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November 3rd, 2017 19:00
Warning: XPS8920 Realtek driver
This note is just a warning for XPS8920 users.
In the Dell support webpage, there is a new driver announced for "Realtek Audio". Do not install this one onto your Realtek HD Audio HW. Otherwise, 1. dongle jacks for headphone and microphone will not work, and 2. sound will become unclear like in a barrel.
Also, Windows 10 may try to install the same driver ("Realtek Audio") automatically, causing the same problem.
Use following procedure to avoid the problem:
1. Power up the system. Uninstall "Realtek Audio" device with software and, without rebooting, install "Realtek HD Audio" driver obtained from Realtek. Current version is 2.82.
2. Reboot, then immediately run wushowhide.diagcab which can be obtained from Microsoft support, then at the end of it, select "Hide", check mark the "Realtek HD Audio" driver to stop automatic update by "Windows Update" function.
Hope this helps somebody who will struggle with strange sound and unavailable microphone, like me.
Tak
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Edit 11/5/2017:
Above wushowhide.diagcab may not work if your Win-10 is version 1709. In this case, your last resort is to use Group Policy.
Open gpedit.msc, then go to ComputerConfiglation/System/DeviceInstallation/DeviceInstallationRestriction/, find "PreventInstallationOfDevicesThatMatchAnyOfTheseDeviceIds" in right pane and enable it. Click "Show", then specify Device IDs. The IDs of Realtek HD Audio device can be found in the DeviceManager/Sound,Video/RealtekHighDefinitionAudio/, right click, property, detail, HardwareID. There should be two values. Copy them into the contents of "Show". Click apply. Exit gpedit and give command "gpupdate /force". Note that this will prevent automatic driver update. So, you must do the maintenance by yourself.
Some further memo:
At the step 1, do not install Realtek HD Audio driver over Reaktek Audio driver without uninstalling. Installer of HD driver will uninstall the Audio driver first and reboot. Now, Windows will install Realtek Audio driver again during booting process, resulting in uninstall-reboot loop.
The reason to stop automatic update by Windows is also the same reason. Windows will find Realtek HD Audio driver and think that it must be updated, and force to install the Realtek Audio driver, which you must prevent.
vtoy116
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November 5th, 2017 05:00
It is interesting that in the Description the XPS 8920 is not listed although in the full driver details the XPS 8920 is listed under Compatible Systems. Also I don't know what HD Audio Codec the XPS 8920 uses but under Applies to the Realtec ALC3246 is listed, but the full driver details for the Realtek Audio Driver it lists the Realtek ALC3861 as the HD Audio Codec. All this makes me think this Realtek HD Audio Driver is not meant for the XPS 8920.
takfuji
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November 5th, 2017 14:00
Yes, it is really confusing. The HW is ALC3861, which is written in the XPS8920 specification. Realtek HD Audio driver can be applied for all Realtek "High Definition" hardware, though.
I found this problem after Windows 10 updated the driver automatically. The sound became really unclear, so I introduced graphic equalizer. Later, I also found that microphone and headphone did not work when plugged in/out. I spent more than one month to chase the cause. I thought it is better to share the finding. (I also applied 1 k-ohm resister between pin-4 and GND on the HD dongle header. This is to comply with Intel HD header specification. It may or may-not be working as intended.)
Tak
vtoy116
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November 6th, 2017 18:00
If you look at the Dell support webpage for the XPS 8920 and view the full details for the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver you will see that under the "Applies to" section the ALC3861 is not listed. This makes me wonder why this driver is even listed for the XPS 8920. It seems to me that Dell should remove this driver from this support page and replace it with the correct one.
takfuji
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November 7th, 2017 01:00
I understand your point. True, ALC3861 is not listed there, and should be removed. However, am not talking about Dell's HD driver.
The problem is "Realtek Audio" driver that Dell released on Oct. 27, and the driver that Win-10 automatically installed (again, "Realtek Audio"). The solution I found is the driver downloaded from Realtek site, as HD audio release 2.82. That resolved the problem. That is the information I wanted to post. Am not using Dell's HD driver, and don't know if it works or not.
Tak