Windows 10 Sound Device Settings Keep Changing

[Brian154]

First off, I was using a 6 year old Lenovo notebook, running Windows 10 64 bit (updated from Win8). The internal speakers and microphone were set as the default speaker playback and microphone recording devices. A USB Sennheiser headset was set as the default communications device but would play audio and the mic was active when it was plugged in for video conferencing.  I frequently use another USB sound device that has an audio codec and had the latest driver installed. The USB sound device was never set as a default playback - recording speaker or communications device. For proper operation the USB sound device must NOT be the default sound device and USB playback and recording levels have to be set to specific levels. The sound settings were completely stable; once set they did not change! But the 6 year old laptop was getting painfully slow to boot up and open applications.

I purchased a new HP OMEN 15-en0023dx notebook and installed Windows and the subsequent driver updates with the latest sound drivers. I also installed (what is still) the latest driver for USB sound device from the mfg's website. Windows with this HP Omen hardware keeps changing the Default Sound Device to the USB sound device and changes the speaker level to 100% when I turn it on. I tried the Virtual Assistant that (re)installed the latest sound driver but Windows still changes the sound settings.

I have Googled the problem and see it's not just me having this issue.  The "solution" (not) from MS is consistently "update the USB sound device driver". I don't understand if I am running Win10-64 on both notebooks, why the Lenovo notebook sound settings remain where they are set but the HP changes the settings.  How can I make the HP sound settings remain where they are set???