(Make sure Windows doesn't connect to any network throughout all of these steps, I'd rather it behaves).

Once that's done run DDU (accept the default settings), it'll probably tell you you're not running in Safe Mode but it should be OK since we took care of most of the stuff.

Rinse and repeat, uninstall the device along with its drivers until you can't anymore.

The device will disappear, for its recognition again by clicking Scan for hardware changes from the Action menu.

Uninstall the device along with its drivers (so long as it lets you, Windows has inbox drivers for some cards and those can't be removed):

Open the device manager and look for more Realtek stuff, because there may be older drivers still present Windows may have installed the card using them (we could delete them with a 3rd party tool too but what the hell.).

In the Control Panel or its equivalent Settings page, uninstall the audio drivers the right way, i.e.

Disconnect from the Internet, that would prevent Windows from updating anything for now.

Download DDU, even though it's made for manually uninstalling graphic drivers stacks it has a work in progress thing for Realtek audio.

So after a clean install what I advice to do is to leave it all for Windows to figure out, and if you'd rather not perform a clean Windows install. Realtek cards are kind of a pain to work with: different manufacturers using different DSPs, not providing updated drivers or validating newer ones, the whole HDA vs UAD thing. I almost replied to the original poster haha, create a new thread next time OK?īest advice I can give you, leave it all to Windows Update. Same problem here! acer should look in to it.

Install windows audio service