Solved Audio Devices Disabled/Enabled Simultaneously | Cannot Play Sounds

[LysolPionex]

I have an unusual problem: my Audio Output Devices are all sorts of confused. I can't change the default device, nor disable/enable any devices, and no sound comes out.

My notification tray shows there are No speakers of headphones plugged in.

Sometimes it says No Audio Output Device Is Installed.

If I click on it, it tries to fix it, but ends up showing the Audio device is disabled (Not Fixed):

When I open up Playback Devices, it is not disabled.

There is nothing under the Levels tab anymore

I have all devices shown.
At this point, I cannot change the default device nor disable certain devices, even though the options are not greyed out & I can select them. Selecting the actions just does nothing.

I don't think it's a hardware issue, because the audio devices change when I plug in the HDMI cable. It still plays no audio over it, but it switches the default device to the HDMI device.

I still cannot enable/disable, nor set default devices. Selecting the actions just does nothing.

Here is my Device Manager content:

I've reinstalled the devices using the drivers from my device manufacturer. I've heard that the HDMI graphics cards can interfere with the audio devices, and to that end I have uninstalled & deleted the drivers for both graphics devices & both audio devices. I've also used Driver Sweeper to remove the graphics devices.

This, coupled with the odd behavior of not being able to enable/disable/set default devices makes me think it's not a driver issue, but rather something deeper in Windows itself.

I've checked the Windows Audio Service and the Windows Audio Endpoint Builder Service, and they are running and are under the correct accounts (from what I've researched).

I've heard there can be permissions issues here, but I'm not sure how to check that.

Here is some driver info for my graphics & audio hardware and the HD Audio Controller:

It really seems like this is something messed up at a much deeper level than the audio devices themselves.
I'm going to run a scandisk to see if there's anything messed up there.

Any other thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[torchwood]

Hi Lysol,
Is there a sound manager in CONTROL PANEL, there are primary options in my one before you get to your screenshots

Roy

 

[LysolPionex]

Well, that's interesting. I have the Realtek HD Audio Manager, and it looks very similar to yours, but there are no Speaker Configuration options. Are all audio options routed through this manager?

 

[LysolPionex]

I ran a scan disk and found nothing wrong with my HDD, so it doesn't seem to be corrupt files either. I also couldn't find anywhere where the sound configurations mentioned above would be stored (I looked in the registry, program files, & AppData).

 

[torchwood]

Hi Lysol,
Couple of thoughts,

1) its showing as running on battery in your SS, do the speakers "appear" when plugged in?
check the power option re speakers on battery, yes/no

2) You should have the Samsung SW prog on your lappy, are your drivers etc upto date.

3) You can RIGHT click on the grey? analogue and internal speaker icons for more options

Roy

 

[LysolPionex]

1 Same issue whether on battery or plugged in. Switched the power profiles manually as well, Bo difference.

2 I've updated the drivers manually and via samsung's software updater.

3 I'll look at messing with those grey icons in the audio manager tonight. I think they were non-responsive as well, but I'm not certain.

I moved everything relevant to a partition to get ready to do a factory reset; hopefully I can avoid it, but it's not looking likely, lol.

I appreciate your help, and any more ideas you have.

 

[torchwood]

Got all of these,
C program files,

Roy

 

[LysolPionex]

So....I ended up just doing a restore on the Windows drive. Weird thing is everything but the speakers worked, so I thought it may be a minor hardware issue. Next day I booted up, and everything is working fine.

Kinda bummed I won't ever know what the issue was, but glad it's working again.

Thanks a lot for helping me!

 

[torchwood]

Good news,
Happy sounds

Please mark the thread closed.

Roy