Windows Audio service not running ! But it is ?

I had this problem too. My audio was not working and the volume controls were inactive. Followed these steps as posted earlier and the problem was solved...


1. Click Start, type Services.msc in the Start Search box.
2. Scroll down the list of services, right-click Windows Audio and select Start.
3. Select Properties for Windows Audio and set its Startup Type to Automatic.

If the Windows Audio service does not start and you get the error Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start, then make sure that the following services are started and their Startup Type is set to Automatic.
Plug and Play
Multimedia Class Scheduler
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

I joined the forums because I had this problem for the first time today (3 times today), along with a couple of other little glitches that caused me many headaches.

I realized I had just done some 'registry tweaks'. I fixed it by doing the following.

Windows 7 may occasionally display a symptom where the screen flashes after user optimizes the computer shutdown speed. The symptom happens whenever user selects a folder or browses to new web page, the desktop which supposed to be in the background will jump or bring to front – flash out for a while, and the “Not Responding” error message will display on the top left corner. The problem is probably due to optimization to increase PC shutdown speed and decrease time required to shut down the computer.

The change can be used by Windows optimization utility or technical user who modifies the registry manually. When the setting is changed, Windows 7 may encounter lack of buffer time or other slowness.

To fix the screen flashing issue, follow steps below.

Run Registry Editor, and then delete the following registry keys:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\HungAppTimeOut
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\HungAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillAppTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WaitToKillServiceTimeOut

Restart the computer after deletion, and the screen flashing issue on Windows 7 should be fixed.

Source: Fix Windows 7 Screen Flashes to Desktop with Not Responding Error « My Digital Life

If you don't have all of them, don't worry. I only had HungAppTimeOut and WaitToKillAppTimeOut from the second group.

For your information: By deleting those registry keys, Windows just uses the default values. :)

This fixes the problem "Windows Audio service not running" with the little red "x" as described in this thread.

JACKIETOOLS said:

You can also right click on audio icon and click sounds and then playback. It should show an HDMI cable unplugged from your video card. Simply right click on that and choose disable to correct problem. Only do this if you donot intend to use your HDMI from your video card for sound

Having the same problem I attempted this fix but I do intend to use HDMI only now the option has vanished. How can I reactivate that please?

tim30250 said:

I had this problem too. My audio was not working and the volume controls were inactive. Followed these steps as posted earlier and the problem was solved...


1. Click Start, type Services.msc in the Start Search box.
2. Scroll down the list of services, right-click Windows Audio and select Start.
3. Select Properties for Windows Audio and set its Startup Type to Automatic.

If the Windows Audio service does not start and you get the error Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start, then make sure that the following services are started and their Startup Type is set to Automatic.
Plug and Play
Multimedia Class Scheduler
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

I tried doing the things you have mentioned above, but when I tried starting the two processes (Windows Class Scheduler and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder), I got Error 126: Specific Module Could Not Be Found. My Plug and Play process is running and is set to Automatic. Other two processes are also set to Automatic, but are not starting up and I'm getting the error message. Please help out.

Ok. For everyone that's having this issue about audio service not running, if you have a bluetooth headset, it's probably off or disconnected. As soon as you reconnect it, the service starts working properly. If you don't want to see this message, you could always remove the headset from the system setup to make it go away. :)
I found this one out when I reconnected my Voyager pro earpiece back to the computer.

Thanks guys. Adjusting the volume slider did the trick for me

A solution, I guess. Thanks to who ever figured it out and relayed the information.

Niteshade1870 said:

Oh well, a bug like this is easy to work with and I'm sure they'll fix it eventually.

LOL How long is eventually? So far, this is the only place I have found with any solution to this problem, and this thread is two years old.

I see this is an old topic and I haven't read through ALL the posts, but I got this problem and I simply fixed it:

1. Right click on your volume control icon
2. Press volume control options
3. I had to tick my speakers in the box - fixed the icon momentarily