Realtek driver issues on ASROCK Fatal1ty Z370 Professional

xstrike9999 · 02 Sep 2018

Hey guys, I'm using Windows 10 64-bit Version 1803. The board is ASROCK Fatal1ty Z370 Professional Gaming i7.

After a recent windows update, I am having significant issues with my audio drivers. I still have sound in audio and video files, however, I no longer hear usual windows sounds like plugging in or removing a device, getting notifications or when increasing or decreasing volume using the volume button in the taskbar.

Some audio in games is not played either, like menu sounds in DOOM and Dishonored 2. I uninstalled the drivers and all audio returned to normal with the default windows drivers, but of course I lose all the advanced sound features that come with the drivers like the features from the Creative Sound Blaster Cinema application.

I tried to reinstall the latest drivers available on the ASROCK site: Realtek high definition audio driver ver:8454

I also tried to get the latest drivers available from the Realtek sticky post on this forum. Have also tried driver versions 8514, 8519 and 8522, both full and UAD...and have also tried installing them without the setup. i.e. installing them through the device manager.

If I use the windows default drivers, everything works fine. Changing bitrate doesn't work for me either And as soon as I install any of the actual drivers, everything breaks.

None of the windows sounds play, even if I go into the Sound setting and test play them:

Realtek driver issues on ASROCK Fatal1ty Z370 Professional-image.png

I have tried doing a complete uninstall of the drivers and removing any trace of them using Revo Uninstaller Pro and Driver Fusion to no avail.

It's only the Speakers that are not outputting any windows sounds.
If I select the digital output as default instead of the speakers, I can see some sound activity when I test windows sounds (obviously can't hear it since I have nothing connected to that)

(In the image, I'm clicking the volume control so that it produces sound, and it is being shown in the digital output)

My board has the ALC 1220 Codec and here are the hardware IDs.

I'm basically at the end of my rope here and don't want to reinstall windows. Really need some help on this! Any info regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

fireberd · 02 Sep 2018

The "Speakers" should be set as the default audio playback device. (assuming you have standard PC speakers attached to the green speaker jack on the rear).

You should also have "Stereo Mix" set as the default audio Playback device.

xstrike9999 · 02 Sep 2018

Speakers already are the default. I set it to digital output only for testing.

Something is just preventing the speakers from outputting windows sounds.

bro67 · 02 Sep 2018

The Creative Sound Blaster Cinema App has had issues with Windows 10 since the beginning of the OS. See this about fixing SB Cinema. Sound Blaster Cinema 1 Potential fix on Windows 10

xstrike9999 · 03 Sep 2018

I have no issues running the Creative Sound Blaster Cinema app on Windows 10, since my drivers come with

Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 3.

The issue is that it only works with Realtek drivers and those are not functioning properly.

The sound in video and audio files is working fine.

The main issue is that I am not getting windows notification sounds or any other sounds typically generated by doing actions in windows.

IntelliMoo · 04 Sep 2018

xstrike9999 said:

Something is just preventing the speakers from outputting windows sounds.

I have a similar recurring issue, where on every other reboot or so, some windows event sounds (like for the default beep, menu right-click, Toggle Keys, etc.) are silent. Sometimes even 2 or 3 reboots do not fix it. But, I have found that all I have to do is use 'Sign out' and then log in again, and all windows event sounds will once again play normally. Strange, but at least that works for my issue every time.

xstrike9999 · 04 Sep 2018

IntelliMoo said:

I have a similar recurring issue, where on every other reboot or so, some windows event sounds (like for the default beep, menu right-click, Toggle Keys, etc.) are silent. Sometimes even 2 or 3 reboots do not fix it. But, I have found that all I have to do is use 'Sign out' and then log in again, and all windows event sounds will once again play normally. Strange, but at least that works for my issue every time.

I'll note that for next time. But for now, it got fixed automatically somehow.

I literally spent the entire weekend trying to fix my issue and nothing worked. Reinstalling drivers, messing with windows files, plugging, restarting multiple times and unplugging cables. Nothing!

But I got back from work today and sounds were working again??!!!?!!?!!

The issue resolved itself as mysteriously as it appeared. I didn't even log off. I just left my PC on.

I live alone so no chances of anyone touching my PC in my absence. Do I have some sort of tech elves in my house fixing broken tech!?

Totally dumbfounded by this.