Windows 11 Audio Drives & Conexant Error (ProBook 640 G2)

[AnotherJonny]

Hey experts! Having issues as always, currently on new build windows 11 - the windows updater seems to make a mess the moment you connect to wifi and it goes into driver-download-mode.

"Failed to create Conexant Audio Factory,The SmartAudio will now exit"

1. is it still important to install drivers in the right order?

2. Is conexant a realtek thing, related to the Intel HD Audio, that's only used with HDMI, if ever?

I have this working on this machine on this OS version, on builds with issues, so starting on fresh windows install, and getting issues (suspected cause: windows update!)

Windows Update / HP Support Assistant provided Conexant 9.0.232.90 , but 

- the DTC control panel doesn't work (only works for me on windows 10)

3. Does anyone know in "DTC Smart Audio" control panel works on windows 11? (Please include driver versions)

- Even after removing Conexant, attempting diagnostics with HP support tool and windows update show/hide and update diagnostics, and then resorting to manual install of latest via link* am still getting conexant error 

* https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp111001-111500/sp111438.exe

4. Do I have to go to realtek to try find working drivers / config for this?

About to reboot as prompted by more system changes, but would be great to know if there's a correct driver config, and if DTC smart audio control panel can still work (on win11 pro, 64-bit obviously:  )

Thanks!

[AnotherJonny]

UPDATE: I restarted after I thought I'd ran the latest, but only Intel other "Intel(R) Display Audio" was in device manager, so I ran an auto-update driver, and again it's reported

In device details the driver version is the same as the one I've seen on my other machine - 9.0.232.90

(although the smart audio control panel doesn't work on that one either)

Another reboot required, restarting and still getting annoying popup!

As a punt I jumped into running tasks in taskschd.msc and ended the mictray, but still getting that popup from that smartaudio! The task icon is registered in task bar, in case anyone recognises (still TBC if it's Intel / Realtek / HP / working on windows 11)

As another punt I did a regedit-hunt for smartaudio, seen in a few places

!Win. Doze! Die! Agnostics

Will leave there for now unless any significant developments.