Missing or corrupted Audio drivers after an OS update

[cemster]

Hello,


So my latest windows trauma happened right after the last windows 8.1 64 bit based update. Although I have to admit there may be some other software installations that may have something to do with all this...


After the installation and reboot none of the drivers in 'sound, video and game controllers' were working! They were all there but they all had a yellow '?' sitting on them...



(I had more drivers than what the picture said. Two of my monitors had audio so they had drivers, plus I had a couple of virtual Midi cable programs which carry audio drivers.) Plus Realtek HD Audio driver...



For my first attempt to trouble shooting sound problem suggested that I might be able to fix my problem by reinstalling the driver for High Definition Audio Devices.. (I presumed that this must be Realtec that came with my ASUS P9X79 WS)


So I select 'apply this fix' knowing that this can't be that easy...
The result was, HD Audio Device had a driver problem: 'NOT FIXED!'


A further analyzing the device status came up with this:
"Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)


So I removed the Acer, Phillips and Virtual cable drivers and I uninstalled and reinstalled these drivers: the Realtek and RME.
RME had no problem through out the installing process but had no effect on the problem what so ever...
Realtek on the other hand came up with a new error code:
Realtek HD driver could not be Installed !! Error Code: 0x000000FF

(Realtek HD Audio Driver Setup 6.0.1.7058)


So now I have no audio driver listed in my Sound Tab
I tried few stuff from googling like the error codes and no audio problems related stuff, but no dice!


Should I kill myself now or a little later?


PS Google was NOT my friend what so ever... That's why I am here...

Thank you
C

 

[fireberd]

I have a recording studio (Sonar Platinum and an MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid).

First thing I would do is reinstall the Intel Motherboard Chipset drivers. One of the things the chipset drivers do is identify all the devices on the motherboard. If the chipset drivers were corrupt devices such as the Realtek sound could not be installed.

You should also disconnect the RME and any other sound device while you focus on getting the Realtek working.

 

[cemster]

Thanks for the hand fireberd...
I have done all the preliminary work as a lay man can do. That involved pretty much reinstalling everything except bios & OS, which is updated to their neck... I suppose....
And RME was off at all times.


The failed Realtek reinstall was part of that adventure... Incidentally I forgot to mention that Realtek HD Audio Driver despite the failed message, appear to be installed in Programs and registry but after showing up Device Manager it disappears later on!

I believe the problem is in ... Internal High definition Audio Bus which is a Microsoft driver... Hence the Code 19 error...
That's why I can't install Realtek properly, and that's why all the other drivers stopped working! But I don't know how to get around those Windows Internal High definition Audio Bus drivers..... I did the 'Uninstall' and then 'scan for hardware changes' bit in Device Manager...
But it doesn't go away! In Device Manager/ Details tab The Problem code is '00000013' But none of the remedies I found on web helped...

 

[fireberd]

The Microsoft/Windows "HIgh Definiton Audio" drivers install on compatible sound when the hardware drivers (e.g. Realtek) are not installed. Normally, when the correct driver is installed it takes the place of the High Definition drivers.

Have you tried the High Definition drivers direct from Realtek? If not give that a shot. One of the causes of a 13 error is "type mismatch" which could be the driver. Download the R.279 High Definiton driver.
Realtek



When you uninstall, you need to restart the PC, not just scan for hardware changes, as the same problem can arise.

 

[cemster]

But I always had them in the Driver manager list together... Or at least I thought I always had tej together! Maybe they start to show up together after the problem arises I am not sure...
I am in the process of doing just that. I was backed up before because the realtek site warns you about:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]"Audio drivers available for download from the Realtek website are general drivers for our audio ICs, and may not offer the customization made by your system/motherboard manufacturer. To be sure you obtain the full features/customization provided in your original audio product, please download the latest drivers from your system/motherboard manufacturer's website."[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]But I am going to try to install those. And of course I always restart after an install or uninstall process..

Thank you by the way..[/FONT]

 

[fireberd]

The drivers from Realtek are OK. I have them installed in my PC. That's just a general statement to cover themselves if it doesn't work.
There are open links in this forum, the Win 7 forum and the Win 10 forum for these Realtek drivers.

 

[cemster]

I did uninstall reboot install Realtek (from the Realtek site) The different outcome was that the Realtek installed without an error like it did with ASUS version... But there is still no audio. Another difference is that
All the other Microsoft items disappeared from the Device Manager Sound and game controllers... Unlike the first picture above, this one has two drivers. Realtek High Definition Audio and High definition Audio Device... Which is suppose to disappear after a third party Audio driver installed. In this case Realtek.

Another difference was the version of the drivers.
From ASUS the version reads: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Setup (3.76) 6.0.1.7058 x64 Edition
From Realtek site it reads: Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Setup (4.27) R2.79

Although I manage the install Realtek without am error,

I'm still getting the same code 19 error pointing Internal HD Audio Device...

 

[fireberd]

I wonder if the Code 19 is for HDMI Audio?
Also, make sure "Speakers" (Realtek) are set as default audio playback device (when the RME is not connected).

 

[cemster]

Code 19 comes when When I double click on both drivers. I get 'Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)'

When you right click on speaker icon and select Troubleshoot Sound Problems and then when it says: "There is a problem with the driver 'High Definition Audio Device'. Reinstalling Audio Device might fix this problem." And of course it doesn't!

and this is the picture of my Audio Playback Devices...

Nothing to select!

 

[fireberd]

If you feel up to it, there are several suggestions in this thread from the Microsoft forum. It involves the Registry and upper and/or lower filters for the Realtek.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-working/9a74aa46-dd7a-4e89-964a-f19f4fce1b24

Bottom line, unfortunately it may take a complete new ("clean") install to get everything working.

 

[cemster]

Thank you for the link I am still working on it.