Share via

My Realtek driver and all my audio devices are gone

Anduris 0 Reputation points
2025-12-06T03:49:36.2466667+00:00

As the title says, my Realtek HD Audio Driver and all of my audio devices are giving the Code 45 error. I have confirmed that this is not a hardware issue, as this has happened 2 other times over the past week, ever since my computer installed the 25H2 update. However, my usual fix, which was to load my recovery point and uninstall the update, did not work this time. I am also unable to uninstall 25H2.

I have tried reinstalling the driver, and uninstalling Nvidia drivers in case there were compatibility issues. However, uninstalling the Realtek driver makes it so that it disappears from the Device Manager permanently, and downloading a new driver (from the device manufacturer) does not fix this.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-06T03:49:47.28+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your Realtek HD Audio Driver and audio devices following the 25H2 update. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the Code 45 error:

    1. Check Device Manager: Ensure that the audio devices are not hidden. In Device Manager, select the View menu and turn on Show hidden devices. If the Realtek driver appears, try uninstalling it again and then reinstalling it.
    2. Use Device Manager to Uninstall: If the Realtek driver is visible, right-click on it and select Uninstall device. Make sure to check the option to delete the driver software for this device if prompted. After uninstalling, restart your computer and allow Windows to attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.
    3. Driver Store Cleanup: If the driver continues to disappear, you may need to ensure that the driver package is permanently removed from the Driver Store. You can use the pnputil command to delete the driver package: 
         pnputil /delete-driver <Published Name> /uninstall
      Replace <Published Name> with the actual name of the driver package.
    4. Windows Update Settings: Adjust your Windows Update settings to prevent automatic reinstallation of drivers that you are trying to remove. This can help ensure that the driver does not reinstall itself after you uninstall it.
    5. System Restore Point: If you haven't already, consider creating a system restore point before making any changes. This will allow you to revert back if something goes wrong.
    6. Contact Manufacturer: If the issue persists, it may be worth reaching out to the device manufacturer for support, as they may have specific drivers or solutions for your hardware configuration.

    These steps should help you troubleshoot the issue with your audio devices and Realtek driver. If you continue to face problems, further investigation into compatibility with the 25H2 update may be necessary.

    References:

    0 comments
  2. Ivan B 86,955 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-06T04:31:31.7133333+00:00

    Hi ,

    If it is a laptop or desktop, if possible, could you provide the laptop model or your desktop configuration?

    To see the model, you can type msinfo32.exe in the Windows search bar, open the search for the baseboard product and enter it here.

    Thanks

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.