Member Avatar for dkary555

This happens every so often. The update gets processed, and my audio is deactivated for about 24 hours. Then it comes back with no indication as to why. It's got nothing to do with my audio driver.....it happens because of the windows update. Anybody seeing this happen?

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Short summary and context from the thread: reports audio dropping after a Windows 8.1 update and returning about a day later; correctly points at Windows Update (WU) as a likely trigger. Below is a compact, practical checklist to diagnose the drop and reduce the chance WU replaces a working audio stack with a problematic package.

Immediate checks (do these first)

  • Verify the correct playback device and show disabled/hidden devices; disable any audio “enhancements.”
  • Run the built‑in Playing Audio troubleshooter.
  • Restart the Windows Audio services (services.msc) — ensure “Windows Audio” and “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder” are set to Automatic and running. (support.microsoft.com)

Driver-focused recovery (when sound disappears after an update)

  • In Device Manager check the audio device’s Driver tab (provider/version). If the problem began right after an update, use Roll Back Driver if available, or uninstall the device and choose “Delete the driver software for this device” then reboot so Windows or the OEM installer can re-add a clean driver. (support.microsoft.com)
  • If Windows keeps reinstalling the WU driver you don’t want, change Device Installation Settings or enable the Group Policy that excludes drivers from Windows Update so you can install the OEM driver manually. For a temporary block of a specific update, Microsoft’s “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter can be used as a stopgap. (Note: blocking updates means you must update drivers yourself.) (learn.microsoft.com)

OEM and last‑resort options

  • Use HP Support Assistant or the HP driver page for your Pavilion model to get the vendor audio package, and consider System Restore if the update created a restore point before installing. Back up important files before major changes. If problems persist, capture timestamps and the Windows Update history so you can identify the exact driver/package causing the break. (h30434.www3.hp.com)

Notes and cautions

  • Make a restore point before uninstalling drivers or changing policies.
  • Disabling automatic driver updates prevents automatic fixes later — schedule occasional manual checks of OEM driver pages.

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

Did you by chance accept ANY drivers from WU (windows update)? You wrote it's not a driver but so far, everytime I encounter this I find a driver in WU's list of installed updates. Otherwise no.

Member Avatar for dkary555

It may be. The RealTek driver is not in the list, but Win8.1 has its generic driver which -could- be updating.

Member Avatar for rproffitt

I've had issues with generic drivers. I know to hunt down the one specific to the machine and OS from the laptop maker. In a pinch there are realtek drivers but that's in a pinch. Also, we have motherboard chipset drivers to check. Finally most laptops I see today have apps to control devices. For example Dell has their Quickset and other makers, other names for this app.

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