[SOLVED] Weird Audio Issue - - - Volume can't be controlled by Win10

[zeriasis]

Win 10 Education Version 1909 (OS build 18.363)

I have a issue that I need to reach out to you good folks to help me figure out. It is giving me a run for my money.

I noticed a few days ago I was no longer able to control my audio from my keyboard.
When I mute the computer it shows me it's muted but it doesn't mute I can turn the volume up and down and it will not do anything. Even when I manually try to change the volume or mute it from the Task area it does nothing.
I can however control the audio from the application itself. Whether it be Spotify or Youtube in the browser.
I can open the list of application volume control and turn the master volume all the way down and it not affect it. If I turn the volume down from the application itself on that menu manually instead of with the master control it will turn it down. Which is what I find the weirdest part. I feel I am overlooking something simple but I can't figure this out. Can someone please help me.

It seems like a setting is enabled to separate volume from apps and win10 but The master volume should still turn it off when turned down.

Steps I have taken.

1. Restarted the computer
2. Ran a SFC and a DISM
3. Ran Win10 Troubleshooter
4. Uninstalled and re-installed Drivers
5. Restarted Services for Audio
6. Restarted windows explorer
7. Tried different speakers and headsets
8. Closed all running programs including Audio Manager programs
9. Made sure drivers were up to date
10. Made sure windows is up to date

 

[Colif]

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

 

[zeriasis]

Thank you for the suggestion Colif.

I just performed the clean boot and it changed nothing besides my computer start up time. It was noticeably quicker.
I'm losing hope that it can be fixed without just re-installing windows.

Any other suggestions?

 

[onespeedbiker]

Check to see if some application loaded it's own audio drivers (nVidia loads it's 3D audio drivers). Open the device manager and see what drivers are loaded under Sounds, video.. devices

 

[Colif]

True, I have had Nvidia replace my sound drivers before.

One way to sort of see if that is case is also load into safe mode as only Microsoft drivers would work in there.

You haven't by any chance used 3rd party driver updating software have you?

 

[zeriasis]

So I checked all of my drivers for audio they are all signed by Microsoft.
I will try to do the Safe mode boot here soon and see if that changes anything as well.

I only use Dragon Center to keep my drivers up to date. I'm a fan of the MSI boards. I tend to use whatever proprietary software they provide to keep everything up to date.

 

[zeriasis]

I booted it into safemode and it will not play audio through my monitor. It is only trying to play through "Speakers (RealTek(R) Audio)".
Would also not let me change either it thought it wasn't connected because it was in safe mode.

 

[onespeedbiker]

Go to the Device Manager and disable the realtek driver.

 

[zeriasis]

It was disabled at one point or another during troubleshooting steps.
For some reason I still don't know why, it is now working. Everything is back to being enabled and everything is set to start up how it was originally.

Thank you everyone for your assistance but I'm not sure what happened. A damn glitch in the Matrix.