HP Omen 16-c0020ca - no audio with realtek drivers (works with default microsoft ones)

[chaugh]

Need some help with audio - hoping to avoid a windows re-install.

My problem is my speakers only work with microsoft default drivers.

This causes realtek audio console and HP Omen Audio control to show "Realtek Audio console doesnt support for this machine".  Also, the mute LED no longer functions.

However, if I install realtek drivers (whether it is from HP's site or whatever latest version is), it installs fine.  Realtek audio console opens fine as well as Omen Audio control.  However, no audio comes from the speakers.

I googled and there was a few related questions but no solution.  I also tried the detect my drivers on HP's site but it says all drivers are up to date.

[Velma41Abbott]

Hello,

Especially when both the drivers and audio control software seem to be in a weird state of limbo. It seems like your system is able to recognize the Realtek drivers when installed, but there's something preventing the actual audio from being output to the speakers. This could be due to a few different things, including driver conflicts, incorrect settings, or issues with the audio hardware itself.

One interesting angle here could be that the issue may stem from an incompatibility between the Realtek drivers and your specific HP Omen model. The fact that the speakers work with the Microsoft default drivers but not with the Realtek ones suggests that something in the Realtek driver installation might be misconfigured or conflicting with your system’s audio subsystem. Given that the Omen Audio control and Realtek Audio Console show up fine when you install the drivers, but no audio is output, it might point to either a settings issue or a deeper Ingreso Solidario software conflict.

Here are a few ideas to potentially troubleshoot the issue:

Uninstall Realtek Drivers Completely: Use a driver uninstaller tool (like Display Driver Uninstaller, which also supports audio drivers) to completely remove any remnants of Realtek drivers. Then, let Windows reinstall the generic Microsoft audio drivers. If the Microsoft drivers work, it could help isolate whether the problem is specific to Realtek drivers.

Test in Clean Boot: Try booting the PC in a clean boot state (disable all non-essential startup programs and services) to rule out any software conflicts that might be affecting the Realtek drivers.

Check Audio Output Settings: Even with Realtek drivers installed, it’s worth checking the sound settings in the Realtek Audio Console or Windows itself to ensure the correct output device is selected. Sometimes, drivers can get confused about which device is being used, especially if multiple devices are available.

Windows Update & Audio Troubleshooter: Run the Windows Audio Troubleshooter again (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot), as it can sometimes resolve audio conflicts. Also, check if there are any outstanding Windows updates that might be affecting the driver compatibility.

Driver Rollback: If the issue started after a specific driver update, you could try rolling back to a previous version of the Realtek driver (if available) through Device Manager, which might help restore functionality.

BIOS/UEFI Update: In rare cases, outdated BIOS firmware can cause issues with hardware drivers. Check if there’s a newer BIOS update available for your HP Omen, which could potentially address compatibility with the Realtek drivers.