Reverting the inefficient right-click context menu for audio in 1803

Yesterday I allowed Windows to finally update to 1803 and today while streaming a viewer pointed out that he cannot hear anything. I checked OBS and noticed the meters were not moving which confirmed the audio issue.

I fixed the devices in OBS since for some reason Windows decided to screw with my audio devices and mess that up. Desktop sound was now present in OBS but no mic.. hmm odd.

After right-clicking the speaker icon in the task tray I immediately noticed a terrible, inefficient menu replaced the old right-click context menu. I had already re-replaced the stupid new sound mixer from Windows 10 with the good one that lets you see levels for each program and adjust them individually but I wasn't aware Windows also changed my right-click menu .

I fixed the mic sound not working only after searching online to discover that Windows decided to block software from using the mic with a global switch that claims to be for "apps". OBS is not an "app". Yes, I know that it's short for application, but in the context of the modern era (not to mention Microsoft's specific marketing) "app" is a term reserved for that metro nonsense nobody actually likes. It's for things like "Cortana" and "Microsoft Store". Not only is OBS NOT an app, but it isn't even listed in that list under Settings > Privacy > Microphone meaning you cannot selectively control which things can access your mic in Windows 10, using the built-in settings of the OS.

This of course means that it's either all or nothing; you either cannot use your microphone AT ALL or you must allow EVERYTHING (besides Windows "apps".. by the normal definition of course) to access your mic. How exactly is this privacy focused? By screwing people over and forcing them to allow everything to access their mic? Oh, so exactly the same as before but now we have to mess with settings to make a useless feature allow for our mic to be used? Got it.

Here's the new, inefficient right-click context menu: https://i.imgur.com/Ci4yXO9.png

I don't want to deal with this. I just want to go straight to playback or recording devices through the context menu. I shouldn't need to click "Sounds" then go to another tab. I can't imagine why Microsoft would make such a stupid change. You almost never need to go to Sounds and you constantly need to go to playback devices because Windows likes changing them whenever you do practically anything. There's also almost no reason, in general to even go to the sounds tab.

Plus, it's huge and clunky and means more work moving the mouse around (keep high resolution displays in mind) and allows for easily clicking the troubleshooter when you don't want to. It uses pretty redundant/nonsensical language by having a "Sounds" and "Open Sound Settings" link on the same context menu.

Also, regarding OBS.. I lost my ReaPlugs filters, probably due to Windows doing something stupid with my audio devices...

So please do let me know how I can revert this lame menu back to the old one. There are so many issues with Windows 10 by default that must be tweaked to make any kind of sense and it's really frustrating having to deal with yet another change that makes no sense.

lehnerus2000 said:

Maybe you need to rollback to an earlier version of W10 and then try to block the "upgrade" to 1803.

When my W10 1703 versions (Home & Pro VM) failed to "upgrade" to 1709 (despite multiple attempts) I restored the 1703 versions and blocked them from accessing our network.
They run quite nicely now MS can't get to them.

Thanks for suggestion but I really am tired of seeing suggestions for complete re-installs or rollbacks. I shouldn't have to do this to fix a single minor issue.

Get a Mac !

lehnerus2000 said:

Agreed.

Unfortunately, there's a high chance that any fixes that you might apply will be accidentally (or deliberately) crippled by MS the next time they release an update/upgrade.

W10 is written using the paradigms, "the release date is all that matters" and "if it doesn't work, we'll release a patch".
Dodgy software is the way of the future, according to commercial software companies.

If you can fix the issue, I suggest that you start creating regular Backup Images.
Restoring your system (OS & software) from a Backup Image, takes a lot less time than reinstalling or searching the Internet for solutions.

Tutorial
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect


I don't like using Macs.

I'd suggest trying a Linux Distro (like Linux Mint) if you really hate W10 (assuming you can't install W7).

Yeah I figured he was trolling with the Mac comment so I ignored it lol...

Anyways your points do seem like the best thing to do.