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
    2021-06-22T02:35:52+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. Anonymous
    2021-06-14T09:36:10+00:00

    Just a note to everyone. I found this article: https://howtofixwindows.com/windows-10-no-sound-after-update/

    It seems to very much specify those two issues and it discusses that the update I am having an issue with addressed group/local policy bugs. They must have messed something up or pushed a policy that doesn't actually match.

    Let me ask. Are you all missing the Multimedia Class Scheduler service? Because I am, and it's supposed to be there.

    Stupid, useless moron article here! This is NOT an article that covers our issue at all.

    NONE of those so-called "fixes" apply, or can help in our case. Issue is with none of those things.

    There is no use for you to try any of that, none of it will help and you will just waste your time.

    Maybe it can fix some other very basic Windows audio issues, but for our severe, major issue none of the listed applies - solutions given are for newbie users, just starting to use Windows 10 OS..

    EDIT: Thanks guys for the Ease of access tinkering suggestion! That one worked fine for me too. :)

    I hope this issue is logged to Microsoft bug tracking system, as if not, we could wait for a fix until Judgement Day or maybe until Windows 20 OS... :)

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-06-14T01:10:23+00:00

    Just a note to everyone. I found this article: https://howtofixwindows.com/windows-10-no-sound-after-update/

    It seems to very much specify those two issues and it discusses that the update I am having an issue with addressed group/local policy bugs. They must have messed something up or pushed a policy that doesn't actually match.

    Let me ask. Are you all missing the Multimedia Class Scheduler service? Because I am, and it's supposed to be there.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-06-11T16:22:53+00:00

    Thanks, random changes in ease of use audio settings fixed it! Edit: sadly only temporarily :(

    I was going crazy reinstalling drivers etc. even though they showed as working in the device manager all the time.

    Hi,

    I can confirm that this temp fix works for me on my old Realtek ALC888 and the latest Realtek driver (not with windows native sound driver).

    Adding exact steps (orange):

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  5. 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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