Audio manager stops working, and essentially breaks comp

[Cain]

Hello,

For as long as I can remember, I've had an issue where audio manager will stop working, and it will break the entire computer. Once audio manager stops, anything requiring audio ceases to work, including games. When I press the mute/unmute button on my keyboard, the taskbar will freeze up and become unresponsive.

I've figured out a "solution", which involves leaving a game open the entire time I'm using the computer. If I close the game, sometimes audio manager dies instantly. Other times it takes a few minutes. There are times where audio manager dies when I start up the computer for the first time in the day, forcing me to restart.

There's no viruses, as I've done several scans...I have no clue what the issue could be.

I'm using a Lenovo ideapad U530 touch.

 

[fireberd]

Look at what is in startup (and the notification area - lower right). Maybe a program that is starting is causing it.

Unfortunately, it may take a "clean" reinstall to fix it.

 

[Cain]

Look at what is in startup (and the notification area - lower right). Maybe a program that is starting is causing it.

Unfortunately, it may take a "clean" reinstall to fix it.

I don't think it's necessarily a start up specific problem. It can happen at any point if I exit out of a game. It's as if my laptop is relying on games to keep audio manager working.

 

[fireberd]

I've seen games cause various problems when they are exited. Poorly written games may not release the audio, for example and thus after the game there is no audio.

 

[Cain]

I've seen games cause various problems when they are exited. Poorly written games may not release the audio, for example and thus after the game there is no audio.

None of the games I've used have been poorly written or had said issue. It seems to just be something on mine.

 

[fireberd]

Does this happen if you do not play any games?

 

[Cain]

Does this happen if you do not play any games?

Yes it does. What seems to trigger this is if any type of app that uses audio is opened, such as a browser tab that has Youtube.

 

[fireberd]

Still sounds like whatever app is using sound is not releasing it.
What browser are you using? I.E. 11 or some other such as Chrome or Firefox?

 

[Cain]

Still sounds like whatever app is using sound is not releasing it.
What browser are you using? I.E. 11 or some other such as Chrome or Firefox?

I use both FireFox and Opera.

If they aren't releasing sound, how do I force it to?