Workaround: Microsoft Realtek Drivers Update Breaks Headset Port

[danfid]

About a month ago my headset jack stopped working. Well, that isn't exactly true. When I plugged my headsets (Corsair HS50 Pro PC) into the jack I could hear the tiny crackle of the contacts making connection. No sound would come from the headsets regardless of the game or app or audio file. In the Sound section of Windows I ran the test in Sounds > Playback > Speakers (Realtek Audio) > Properties > Advanced > Test. With volume on maximum I could hear the test tones at the faintest volume. When I unticked the boxes in the "Exclusive Mode" section as well as the "Signal Enhancements" section, the sound was crackly but still extremely faint.

I uninstalled the Realtek drivers completely, rebooted, then reinstalled. Headset worked, mic and speakers. Yay! When I shutdown the laptop for the evening I saw that there was an update. I didn't think anything of it and shutdown the system after update installed. The next morning, my headset didn't work again. Same issue.

To save you the hours upon real world hours I spent troubleshooting this, let me tell you what I found. Whether I installed the original Realtek Drivers for this laptop (which I do not believe I received from PC Specialist as the 11_Audio_W10 driver .zip file on my account for this laptop is only 37Mb and does not install the Realtek HD Audio Manager that came with my laptop), as well as the newer drivers that I've been using, 0008-64bit_Win7_Win8_Win81_Win10_R281.exe, both updates produced the same results: Uninstalled Realtek drivers in Device manager, I install Realtek drivers, reboot, works for a day.

I have 100% isolated to this:

	Title ​	Products	Classification ​	Last Updated ​	Version ​	Size ​
	Realtek Semiconductor Corp. - MEDIA - 6.0.8960.1	Windows 10, version 1903 and later, Servicing Drivers,Windows 10, version 1903 and later, Upgrade & Servicing Drivers	Drivers (Sound)	5/25/2020	6.0.8960.1	11.0 MB

This update has broken my 3.5mm headset jack.

How I determined this was to uninstall the windows Realtek drivers, Pause windows update for 7 days, install 0008-64bit_Win7_Win8_Win81_Win10_R281.exe , and my headsets worked perfectly for exactly 7 days. After 7 days, this driver reinstalled itself via the automatic updates, and my headsets stopped working after reboot. I repeated the process twice to confirm.

Is there any permanent fix action for this?

My PC Specs: (Received in January 2020)
Defiance Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 9750H (2.6GHz, 4.5GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM) 32GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080 Max-Q - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive 1TB Samsung 860 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive 2TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive 1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)
Memory Card Reader Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor 2 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable 2 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery Defiance Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (62WH)
Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS
Keyboard Language RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Laptop Cooling Stands CoolerMaster NotePal L2 Laptop Cooler, upto 17.3 inch
Notebook Mouse INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty 3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

 

[Bastet]

You can block the Microsoft update:
You can use this MS tool to show & hide problematic drivers or updates:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3073930

.
You can also try the windows update minitool to block the update permanently:

Download Windows Update MiniTool - MajorGeeks

Windows Update MiniTool is a free alternative to the standard Windows Update; it puts you in control of updates by allowing you to search, install, and block Windows updates as you please.

www.majorgeeks.com

 

[Deleted member 17413]

Its possible the update just isnt compatible, but I would of thought it fairly strange that just a port would go.
Does it work with other headphones in it or is it completely dead? The crackle would happen regardless assuming its still got electrical current to it, even if no sound was directed through it.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Its possible the update just isnt compatible, but I would of thought it fairly strange that just a port would go.
Does it work with other headphones in it or is it completely dead? The crackle would happen regardless assuming its still got electrical current to it, even if no sound was directed through it.

I doubt it’s blown, more likely isn’t connected on the motherboard, has come loose in transit.

 

[danfid]

I doubt it’s blown, more likely isn’t connected on the motherboard, has come loose in transit.

No, the headphones work like a champ. In fact, when the port is working, all headphones work as expected. Only when this update is installed does everything go pear shaped. When the port doesn't work, no headphone or speaker you put into the port will work.

BUT, a HUGE thank you to you SpyderTracks. I found the answer that works from the link for the Update Minitool.

Your specific suggestion above for the minitool didn't work for me. I had uninstalled the Windows Realtek driver so the minitool saw it's installation in it's history, but since it wasn't installed, it couldn't do anything about it. However, a link in the Minitool page did resolve my issue.

This Realtek software is considered a driver update by Windows. That is good as I followed the video on the below link. I used the Policy Editor fix action, as I have Windows Pro, but the video shows how to edit the Registry to add the specific D_Word Key manually. Once I did this, I can run windows update all day long and no driver's appear. I do know that this can cause possible issues down the line, however I am more than happy to troubleshoot those concerns should they arise.

How To Stop Windows Updates From Downloading Drivers on Windows 10 & 11 - MajorGeeks

Do you want to stop Windows Updates from downloading drivers? We don't blame you. they're often outdated and can even replace your newer drivers. Most tutorials suggest editing the registry or using Group Policy editor. The modified registry didn't work for us, and Group Policy Editor leaves a...

www.majorgeeks.com

Thank you ST for your quick help.

 

[ubuysa]

This is NOT a resolution, its a temporary workaround.

If the Windows driver is really faulty (and its not something else conflicting on your system) you will never get the updated driver - nor any others for that matter.

 

[danfid]

This is NOT a resolution, its a temporary workaround.

If the Windows driver is really faulty (and its not something else conflicting on your system) you will never get the updated driver - nor any others for that matter.

From my text. I am very clear this isn't a long term fix. But it does resolve my issue for now. I was clear to caveat. I've changed the subject to reflect.

" I do know that this can cause possible issues down the line, however I am more than happy to troubleshoot those concerns should they arise. "

 

[ubuysa]

From my text. I am very clear this isn't a long term fix. But it does resolve my issue for now. I was clear to caveat. I've changed the subject to reflect.

" I do know that this can cause possible issues down the line, however I am more than happy to troubleshoot those concerns should they arise. "

I understand that, but the problem is that anyone else searching for a solution to the same issue will see your capitalised RESOLVED in your title and expect a resolution.

I would suggest you change 'resolved' in your title to 'workaround'.

 

[danfid]

I understand that, but the problem is that anyone else searching for a solution to the same issue will see your capitalised RESOLVED in your title and expect a resolution.

I would suggest you change 'resolved' in your title to 'workaround'.

Excellent Suggestion. Done and done!