RealTek Audio Driver install loop Windows 10

Issue: Attempting to install RealTek Audio Drivers for Windows 10 leads to an endless uninstall/install loop. This happens with RealTek audio drivers from manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus or directly from RealTek. The install loop happens due to the new Windows 10 Driver Updates from Microsoft.

I would be fine with the generic Windows driver for audio, if they worked! In my case the Windows Drivers generated terrible sound quality & the only option to correct or adjust was via the Audio Enhancements feature – which was broken and had no affect. Bad sound and no way to fix it. No matter how many times I re-installed the Windows drivers, tried to adjust audio settings or enhancements the result was the same – terrible sound quality. And that, is not why I have these Mackie CR3 speakers!

So I tried updating my audio drivers to provide the expected quality of sound and control. I used RealTek drivers supplied by Asus for my motherboard, and I tried drivers directly from RealTek. And that… is why we are here!

How it happens:

1. The RealTek installer removes the existing generic drivers installed by Windows Update and requests a reboot so it can replace in use files.
2. After rebooting, Windows identifies the missing driver and re-installs the generic driver from the local Driver Store before the RealTek install process launches and… you can probably see where this is going.
3. Once the RealTek process initiates after reboot it detects the generic Driver that was re-installed by Windows and says, whoa hey dude we have to uninstall this existing driver in order to move forward. Hey guess what, it’s time to reboot again! Now you really know where this is going (queue song: Round and Round…).
4. You can do the dance above all day long or hit the solution below.

Solution:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers node in Device Manager.
3. Right-click RealTek High Definition Audio, and click Uninstall.
4. On the Confirm Device Removal dialog box:
   1. Click the Delete the driver software for this device option to delete the generic Windows driver.
   2. Click OK to start the uninstall process
   3. Do not reboot!
5. Run your RealTek Audio installer and now reboot.
6. Sound, sound, oh so glorious sound!!
7. Optional step – send kisses to Microsoft

Drivers: Download the latest RealTek Audio driver – here  or get the latest drivers from your computer/motherboard manufacturer’s website.

If you still have Sound Problems

• Try the Microsoft Audio troubleshooter via download or manually
• Manually: select the Start button, type Troubleshooting, and then select Troubleshooting from the list of results. Under Hardware and Sound, select Troubleshoot audio playback.

Issue and Solution Screens

Generic Driver – Sound Troubleshooter

Generic Driver – Environment Sound Affects

Realtek – Driver Install

Microsoft Driver – Uninstall Device

Realtek – Delete Generic Drivers