Sound distortion Windows 10

Greg, some mostly good news.  I have been working with Drive Max and installing a couple a day with some success.  I first tried the Realtek Audio which offered no help, Then I began concentrating on the Intel updates, which had helped me before. Did the Management Engine Interface andXeon PCI Expr controller- again no help.   In fact I had a shutdown sometime later that day, which was a Kernel pwr one but I was not here and really couldn't tell if it was a BSOD or a power blip- none of my sensitive clocks were blinking so I think it was real computer shutdown.  First one of these in a week, so I worried. 

However, I continued and did the Intel USB EHCI #2  and the SATA/AHCI controller (this is one that got my sound back at an earlier time a week or so ago) and low and behold I have sound from yesterday, including at least one shutdown/ startup cycle so far and no BSOD. 

I am pleased and am thinking maybe to quit.  But there are a few more including Intel 287 LPC controller, some Dell wireless and Bluetooth, and Realtek PCI GBE Family controller, some mouse and keeboard and Creatie Labs OpenAL, Microsoft. NET framework and Silverlight.  I am guessing that most of these updates shouldn't cause any trouble except maybe Intel LPC but I'd like to bring them all up to date if you think no harm.  Any advice?

Hi Greg, having been through so many changes to my system, I decided to use the Media Creation tool and Upgrade the PC to 1903 (which is where I started).  The process took 2-3 hours but completed successfully.  The computer has been running nicely and I see few errors in Event Viewer.  However, the sound distortion continues.  I deleted and re-installed the Realtek Audio driver from the Dell site (which is dated 2015 with nothing newer around that I see).  After installing the sound was OK, but as experienced before, after shutdown the sound distortion continues.  I must have re-installed the sound driver a dozen times over this period of time, so I don’t think that is the answer, unless there is a newer one developed.  So, I remembered a note I received to my original question which suggested that 1903 was a problem with Intel chip and sound driver.  I attached text here, but if you go into link, it seems that we are waiting for updated drivers.  I admit I don’t understand exactly what Vanshita or the link means, but this is why I first rolled system back.  I think after I rolled back the sound was OK, but I was getting all kinds of BSOD reboots.  That is where we checked out everything, found no hardware or other problems.  Somewhere in there, I notice that the Intel RST was not running and went to the Intel site (or possibly Dell) and found an Intel chip update and installed it – 8 series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller.  After this, the BSODs disappeared but I also cannot get the sound worked right.  So, the question is- are we waiting for new drivers from Realtek and or Intel to make this work right? Or is it really possible to fix this now?

I saw your article about Clean install of Windows 10.  I believe that is where I have to re-install all my programs and take care to back up all files etc.  I have done that with previous versions of Windows, but would rather use as last resort. 

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Pat, you can wait to see if the problem returns before proceeding.

But since you're only at Version 1809 what I'd do since you need to have it anyway and I'm here to help you work out any problems, is manually upgrade to the latest version 1903 by opening the Media Creation Tool from this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m..., choose Download Tool Now, then open the tool and choose Upgrade This PC Now. This saves your files, apps and most settings in place, is the most stable method to change versions, brings your Updates current, resolves most problems.

If any problems report back the verbatim error and number, then continue with these steps for overcoming Version Upgrade problems: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If the Version has problems I will work with you to try to resolve them. If the problems are intractable, you have ten days to roll it back in Recovery settings.

Most problems are resolved by doing this gold standard Clean Install which should get you past all difficulties as it has millions of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... . So read it over and see if its something you want to learn to do.

r my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

Thank you Greg for your help.  So I checked the drivers and BIOS and they all seem to be latest.  I then did step 2 to reset the Windows audio service and I restarted.  First, it too a long time for login screen to come up after I got the picture.  I could see it cycling- I click with the cursor and 1 or 2 minutes later the same info comes up.   Finally after 5 minutes or so, I got the login screen and was able to login.  Checked sound and it was fine.  So I'm feeling good, but I know previously when I restarted the sound distortion came back so I did a restart and again after a very lengthy click and wait on the picture screen I was able to log in and now the sound was distorted again.  

This is where I am at now- any ideas before I move to step 3?

Hi Pat. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Guardian Moderator here to help you.

I'll give you all possible solutions for Sound problems. If you have any problems performing any steps I'll be standing by here to help you.

1. Update the sound driver from the PC or device maker's Support Downloads webpage for your exact model, if it is newer than the one presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start button. While there compare to make sure you also have the latest BIOS, Chipset, Display, Network and all other drivers.
2. Restore the Windows Audio Service which may have become disabled: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/57567-resto...
3. Next try this checklist: https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/402699...
4. Right click Volume icon in System Tray, choose Sound Settings, from the Output and Input devices dropdown menus, choose then one(s) affected to see if that helps. If not use the Troubleshoot button nearby.
5. Run the Playing Sound troubleshooter at Start button > Settings>Update & Security>Troubleshoot.
6. Try rolling back the sound drivers in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start button. Choose Sound controller and other audio devices, then Driver tab, then Roll back if available.
7. If no newer sound drivers then uninstall the one presently installed in Device Manager, reached by right clicking the Start Button. Restart PC to reinstall.
8. Try other and older drivers for your model Sound controller, too. For example, try the next oldest driver in the model's online Support Downloads list. To try all previous drivers installed on your system, in Device Manager choose Sound controller's Driver tab, then Update Driver, then Browse, then Let Me Pick.
9. If this was caused by Windows Updates then you can check which were installed at Settings>Update & Security>Windows Update under Installed Updates, then uninstall them from the link there, and hide with the Hide Updates tool downloaded from here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/2/f2...
10. If this was caused by a Version update (which you can confirm at Settings > System > About) then you can roll back the version in Settings>Update & Security>Recovery and then hide it until it matures using the Hide Updates Tool downloaded from here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/2/f2...
11. You can also use System Restore to get before the problem began, then check for Updates with the Hide Update tool and hide them: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/how-t...
12. Go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

13. If nothing else helps then run a Repair Install by installing the Media Creation Tool and choosing from it to Upgrade Now. This solves many problems and will also bring it up to the latest version which you need anyway and by the most stable method. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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