Audio Not Working, Sound Device is Being Used By Another Application

[viktoriagrindle]

UPDATE!! I uninstalled the CODEC but when I uninstalled it I was careful NOT to select the "remove all software" option in the uninstall. I restarted my computer. I opened the device manager and found the spot where the IDT CODEC was before. I right clicked there and selected "scan for changes in hardware". It reinstalled the IDT CODEC however I believe it might perhaps be an updated version because my audio is working good now... even when my computer goes to sleep and I open it again the audio is still working. I will let you know if it cops out again in which I will try a different solution. 

[garyg45]

The latest version for the IDT High Definition Audio CODEC driver for my ENVY 4-1215dx laptop is 2012-12-12 Version 6.10.6433.0.  I don't know if HP uses the same driver in most of their PCs.  Some research I've done for drivers in general has mentioned corrupted drivers.  The only way to fix it is what you have done, uninstall the driver and reinstall it.  I hope the sound continues to work for you.  If it does, the uninstall/reinstall process will probably be my next step.

[viktoriagrindle]

Yes it has been working really well so far. My computer has been restarted and has gone in and out of sleep. Both of which led to sound loss previously and does not lead to sound loss anymore. I would tentatively say this is the workaround/solution. However, my computer did have an unexpected shutdown this afternoon, which when I looked at the details included a blue screen. I have had this happen a few times and have not been able to find the solution. After this audio problem I attributed it to the corrupted IDT driver, but now I am not so sure. 

[viktoriagrindle]

Fishstix. My audio copped out again. I can tell because Youtube videos won't load either as if it is somehow affecting the internet connection.... anyway I closed my browser, opened up the device manager and found IDT CODEC, selected scan for hardware changes, opened the browser up again and it's working. Not sure if I should all out try to permanently remove this freakin' IDT audio from my laptop or not... 

[kew33]

I decided not to play with the drivers or anything else that everyone on multiple threads have been trying. The common denominator is the MS update on HP laptops. I simply used system restore to go back to before my last windows update and then disabled automatic updates. Laptop has been working fine (no audio loss, no network dropping) for almost 3 days now. Hopefully MS and HP will resolve the issue and I will resume updates.

Maybe I'm simple but I don't have the time to fix this stuff for MS and HP. It seems to be a serious problem. They will have to address it.

[Jonnysax]

WARNING!!! Backup all you files now. Ive been rebooting like everyone else for a while and just yesterday when it restarted I got a blue screen error from guess what... The system file associated with the IDT drivers... then it asked me to restore to a previous point, when I try to do that it just craps out and reboots and it's stuck in this endless loop. My laptop is only like two months old... This is downright horrible.

[sleekpavilion15]

Restoring to before the windows update (only a week ago for me). I think this sounds like the safest solution. I am trying this one and will hope that I avoid the blue screen misery and that my audio and recording returns to normal.
Additionally, I can report that I tried the work around of starting up Windows Media Player and just let it remain open even though I was not using it... That seemed to work for me when I woke up my laptop from sleep (meaning that I did not lose audio and/or recording).

[BigBuds]

Thanks vHawk1.

Leaving the windows media player open and paused on a song is working for now. No sound problems today but they still need to get this fixed soon.

[vhawk1 · Accepted solution]

BigBuds:

SuperMario1 (a HP Techy guru) in another thread on the subject claims that the audio problem was caused by Windows update KB2962407 and states that uninstalling the update (which is easy to do) will solve the problem and should bring the audio back to pre-update.

I followed the steps below and my audio has been working perfectly since.

So here is what you need to do: (note that you need to do step 2 to ensure that the auto windows updater doesn't reinstall the KB2962407 update:

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 Please note that the following troubleshooting is ONLY a workaround, for now.

Uninstalling the Windows Update, then hiding it, is the only method of eliminating the issue if it caused by this update. Here is the procedure for uninstalling the update:

Step1: 

1. Go into Control Panel, then click on “Programs and Features”.

2. Click on “View Installed Updates”. Look for the update with the ID number KB2962407.

3. Right-click on the update and select “Uninstall”. Restart the computer.

Step 2: Next, here is the procedure for hiding the update:

1. Go into Control Panel, then click on “Windows Updates”.

2. Click on “Check for Updates”. When the process is completed, is should find important update(s) available. Clicking on the message will open a window where the important update(s) is.

3. Right-click on the KB2962407 update and select “Hide Update”. This will prevent the update from being installed next time Windows Updates are being installed.

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Good Luck....

[garyg45]

vhawk1,

This sounds like it could be the problem.  One of the fixes included in KB2962407 is 29332648, and it addresses "Shortened battery life when an idle audio device is not turned off on a computer running Windows".  Sounds like Windows is turning off when it shouldn't.  I installed KB2962407 on June 19, which is about the time the problem began for me.