Apparently, Intel accidentally pushed an incompatible audio driver through the Windows 10 latest update. Microsoft has issued a statement that they have fixed the issue.
Still being haunted with the data-loss bug with the Windows 10 version 1809 release, here come another blunder affecting sound due to a buggy audio driver released by Intel pushed via windows update that overrode the existing compatible ones causing the audio not to work.
“Earlier this week, Intel unintentionally released version 9.21.00.3755 of the Intel Smart Sound Technology (ISST) Driver through Windows Update, and inadvertently offered it to a range of devices running Window 10 version 1803 or 1809,” Microsoft explains on its answers forum.
“If your device contained a compatible audio driver, the new driver overrode it and caused audio to stop working,” it added.
This is very evident with users who have Windows 10 version 1809 and 1803. Users with the said versions began seeing a ‘No Audio Output Device is Installed’ error message.
The defective Intel driver from the Windows Update on October 11 was removed once Microsoft found out about it. They have also provided instructions on how to manually remove the bad driver software.
They have then released a new update KB4468550, which contain “critical updates” that fixes Intel’s botched update. The update patch is designed to fix the issue without requiring users to do the manual steps.
“This update addresses an issue where after installing the Intel Smart Sound Technology driver (version 09.21.00.3755) via Windows Update or manually, computer audio may stop working,” Microsoft explains in a support note.
This update is said to be delivered to affected systems automatically from Windows Update. Standalone package for Windows Server and Windows 10 versions 1809, 1803, and 1709 from the Microsoft Update Catalog can be downloaded by users. Computers are required to be restarted after the said update for it to run properly.
Transitioning to the newer versions is not an exact science nowadays, it includes bugs, faults, errors probably due to the rate they are trying to roll out the latest releases. Before version 1809 got halted entirely, Microsoft had already blocked the update for some users due to a compatibility problem with Intel Display Audio device drivers.
Intel said it knows that some customers may have received an audio driver not intended for their computer.
“If you are running Windows 10 version 1803 or above and are experiencing audio issues, please check to see if you have version 9.21.00.3755 of the Intel Smart Sound Technology Driver,” Intel said.
“If so, uninstalling this version is expected to address the related audio issues.”
