Sometimes it happens that updating drivers can lead to hardware inoperability. This may be due to a variety of factors. But most often this happens after updating the sound drivers using Windows 10. This OS has long been seen in inadequate work with updates. If the sound is missing in Windows 10 after updating the drivers, then this is definitely an incompatibility issue. What to do in this case? We will consider the most popular and effective solutions to the problem.
Why is this happening?
The fact is that "Windows 10" downloads updated versions of drivers from official Microsoft servers. And no one can vouch for their compatibility with this or that equipment. And if you also consider that usually on their own servers"Windows" are mostly outdated versions of drivers, it is not surprising that after updating the latest sound disappeared. However, not only the "ten" sins with the wrong driver versions when updating. And such cases are far from isolated.
But it also happens that the operating system has nothing to do with it. Often manufacturers themselves release drivers with an error. And in this case, there is only one way out: to roll back to the previous version. But sometimes this can be problematic. We will consider all options for solving the problem, if suddenly, after updating the drivers, the sound disappeared on a computer or laptop.
Start with the simplest solutions. Complex ones are not for everyone. So, how to solve the sound problem in modern operating systems? Very simple.
Fixing the flaws in the Windows 10 update
So, if the sound on the laptop disappeared after updating the drivers using the operating system, they will need to be completely reinstalled. However, we will not download them manually from the manufacturer's website. Using the capabilities of the operating system:
- Open the "Control Panel".
- Click on the item "Device Manager".
- In the list of devices, look for sound devices and select them.
- Right-click on the name of the audio device and select "Update driver" from the menu that appears.
- Next choose"Search for drivers on this computer".
- Click "Next" and wait for the installation to complete.
- Restart your PC or laptop.
This option will help if the problem is not of a global nature. By reinstalling the drivers in this way, you can count on their full performance after the machine is rebooted. However, it also happens that this method does not help. Then you can use a more advanced method.
The same, but using the console
The Windows Command Prompt is a unique tool. With it, you can even solve the problem when the sound disappeared after updating the sound driver. And if the previous option can fail, then this method will always help. You just need to know what to do:
- Press the Win+R key combination and call the "Run" system component.
- Enter cmd in the line and press Enter or OK.
- The console is starting up. In it, enter the pnputil / enum-drivers command. It will display a list of installed device drivers.
- Now select the original name intcaudiobus.inf and remember (or write down) its published name (for example, oemXXX.inf).
- Enter pnputil/delete-driver oemXXX.inf/uninstall command. It will remove the existing driver.
- Now open the "Control Panel".
- Click "Device Manager".
- Select the required hardware and click "Update Drivers".
- After updating, restart the computer.
This method is good because first the problematic driver is completely removed from the operating system. And in its place, you can safely put the "right" software.
Rollback driver after Windows update
Another option that can help if sound is lost in Windows 7, 8 or 10 after updating the drivers. Rollback can really help, because instead of the new driver, its previous version is installed, which was definitely working. The best thing about this method is that even a beginner can handle it. You just need to clearly follow the proposed algorithm, and everything will be fine:
- Open the "Control Panel".
- Click on the item "Device Manager".
- Select a sound card in the list of devices.
- Right-click on the device and select "Properties" from the menu that appears.
- Press the "Rollback" button.
- The wizard will automatically install the previous version of the driver.
- Reboot the computer.
- Checking sound performance.
This method is good because it allows you to install just those versions that exactly worked at the time. This helps to avoid possible errors when using newer versions. But, despite the fact that this method is very effective, it does not always help. Good thing there are alternatives.
If the sound is not completely gone
It also happens that after updating the sound driver, the sound disappeared, but not completely. That is, there is sound, but the sound itself is either too quiet, or hisses, or is somehow distorted. In this case, the issue is clearly in the sound driver settings. Apparently, the operating system configured it automatically. And this led to such distortions. There is only one thing you can do here - set up the equipment correctly.
- So, open "Playback devices" with a simple click on the speaker image in the system tray.
- Next, select the device that contains the problem and click on the "Properties" button.
- Moving to the "Additional Features" tab.
- Check "Disable all effects" and click "Apply".
- Moving to the "Communication" tab.
- Check "No action required".
- Apply everything we just set up.
- Checking the sound quality.
Everything should now play cleanly without any clutter. If so, then the problem was in the settings. Now everything is all right. If not, then you will have to further understand why, after updating the drivers, the sound disappeared or turned out to be of insufficient quality.
If you have VIA Audio
It is laptops based on this chipset that are most prone to sound problems. Much of this has to do with the chipset itself. He doesn't belong very muchquality products. And the developers of drivers for this chipset are often not very attentive. As a result, users have to solve the problem themselves when the sound disappeared after updating the drivers:
- Go to the "Control Panel".
- Open "Device Manager" in the familiar way.
- Remove the driver in exactly the same way as described above.
- Go to the "Sound and game controllers" section.
- Remove these drivers as well.
- Open the browser and look for the latest drivers from the manufacturer.
- Download (necessarily the previous version) and install.
- Reboot the computer.
This algorithm of actions should solve the problem on laptops with a VIA chipset. Installing an older version of the driver should definitely solve the problem in this case. In general, it is better to purchase an external sound card and not suffer with built-in "stubs". Never had a problem with an external card. Now there are very interesting and inexpensive models on the market.
If all else fails
If the sound on the computer disappeared after updating the drivers and none of the above helps, then it is likely that this very update has quite badly damaged the system files responsible for the sound. The solution to this problem will not be easy. Actually, there are only two options here: rolling back the system using a checkpoint or completely reinstalling it.
The first option is only suitable if checkpoints were previously created to restore the operating systemsystems. If the OS protection was completely turned off (for example, in the case of Windows 10), then the rollback will not work.
But again, in the case of the "ten", there is another method that can help if the sound is lost after updating the drivers. It's about resetting to factory settings. As a result, the user will receive an absolutely clean operating system with a basic set of drivers. It's worth trying this option. He can really help. If everything goes bad after that, then perhaps the sound card simply failed for some reason.
Conclusion
So, we have considered the question of what to do if, after updating the drivers, the sound disappeared on a computer or laptop. All of the above methods can help. If only the sound card itself is still working.
