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
    2021-07-12T09:06:17+00:00

    I did start my own thread, and is this not just a workaround / temporary "fix" anyway? After each reboot you will need to go through the Ease of Access Audio settings again...

    Yes, it is temporary indeed. But saying "it does not work" is not factually correct, works every time. :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-07-12T21:32:20+00:00

    Yup, I tried disabling my onboard audio and I still couldn't get HDMI audio through my graphics card.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-07-14T04:39:38+00:00

    Nikolai,

    Could you please confirm if you audio works now? Not sure why, mine finally works, but I need to click on the audio settings.

    I did reboot a couple of times and it looks like it does work.

    Cheers.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-07-14T17:27:49+00:00

    Not for me, just had an update, rebooted, exactly the same. Ease of access audio fixed it! 🤦‍♂️

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-07-15T13:09:22+00:00

    Nikolai,

    Could you please confirm if you audio works now? Not sure why, mine finally works, but I need to click on the audio settings.

    I did reboot a couple of times and it looks like it does work.

    Cheers.

    OF course it does NOT work! There have been hundreds of replies here up to now, over 4000 views - do you think I would not notify you guys ASAP if it was working? (Rhetorical question!)

    However, my 2nd PC with older CPU -- Intel IvyBridge and my Intel Haswell HP Workstation laptop both work fine, same Windows 10 OS on them.

    On them sounds works fine, I do not need to tinker with anything.

    Please tell me if you have any other questions or comments on this.

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