Google searches for 10-20 mins, it seems some kind of system device is standing between my INPUT & OUTPUT Audio devices and the Windows OS, thus blocking them from operating properly. This includes ALL output devices, as well as all input ones i.e. microphones.

    Please note all Audio & GPU drivers and devices operate normally, and are NOT the issue here so no amount of tinkering with them can help.

    The problem is with that peculiar system device and/or drivers installed for it.

    I think if I knew which device, older or newer drivers for it could fix it all.

    EDIT: I am attaching a relevant screenshot showing the problem devices parents/children tree.

    One or more of the parent devices are causing those child devices to FAIL i.e. my Realtek audio, plus 2 displays HDMI audio.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-05-21T16:27:56+00:00

    Hello,

    I had maybe the same issue and could solve it by plugin in a headset in the jack.... to make Windows or Drivers discovery.

    Then all options were again available on Windows

    Tried already ?

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2021-05-20T13:20:49+00:00

    Good Day Nikolai,

    I appreciate your time getting back to this thread, here's the steps you can try.

    -Press Windows key + X

    -Go to Device Manager

    -Expand the Sound and Video Game Controllers

    -Look for Audio driver that was installed

    -Right click and Uninstall.

    Once uninstalled, go to this link below and download the driver.

    https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/audio/R...

    Once downloaded and installed, restart your computer and check the audio try to turn it on.

    I hope the information above helps. Please let me know how it goes.

    Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

    Sincerely,

    Carlo T.

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-05-20T13:12:30+00:00

    No worries, thanks for trying to help me. :) No need to apologize.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2021-05-20T13:11:58+00:00

    Great! Thanks for the reply, Carlo! I hope you can help me figure this out.

    PC is custom-built, not a brand PC.

    My motherboard was listed above, ASUS H81M2 (Intel socket 1150, Haswell):

    https://www.asus.com/Commercial-Motherboard/H81M2/overview/

    In MSInfo32, BaseBoard version is Rev X.0x, Baseboard product is H81M2. Baseboard Manufacturer is ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

    Detailed info on my desktop PC from CPU-Z is here: https://valid.x86.fr/tg8cha

    (Info is slightly outdated, but only changes are newer Windows 10 OS version, and slightly different monitors -- everything else is the same.)

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