Intel audio drivers give Windows 11 the blues and Microsoft Installer borked following security update

Windows 11 has continued to notch up known issues as Microsoft admitted to problems in the Intel Smart Sound department and Microsoft Installer following a security update. The former turned up earlier this week, when Microsoft realised that "certain versions" of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) could tip Windows …

[Version 1.0]

It's time to update the update

If an "update" can bork the operating system then it suggests that it's not going to be difficult to hack the system these days. This is a deep internal design environment issue when it seems to be easier to hack a system than prevent it being hacked.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: It's time to update the update

It was a Microsoft update borking my Win2K system way back in 2000 or 2001 (twice!) that saw me dump Windows in favour of Linux. I have not looked back, nor do I care to.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm confused...

In this case the Microsoft Installer has been left unwell following the update (or its later siblings) and could "have issues repairing or updating apps."

Since when has a Microsoft 'repair' ever fixed anything?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: I'm confused...

SFC /SCANNOW is a legendary fixall.

[David 132]

Re: I'm confused...

fixall

You mis-spelled "pointless and irrelevant suggestion for the so-called 'experts' on Microsoft's support forums, who will invariably suggest it as their first/only response, as they flail desperately trying to conceal their utter inability to be actually helpful"

[Boris the Cockroach]

Re: I'm confused...

You should come to the linux forums... theres 1000s of those guys there.....

[crewe_dave]

Re: I'm confused...

Oh yes

Q Why are you using X? You should be using Y

A. Y doesn't do what I want - X does

Q. Why are you trying to do that anyway?

A. .....

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: I'm confused...

It used to fix a plethora of awkward problems. But lost its usefulness with Windows 7 and later.

I think legendary is an appropriate description - it was good in its time, but has expired and now people chant the mantra as though it solves world hunger.

[Anonymous Coward]

Let me show you some jism…

Er, I mean DISM.. so you can clean up that image!

[David Austin]

Re: I'm confused...

A weird outlook MAPI problem with Windows 10 is the only time I've ever seen sfc /scannow actually fix something in 20+ Years of doing this job.

[fidodogbreath]

Microsoft realised that "certain versions" of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) could tip Windows 11 into a blue screen (of death)

Welcome back, Windows 95. We missed you.

[elsergiovolador]

Audio

Has Microsoft updated the Audio since Windows XP?

It is crazy that you still cannot combine multiple soundcards or if you change the sample rate you basically have to restart whole audio service (if you are lucky and Windows just doesn't go to bluescreen).

[Sandtitz]

Re: Audio

"It is crazy that you still cannot combine multiple soundcards"

Seems to be an untrue statement there, buddy.

My laptop's Intel audio and the Realtek audio in my dock work perfectly fine along with my Bluetooth and USB headsets.

"if you change the sample rate you basically have to restart whole audio service"

How so?

"(if you are lucky and Windows just doesn't go to bluescreen)."

Oh please.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Audio

You have two sound cards - no doubt, but are you actually using both of them?

You have your inputs (files, mics etc), processing thingies (sound cards etc) and outputs (speakers, headsets or whatever you fancy). I think the proper terms are sources and sinks.

So, are you actually routing sound via both of your sound cards because I don't think you can do that out of the box in Windows. However I have noticed recently that there are a lot more funky options available on a Windows box these days when it comes to audio. Probably provided by the sound card vendors. No idea what happens when Intel's stuff rubs up against Realtek's though. It probably isn't pretty.

<Strokes a Penguin with a finally tamed PipeWire />

[eldakka]

Re: Audio

> You have two sound cards - no doubt, but are you actually using both of them?

Yes. 4 actually, TV (i.e. using a TV as a second monitor which the system recognises as a sound output device), internal system soundcard with (shitty 'computer') speakers attached, USB headset, and a headphone AMP that is seen as a USB soundcard (for music listening).

> So, are you actually routing sound via both of your sound cards

Yes.

Apps that let you choose a specific output source rather than using Windows default (e.g. Webex), so my Webex audio in/out is via my USB headset, while the youtube video playing in a browser tab is coming out the system default speakers.

I also have a 3rd party program called "AudioRouter" that, surprisingly enough, routes audio. I use this for when I want to play a video on my TV with the audio (e.g. a youtube video in my browser that doesn't have its own sound output selection option) using my TVs audio while leaving the default audio as the computers speakers so that sound from other things I am doing on my computer (e.g. a game) come from my computers speakers, while the youtube video I have dragged to the TV 'monitor' has its audio coming out the TV speakers (so the sound is originating from the 'monitor' the video/game is displaying on).

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Audio

You can quite easily use different cards for different programs. You don't even need any special software - Settings -> System -> Sound -> App volume device preferences

What you can't do (I believe) is to use multiple cards as a single output. eg 5.1 sound from 3 stereo outputs. Not that you'd want to - you'd probably get all sorts of sync problems with the different latencies.

[eldakka]

Re: Audio

> You can quite easily use different cards for different programs. You don't even need any special software - Settings -> System -> Sound -> App volume device preferences

Wow didn't know about that, thanks.

Though I will note that that built-in settings panel is a pain in the arse to get to. I'd rather still use audiorouter and alt-tab to it to change the sound in/out settings that are right there, rather than diving through settings (although is it possible to open it as a stand-alone control-panel-like app?).

[georgezilla]

Re: Audio

" ... (if you are lucky and Windows just doesn't go to bluescreen)."

Oh please. ... "

So you have a problem with history and reality?

Okay.

[ChrisC]

Re: Audio

Nothing wrong in bringing up the history of Windows instability when discussing how bad Windows *used* to be, quite another matter to be bringing it up in an attempt to imply that Windows *remains* that bad...

Because, despite how much I loathe W10, I have to begrudgingly admit that the core parts of the OS actually do work pretty bloodly nicely - despite my work PC looking like a plugfest testbench for all manner of different bits of development hardware, whilst running a myriad of applications that are definitely not part of the standard corporate OS image, the only time I've had W10 fall over on me since it was foisted upon us was as the result of a drive failure.

So no, the Windows of today really isn't that bad in terms of stability. Plenty of other reasons to consider it a total shower of poo, but its ability to cope with on the fly reassignment of hardware resources isn't one of them these days.

[georgezilla]

Re: Audio

The problem is, that it is still as bad as it was.

Just in different ways.

And that difference doesn't change their history.

Nor change what it is today.

It's still Microsoft.

It's still Windows.

And it's still the same old shit.

[Gordon 11]

A pity the required TPM2.0 chip can't protect you form Microsoft themselves.

[Totally not a Cylon]

It does if you disable it.... as then you can't install Windows 11.

A typing error just revealed the correct name of Windows 11; it is really Windows !!

[Nematode]

Nice, hadn't realised that coudl be done, simple BIOS option.

[Anonymous Coward]

TPM

Keep in mind that the TPM chip is more for THEIR security than yours. It's to ensure the software is genuine (i.e. you paid for it and it has been blessed by them). Yes it can protect system level drivers etc. from being compromised, but that's the sizzle being sold, not the steak.

[Ken Moorhouse]

The Blues? Patches?

Clarence Carter should have launched Windows 11.

(Not suggesting for one moment there is anything wrong with his Audio delivery though).

[Anonymous Coward]

Blue is the Colour

When Windows goes wrong

not when Chelsea score

the faithful might sing this song

but it just hides what is wrong

with Windows... such a bore

It just sings the same old song

Does MS think that we are dicks

in that a restart will fix all their bad tricks?

We are truly FSCK'd when a new update

make us want to regurgitate

crap audio drivers made my Intel

Send us off into Bluescreen hell

Yes, it is bad and I have a bit of a hangover.

[Nematode]

Late Adopters Rule OK!

I refuse to update anything until there's been at least 2 years of proven service, and even then prefer to buy a new machine built for that new OS. Except for Linux, of course. "Updating" the OS = recipe for diasater, especially with M$

[Wade Burchette]

Re: Late Adopters Rule OK!

The problem with the new Microsoft is that even in mature OS's they will find a way to screw up. Remember earlier in the year when people printing in Windows 10 caused the BSOD?

The only way to avoid any bad updates from Microsoft is to have an OS so mature that Microsoft stops providing any updates. This is what you get when the current CEO wants the company to be "agile".

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Late Adopters Rule OK!

An agile M$ is akin to a scampering elephant.

[G2]

This article is a bit incomplete (and i could say somewhat misleading) because Intel is in the process of transitioning driver numbers from 4 digits to 7 digits...

Intel Graphics drivers versions (which also include intel audio for HDMI audio) have already rolled over to the new numbering scheme, and in their case the full last seven digits must be taken into account, not just the last 4 digits. (those are just the build number)

Last week i manually installed Graphics driver 30.0.101.1069 and Windows Update immediately "updated" it to 27.20.100.9664 happily ignoring that Intel's driver numbering scheme rolled over 9999 ... so i had to rollback from 9664 to 1069.

For reference here is Intel's official guide to driver version numbering, with a quote from Intel:

The driver version numbering has rolled over from 100.9999 to 101.1069. This requires the use of all 7-digits instead of 4-digits for identifying the driver build number.

https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/support/articles/000005654/graphics.html

[Warm Braw]

transitioning driver numbers from 4 digits to 7 digits

Ah. I knew there'd be a good reason for the download for an audio driver to be 186MB.

[Barrie Shepherd]

"10.30.00.5714 and later or 10.29.00.5714 and later should do it, according to Microsoft. Slightly confusingly, "for addressing this issue, 10.30.x versions are not newer than 10.29.x versions." The key bit is the last of the version number.

Why can't these numbering systems have some clarity for mere mortals?

Any credible reasoning would indicate that 10.30.00.5714 should be 'newer' than 10.29.00.5714

[Brewster's Angle Grinder]

My guess is 10.29 and 10.30 are the versions and the 5714 is the "patch level" or whatever you want to call it.

So I suspect they've taken the 10.29 branch and patched it and taken the 10.30 branch and patched that as well. So *.5714 are respectively newer than the previous 10.29.xxx and 10.30.xxx releases.

The important point being 10.30.0.5152 is NOT newer than 10.29.0.5714 in respect to this bug. But if you want to stick with the 10.29 codebase you can - provided you upgrade to the *.5714 release.

You often see this with software; e.g. the linux kernel.

[AndrueC]

HP/Realtek only released working audio drivers for my laptop a couple of months ago. But Win 11 is working on my HP laptop atm. YMMV ;)

[Grunchy]

Dos 6.22, Win98SE, and WinXP ?

Vogons called to me from 2013. I’m going back.

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=36857