Audio Quality & Driver Issue

[SirClock]

Hello

I was having an issue with my new laptop's microphone so I reinstalled the audio driver. This was a bad idea. I cannot get my computers sound quality to where it was before and have spent the last hour downloading and installing a variety of different driver versions and restarting my PC. I have the HP Envy Touch-Screen Laptop with Bang & Olufsen speakers. The sound quality was before, superb. I would have the volume below 50% and it was very loud. Now the volume is on 100% and still plays softer then it used to at 50% and the sound quality is miserable in comparison. 

I downloaded and reinstalled the latest driver, Conexant High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver (Windows 10 v1607) off of the official HP driver page but it does not repair the situation.

Appreciate your support.

Tim

[DavidSMP]

Hi @SirClock,

Thanks for stopping by the HP Support Forums! 🙂 Good day.  I read your post about audio issues with the computer. I will be delighted to assist you here. 🙂

Stupendous diagnosis and spectacular analysis of the issue before posting.  Kudos to you on that score. It is always a privilege to work with technical specialists like you. 🙂

We greatly value your relationship with HP. You are a valued HP customer and we appreciate you greatly for doing business with HP. I take it as a privilege to share this platform with you.

Please try to roll back the driver from device manager using this link: http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03540049

There is an associated video included. Follow the steps from the option “Rolling back a driver from Device Manager”

Then check how this works.

Otherwise, please uninstall the audio driver by following these steps:

• Right-Click on start button> click device manager> expand display adapters>then select the display drivers that are listed and right-click on it and uninstall the drivers.
• Check the box that states delete the software for this device.
• Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Then use these steps to reinstall the original audio drivers  from recovery manager via this link: “HP PCs - Using Recovery Manager to Restore Software and Drivers (Windows 10)”: http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04762483

This should do the trick for you.

Hope this helps.  Let me know how this goes. I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. 🙂  Please reach out for any issues and I'll be there to assist you. 🙂

You could also turn off windows updates for now. to install for windows 10 as this does not happen again.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[DavidSMP]

Hi @SirClock,

To turn off windows updates for the time being or to use the metered feature please check these steps out.

Option 1: Stop The Windows Update Service

As central as it is to the core of Windows 10, Windows Update is actually just another Windows process so it can be stopped with these simple steps:

1. Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: services.msc and press enter
2. From the Services list which appears find the Windows Update service and open it
3. In ‘Startup Type’ (under the ‘General’ tab) change it to ‘Disabled’
4. Restart

To re-enable Windows Update simply repeat these four steps, but change the Startup Type to ‘Automatic’

Option 2: Setup A Metered Connection

Windows 10 offers users on metered connections a compromise: to save bandwidth Microsoft confirms  the operating system will only automatically download and install updates it classifies as ‘Priority’.

While Microsoft doesn’t reveal its method of classification, this does cut down more frivolous updates which typically include new drivers and software features - both of which could cause stability issues.

1. Open the Settings app (Win + I)
2. Open the ‘Network & Internet’ section
3. Open ‘Wi-Fi’ and click ‘Advanced Options’
4. Toggle ‘Set as metered connection’ to ‘On’

Note: If your PC uses an Ethernet cable to connect to the Internet the Metered Connection option will be disabled as it works with Wi-Fi connections only. 

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[DavidSMP]

Hi @SirClock,

Please keep me posted.

Thanks and have a great day. 🙂

[SirClock]

Hi David. Thanks for your reply.

I cannot roll back this driver because the 'Roll Back Driver...' button is dimmed. It has been like this since the first time I reinstalled the driver. I also do not have any system restore points because I just purchased the computer and I did  not realize that it came with system restore turned off... 

[DavidSMP · Accepted solution]

Hi @SirClock,

I reviewed the reply comprehensively Thanks for the super quick response. So if the rollback of the driver is greyed out and you are not able to do it then the only option left is to back up all your required information to a flash drive or an external hard drive and perform a complete system recovery to factory settings.

Before performing system recovery please try these steps:

Solution 1:

• Right-click the speaker icon in the Taskbar and select 'Playback Devices'.
• Left click the default device once to highlight it ( it's usually 'speakers & headphones' ) then click the Properties button.
• Click the Enhancements tab and put a tick in the box next to 'Loudness Equalization'.
• Click Apply to save the change and then click OK in all remaining windows and see if this has helped at all.

Solution 2:

• Right-click the speaker icon in the Taskbar and select 'Playback Devices'.
• Select the Communications tab up the top.
• By default ‘when windows detects communications activity’ is set to ‘Reduce the volume of other sounds by 80%’.
• Change this to ‘Do nothing’.
• Press OK.

Link for system recovery:  http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04758961 Please follow the option "Recovery when Windows 10 does not start correctly"

After a recovery, please disable windows automatic updates by following the steps from my previous post. Trust me I've done all I can to help by keeping your best interest in mind. I hope the unit works great and stays healthy for a long time.:)

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

You take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and do have a blessed year ahead. 🙂

[SirClock]

Solution 1: There is no checkboxes under the enhancements tab

Solution 2: No effect.

So I suppose I don't have a choice but to factory reset. I will give that a try.

[DavidSMP]

Hi @SirClock,

I reviewed the post. You've done some great troubleshooting with your profound technical expertise. Hats off to you on that score.:).

As a team, we've tried everything at our disposal. Please backup your files and perform an HP system recovery and not a windows factory reset.

Also, disable automatic updates once that is done. This should do the trick for you.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

You take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and do have a blessed year ahead. 🙂

[SirClock]

Ok so I've  used the HP system recovery to reinstall everything and did not use windows update. The sound quality is now significantly restored. Thanks for your support!

[DavidSMP]

Hi @SirClock,

I reviewed the post. Great job on running the recovery. Do not use windows update here.

Try these steps:

• Right-Click on start button> click device manager> expand sound video and game controllers>then select the sound drivers and right-click on it and uninstall the audio drivers. 
• Now try to update the bios, chipset and audio drivers directly from http://hp.com/drivershttp://hp.com/drivers
• Please keep me posted about it.

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

You take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and do have a blessed year ahead. 🙂