audio won't play from audio or video files

This was working. I could play any video or audio file using VLC, Windows Media Player, whatever.
Audio plays from the web on Chrome or Firefox
then the files stopped playing audio. MP3 files or any video file-MP4 AVI MOV, etc.

I updated my video card from a GTX 560 to a GTX 1060, but I can't tell you that it stopped working when I did that.
I may have just not noticed it then.
Video and Audio still play via my browsers, and system sounds play, but no audio from a file thru a player app

I reinstalled my drivers, verified things are turned on and volume levels good.
Windows Media player just says it has a problem with the file. VLC plays video but no audio.

everything is up to date - W10 1803, VLC, drivers..........

bro67 said:

Reinstall the audio device and driver.

So you are defining insanity right?
I already reinstalled it over 3x. same results.
But I guess I didn't mention that on this thread. Sorry.

Well, I fixed it, but it is still unsolved. I fortunately had a week old image, so I reimaged my system drive C: . It is all working again. This is when you appreciate having set up the HDD with a system and a user partition.


OK - explain HDMI passthru. I didn't have that problem with the 560 card and both have HDMI, but that might be the key. I have not seen a setting for that, but I can't say that I looked. This is speaker sound via the Realtek HD audio on-board circuit. So I am unclear why I need passthru.