Question Audio not working on Windows 11

[dpcman]

I'm using Windows 11 64 bit with on board Realtek audio on an ASUS Prime B450M - A MB.
The sound through external speakers has recently stopped working (not even a beep).
If I open Windows in Safe mode all works well but not in normal mode.
I've loaded the most recent drivers from the ASUS website and updated the BIOS but to no avail.
I also tried with a USB sound card but same problem.
Can anyone help?

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I've loaded the most recent drivers from the ASUS website and updated the BIOS but to no avail.
Please state the BIOS version you're on right now. If you've flashed the BIOS to the latest version, did you clear the CMOS? As for the audio drivers, did you uninstall the driver from Device Manager, without rebooting, reinstall the latest audio driver in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

also tried with a USB sound card but same problem

what do you mean by, "USB sound card"?

an audio output device that connects to the system via USB but offers a 3.5mm output jack?
or a PCIe soundcard that outputs audio through USB?

sound through external speakers has recently stopped working

how are these speakers connected;
3.5mm, etc..?

do headphones work through the case front I/O?

 

[dpcman]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I've loaded the most recent drivers from the ASUS website and updated the BIOS but to no avail.
Please state the BIOS version you're on right now. If you've flashed the BIOS to the latest version, did you clear the CMOS? As for the audio drivers, did you uninstall the driver from Device Manager, without rebooting, reinstall the latest audio driver in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator?

Thanks for your response.
Yes I've done all of the above.

 

[dpcman]

what do you mean by, "USB sound card"?

an audio output device that connects to the system via USB but offers a 3.5mm output jack?
or a PCIe soundcard that outputs audio through USB?

how are these speakers connected;
3.5mm, etc..?

do headphones work through the case front I/O?

Yes. It is a USB output device which connects via 3.5 to the external speakers.
But problem is the same with the on board audio.
Works only in safe mode.

 

[dpcman]

Thanks for your response.
Yes I've done all of the above.

And the BIOS version is 4604 dated March this year.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

It is a USB output device which connects via 3.5 to the external speakers.

what device? include make & model.
and have you installed all available drivers/software pertaining to said device?

is it recognized by the system as a sound output device?
check in Control Panel > Sound and provide us a screenshot of that and Device Manager.

also,

do headphones work through the case front I/O?

or do the speakers work when plugged into front panel?

 

[KingLoki]

HI, you could try
1. MSCONFIG and go to Selective Startup - then Untick (Load Startup Items) then re-boot
2. If no sucess re-tick Startup Items and Untick (Load System Services) then re-boot

This might narrow down if it is either of these groups, then troubleshoot from there. Cheers

 

[dpcman]

HI, you could try
1. MSCONFIG and go to Selective Startup - then Untick (Load Startup Items) then re-boot
2. If no sucess re-tick Startup Items and Untick (Load System Services) then re-boot

This might narrow down if it is either of these groups, then troubleshoot from there. Cheers

Thanks for that suggestion.
It worked but when I rebooted, I got the blue screen and had to recover windows from recovery disk.
So more work to do but I'm probably on the right track.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

got the blue screen and had to recover windows from recovery disk

after these BDOD your facing the system becomes unusable?
why exactly do you need to do a System Recovery?

you may just be facing some OS corruption.
you can try repairing the OS with DISM & SFC functions.
look up which specific commands to use and run through PowerShell or cmd prompt.

if that doesn't seem to help
you may just need a fresh OS install

How To - Windows 11 clean install tutorial

Windows 11 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows 11, version 23H2 or newer but can be equally applied to earlier versions which may have some basic differences in the screens you see but will largely remain similar in...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[dpcman]

after these BDOD your facing the system becomes unusable?
why exactly do you need to do a System Recovery?

you may just be facing some OS corruption.
you can try repairing the OS with DISM & SFC functions.
look up which specific commands to use and run through PowerShell or cmd prompt.

if that doesn't seem to help
you may just need a fresh OS install

How To - Windows 11 clean install tutorial

Windows 11 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows 11, version 23H2 or newer but can be equally applied to earlier versions which may have some basic differences in the screens you see but will largely remain similar in...

forums.tomshardware.com

I had to restart Windows from Recovery thumb drive (from BIOS screen) and there is no OS corruption.

 

[dpcman]

I'm using Windows 11 64 bit with on board Realtek audio on an ASUS Prime B450M - A MB.
The sound through external speakers has recently stopped working (not even a beep).
If I open Windows in Safe mode all works well but not in normal mode.
I've loaded the most recent drivers from the ASUS website and updated the BIOS but to no avail.
I also tried with a USB sound card but same problem.
Can anyone help?

Thanks for that suggestion.
It worked but when I rebooted, I got the blue screen and had to recover windows from recovery disk.
So more work to do but I'm probably on the right track.

My earlier problem was when I selected Diagnostic instead of Selected startup in MSConfig.
When I used Selective startup (as you suggested) and cleared Load System Services and restart, Windows opens but all the items in the right hand side of the Task Bar are not showing (ie Sound, time, Internet etc).
Control Panel Sound tells me I have no audio installed, so I enable Audio from Services.msc and the sound works.
So now I have sound but not the more important bits (like Internet).
I guess I need to work through disabling every service one at a time and restarting each time to see what happens.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

I had to restart Windows from Recovery thumb drive

but, why?
from a BSoD the worst option would normally be having to manually power down and start again.

there is no OS corruption...

I enable Audio from Services.msc and the sound works

and how have you determined this?

looks like there is to me.

check in Control Panel > Sound and provide us a screenshot of that and Device Manager.

do you need help capturing screen shots and uploading for view in the thread?

 

[dpcman]

My earlier problem was when I selected Diagnostic instead of Selected startup in MSConfig.
When I used Selective startup (as you suggested) and cleared Load System Services and restart, Windows opens but all the items in the right hand side of the Task Bar are not showing (ie Sound, time, Internet etc).
Control Panel Sound tells me I have no audio installed, so I enable Audio from Services.msc and the sound works.
So now I have sound but not the more important bits (like Internet).
I guess I need to work through disabling every service one at a time and restarting each time to see what happens.

Further to that, it appears that the problem is being caused by a MS service of which there seems to be more than 100. So the idea of disabling one at a time and restarting each time would take forever.
Does anyone have a clue as to which MS services could be causing the problem?

 

[dpcman]

but, why?
from a BSoD the worst option would normally be having to manually power down and start again.

and how have you determined this?

looks like there is to me.

do you need help capturing screen shots and uploading for view in the thread?

Thanks John.
The restarting problem was caused by the Diagnostic Startup option which I see is a not uncommon issue and which can only be resolved by recovery reboot which I did.
Everything works fine except audio as mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
The devices are all recognized and most recent drivers are loaded from the relevant manufacturers sites.
It is a MS Service causing the problem but I can't figure out which one (see previous thread).

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

It is a MS Service causing the problem but I can't figure out which one

and why would one of the OS system services be causing you issue if the OS is functioning as it should?

it wouldn't.
so corruption would be the likely cause.

 

[dpcman]

and why would one of the OS system services be causing you issue if the OS is functioning as it should?

it wouldn't.
so corruption would be the likely cause.

So you are suggesting that because one of the 700 odd MS Services is causing a problem then the operating system is 'corrupt' even though sfc, DSIM etc have found no problem?
I'm afraid I can't agree with you.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

you are suggesting that because one of the 700 odd MS Services is causing a problem then the operating system is 'corrupt'

and why would you imagine that this single service has all of a sudden started causing you issue(s)?

if you aren't taking proper precautions and keeping regular backups then i would see why you may be resistant to a fresh install, but you don't seem to be making much progress in finding a permanent solution to your problem.

 

[stonecarver]

Have you made sure in the control panel under sound that your output for audio has not defaulted to digital HDMI only. That would be a reason the 3.5 mini pin audio out is not sending sound to speakers.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Have you made sure in the control panel under sound that your output for audio has not defaulted to digital HDMI only. That would be a reason the 3.5 mini pin audio out is not sending sound to speakers.

OP claims they have already tried a "USB sound card" and still had no audio.
though they have repeatedly failed to offer any more information relating to the device or it's installation.

also have failed to provide any info related to, or screenshots of, their Sound or Device Manager windows.

 

[dpcman]

Have you made sure in the control panel under sound that your output for audio has not defaulted to digital HDMI only. That would be a reason the 3.5 mini pin audio out is not sending sound to speakers.

 

[dpcman]

Have you made sure in the control panel under sound that your output for audio has not defaulted to digital HDMI only. That would be a reason the 3.5 mini pin audio out is not sending sound to speakers.

Thanks for your response. Yes I have checked that.
Both outputs work fine when services are not loaded but both fail when they are.

 

[dpcman]

and why would you imagine that this single service has all of a sudden started causing you issue(s)?

if you aren't taking proper precautions and keeping regular backups then i would see why you may be resistant to a fresh install, but you don't seem to be making much progress in finding a permanent solution to your problem.

In my 34 years developing commercial software, I have learnt (among other things) not to underestimate the knowledge or intelligence of people who ask for help.
Your comments and your attitude are unhelpful.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Your comments and your attitude are unhelpful.

and you don't seem to really want to find a proper solution.

just to be justified in your idea of what the problem actually is, which doesn't seem to be working out for you.

 

[dpcman]

Further to that, it appears that the problem is being caused by a MS service of which there seems to be more than 100. So the idea of disabling one at a time and restarting each time would take forever.
Does anyone have a clue as to which MS services could be causing the problem?

Problem solved for anyone who might be interested.
When enabled all services and then disabled the Remote Desktop Service in Selective Startup from MS Config, all audio works fine. Took a bit of time to identify the culprit, but was worthwhile in the end.
And Remote Desktop which I use daily with clients also still works.
I have no idea why RD should affect the audio component of my PC, but there it is.
Thanks to those who offered help.