No sound from headphones, only on Windows

[gaazkam]

Hello.

As in the title, the issue is that I most often have no sound from headphones on my laptop. I plug the headphones in, they are discovered by the system (I might even get pop up saying I plugged a device to the audio jack), but I hear no sound form them.

The fun part is that:

• This isn't persistent. Sometimes Windows boots and I have sound from headphones till I shut the laptop down. Most often, however, Windows boots and I have no sound from headphones till I switch the laptop off.
• The issue is limited only to headphones. Built-in loudspeakers work just all right all the time.
• I also have Linux Mint installed on my laptop. No such issues are present in Mint, I always have sound from my headphones there.
• This was not always happening. The laptop is pretty old, it came with Windows 7 HP 64bit preinstalled, and no such issues were happening. But then I installed Windows 10 Education from Dream Spark, and I bumped into the problem of having no sound from headphones. A few months ago, however, I did factory reset and again installed Windows 7 HP 64bit (thinking it was a Win10 specific issue), this system is installed on my laptop now, but to my astonishment the problem persists.

Any chances to somehow fix this?

The laptop is Asus X54C. It was in the warranty service a few times, always because of faulty HDD and/or RAM.

Edit: My device manager shows following sound devices:

• Intel(R) Display Audio Driver Provider: Intel(R) Corporation Driver Version: 6.14.0.3086
• Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Driver Version: 6.0.1.6454

 

[fireberd]

The two audio devices are correct. Intel is for HDMI audio, Realtek for the PC audio.

To determine if its a problem with Realtek, since the Linux driver works OK, Uninstall the Realtek sound in the Device Manager and also uninstall the Realtek driver. Restart the PC and when Windows starts it should detect the sound and install the generic "High Definition" Audio driver. Then try the headset and see if it works. If it does the problem is with the Realtek driver and my suggestion is to get the latest driver direct from www.realtek.com

If it does not work with the Generic Windows installed High Definition audio driver, the problem would appear to be some other program is interfering and causing the problem.

 

[gaazkam]

Thank you for your answer.

I right-clicked on Realtek High Definition Audio in Device Manager and clicked Uninstall (I checked "Delete the driver Software"). Then I went to Programs and Features in Control Panel and I didn't see Realtek Drivers there (they had been there before).

I rebooted, Windows installed sound drivers, and... I had sound in my headphones! To make sure, I rebooted a few more times, and every time I did hear sound from headphones.

But then I worked a little bit with Mint. When I switched back to Windows... again, I had no sound. I rebooted, but still had no sound.

 

[fireberd]

Strange that Linux seems to be the cause. Works OK if you don't load Linux. Not sure what is causing that, unless the Linux sound driver is not releasing something.

 

[gaazkam]

I am not sure if it is just Linux.

The thing is that while I’m not sure, I **think** I remember booting Windows twice in a row without booting Linux in the meantime, and while I had sound the first time, I was not that lucky the second time.

Guess I’ll try hunting for such situations.

 

[fireberd]

What happens if you first power off the PC, after using Linux and before you boot into Windows. Do you still get the problem?

 

[gaazkam]

• Reboot from Linux to Windows. Uninstall drivers again.
• Reboot to Windows. Drivers automatically installed. No sound from headset.
• Computer off. Then on to Windows. There is sound.
• Off and on to WIndows again. There is sound.
• Off and on to Windows again. There is sound.
• Off and on to Linux.
• Off and on to WIndows. There is sound.
• Off and on to Linux.
• Reboot to Windows. No sound.
• Off and on to Windows. There is sound.

OK, I'm starting to believe you this is fault of Linux.

 

[hedgeley]

Hi gaazkam,
Just trying to get this straight (in my head)
Could you try,
Off and on to Windows (Cold Boot) as per your list there should be sound
Then Restart/Reboot to Windows and post the result
Trying to find out whether it's reboot that causes the problem or linux
Thanks
Hedge

 

[cflusflwfl]

I ran into this problem. I dual booted Windows and Linux. The only thing that worked for me was when going between Windows and Linux I did not do a restart. Instead I would shut down the laptop and then turn it back on when going between the two operating systems. For some reason, rebooting would not release power to all the devices, but shutting down and then turning back on did the trick.

 

[gaazkam]

Hi gaazkam,
Just trying to get this straight (in my head)
Could you try,
Off and on to Windows (Cold Boot) as per your list there should be sound
Then Restart/Reboot to Windows and post the result
Trying to find out whether it's reboot that causes the problem or linux
Thanks
Hedge

Sorry for the delay.

I did as you said and yes, there was sound.

 

[hedgeley]

Hi gaazkam,
I have to agree with fireberd, it appears that linux is not releasing the device drivers on reboot.
Although I dual boot with linux, I'm a noobie with its workings.
I suggest you post in a linux forum (Bleeping Computer has an excellent forum and more than helpful members)
Sorry I could not be of more help
Keep us posted I would like to know outcome.
Hedge