Audio not working after Windows 10 1903 Update - Tried everything!

[gargovich]

Second time this is happening guys, and I'm really frustrated this time around.

Everything was working fine, until I got a pop-up that said I need to update my WIndows coz the previous version will stop receiving support. I was postponing the update for a while, just to make sure all bugs are fixed before I attempt it. Now I did the update, and BAM! Audio not working. There's a RED cross on my audio symbol in the taskbar tray. Below is what I've done so far to rectify the issue:

-Gone to Device Manager - tried to update drivers. Under 'SOUND', there is only Intel Display Audio, JBL Flip Hands-Free, JBL Flip Stereo, NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device. Under 'OTHER DEVICES', there is Intel High Definition Audio. Now this has a yellow triangle with an exclamation enclosed right at the bottom of the icon. When I try to 'Update drivers' it says not able to. I tried Uninstalling, then restarted my laptop, there it appears with the same issue.

-Tried to manually download and install the latest version available Graphic Drivers; my laptop uses Intel HD Graphics 630. Couldn't install coz wrong version for my laptop. Well dang.

-Read up on a bunch of instructions involving BIOS. I'm not confident enough to do that stuff, so ignored it.

-Tried to go to Realtek website and download latest audio drivers. Downloads not available and site has changed from what the instructions tell me.

Last time this issue happening, towards start of this year, after the previous update, I got on the HP website and did a Live Chat. They fixed my issue promptly by screen sharing. If only I could remember what they did!

This time, I'm not able to do the same, because HP asks to check my warranty, and warranty has expired as of November last year. So I'm pretty much stuck in rut.

I would prefer NOT to roll back the update.

I'm NOT able to rollback the Intel HD Audio driver. Option is blacked out.

Can somebody help?

I'm using an HP Omen 15 ce0xx - i7700HQ, Geforce 1050Ti, 16GB RAM, x64 based OS.

[Echo_Lake]

@gargovich
Thank you for posting on the HP Support Community.

I have a few troubleshooting steps we could try to fix the issue:  

Perform Windows Update and HP Support Assistant:

To check for updates now, select the Start button, and then go to Settings  > Update & security  > Windows Update, and select Check for updates.

Install updates from HP Support Assistant: Go to Download HP Support Assistant to install the tool.

1. To open HP Support Assistant, double-click the HP Support Assistant icon .
2. Click My devices in the top menu, and then click Updates in the My PC or My notebook pane.
3. Click Check for updates and messages to scan for new updates.
4. Review the list of updates. Updates with a yellow information icon are recommended. Updates with a blue information icon are optional.
5. Click the update name for a description, version number, and file size.
6. Select the box next to any updates you want to install, and then click Download and install.

Use the troubleshooting tool in Windows

The audio troubleshooting tool in Windows can automatically fix common audio recording and audio playback problems with your computer. Run the troubleshooting tool using the following steps:

• In Windows, type find and fix audio into Search, or right-click the speaker icon  in the taskbar and select Troubleshoot sound problems.
• Select Find and fix audio playback problems or Find and fix audio recording problems from the Search results.
• Click Next.
• Select the device you want to troubleshoot and click Next.
• Wait while the troubleshooter detects problems and makes changes (or prompts you to make changes).
• When the troubleshooter is done, the Troubleshooting has completed page is displayed, listing any problems found and what changes were made to the computer.
• Click Close.
• If a recommended action is displayed, select Apply this fix.

Restoring the audio driver in HP Recovery Manager:

1. In Windows, search for and open Recovery Manager.
2. Click Reinstall drivers and/or applications.
3. Select the audio driver in the list, and then click Install.
4. Wait for the driver to reinstall. When the installation is complete, click OK.
5. Close HP Recovery Manager and then restart your computer.
6. Test for sound. If the audio problem persists after reinstalling the driver, try updating the driver using Device Manager.

Updating the audio driver using Device Manager:

Make sure the audio device is enabled and then update the audio driver using Device Manager as follows:

1. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.
2. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
3. If a sound device is listed with a down arrow, the device is disabled. Right-click the sound device name and select Enable to re-enable the device.
4. With the sound device enabled, right-click the sound device and select Update Driver Software.
5. Click Search automatically for updated driver software.
6. Windows checks for and installs any updated drivers found. The window displays whether the computer already has the latest available driver or if Windows was able to successfully update the audio driver.
7. If a window opens asking you to restart the computer, restart the computer.
8. Test for sound. If the audio problem persists after updating the driver, continue to the next step.

If you completed these steps and the latest driver was already installed, use the following steps to uninstall and then reinstall the driver:

1. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.
2. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click the sound device and select Uninstall.
4. Restart the computer to reinstall the driver.
5. Test for sound. If the audio problem persists after reinstalling the driver, continue to the next step.
   BIOS Update: Follow steps from the link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c00042629

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

[gargovich · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply!!

First few points did not help. Especially HP Recovery Manager was not working after update.

However I did finally open my HP Support Assistant, and that made some difference. I was finally able to update a ton of drivers and software. Unfortunately, even this was NOT the final fix I was looking for.

After consulting with a computer engineer buddy of mine, it was a super simple fix in the end. 

• Open Device Manager (Open the start menu, type Device Manager and press enter) and select System Devices (close to the end of the list).
• Locate Intel Smart Sound Technology driver (SST).
• Right-click and select Update Driver from the pop-up menu.
• Choose browse my computer for driver software and then Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer and select High Definition Audio.
• Click Next.
• Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) driver will disappear and you should have Audio back.

As seen on: https://mspoweruser.com/how-to-fix-the-no-audio-output-device-is-installed-error-after-the-windows-1...

[Echo_Lake]

@gargovich

Thank you for posting back. 

I am glad to know that you managed to resolve the issue. Please reach out again for any further assistance.

I appreciate your efforts to try and resolve the issue and thank you for finding the solution this will really help our community to resolve similar Audio related issue.

Have a nice day ahead.
 

[MrChigen]

Tried the same thing. Hope I did it right. Got audio back but it sounds off, if that makes sense. I'm back to RealTek. I now see that SSI is supposed to disappear. Hoping for a 1903 update to the HD drivers sometime in the near future.