How do I fix the "Audio Service is not running" error?

I've got a somewhat older HP Pavilion Elite desktop computer, which I have Windows 8.1 Pro installed on. This morning when I tried to log into it, it refused to respond to anything at all. The mouse did nothing; pressing any key on the keyboard resulted in nothing. Finally I decided the only thing left to me was to do a hard shut down.

Once it came back up I was able to log in, but all is not right with this machine. The speaker icon in the system tray in desktop mode has a red "X" on it. Passing my mouse over it I get the error message, "The Audio Service is not running". I searched online for how to resolve this problem (apparently it happens quite frequently) and the first few responses was to either reinstall the audio drivers or go to the manufacturer's website download them and install them. Not knowing what the manufacturer is I got into Device Manager to see what it says. Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly. But I'm seeing the error in the system tray. But Device Manager is convinced that everything is fine; the drivers are working perfectly.

And on and on and on and on it goes. I cannot deal with this schizophrenic behavior that Windows is giving me. What makes it a lot worse is I cannot afford to replace anything at this time. So how do I fix this problem? BTW, the manufacturer is Realtech.