No audio from my computer

It's not too strenuous a task to restore your Windows software to a previous history point - i.e. just before the very recent updates.  If you do this and the sound returns to a working state then you've moved forward (learnt something).  If this does work it may be worth leaving the updates for a little while until MS fixes whatever caused the sound issue - someone is bound to have reported it.

Sounds to my like you're (unknowingly) downloading a lot of crapware. Manufacturers don't charge for driver downloads. So, you were definitely not on the official manufacturer website when you were looking for the drivers.

If you do a Safe Reboot windows will start in a minimal setup without things like sound cards and add ons (printers, network) installed. It really is for recovery. That said, rebooting is always a good way to ensure Microsoft patches have been installed properly. Sometimes a patch won't force a reboot when it needs to. You can reboot as many times as you want, without it causing harm.

If that does not fix it and you still believe it are the MS patches that caused it, please do what Gavin recommends. All supported MS Operating Systems create restore points before the patches are installed. Just go back to a previous restore point. Note that this will literally put your OS back in time. So, any software you installed after the restore point was made, will be undone too - not just the patches (but that is probably a good thing in this case). You don't have to wory about files, as they are not part of the restore point.

Personally, based on point one, I don't think it were the Windows patches that caused this problem. Also, the error message is very generic. So, the potential solutions you found online may actually not be applicable at all to your situation. Applying them could solve matters but could also make matters worse. You can try and find out more by looking in the Windows Event Log. Every time when you go into Audio setup, it logs the specific error message in there. Googling based on that may give you a better idea of what is the root cause here.

If it is related to patches, then MS would be all over it by now and would issue a statement of some sort.

If the shop did a complete reinstall this summer, then having your OS broken again within 4 months sounds like you're doing something with the OS that you should not be doing. For example, the true root cause of Windows freezing a lot is typically excessive installing and deinstalling of (badly designed) software and/or the installation of malware through websites you visit. I run many windows installations and as long as you vet your software it will be many years before you see a noticable slowdown.

What version of Windows are you on? And is it the 32 bit version or the 64 bit version? Is your anti-virus up to date? Which anti-virus do you use?

Thanks Gavin. I restored Windows to what it was 3 days ago.

The silence is over. The sound is working again.

Perhaps I was unclear. I didn't get Windows reinstalled in the summer.  It was something they said I should get done in a while to cure the computer freezing etc.

I have to uninstall and reinstall Qobuz every 2 or 3 weeks.

My anti virus software is up to date as far as I'm aware. Use standard MS Windows security plus IoBit system care.

Ok, not having reinstalled Windows over the summer changes the picture somewhat. Good to hear things are back working again. That is the most important thing.

Now, you will get offered those security fixes again by Microsoft. I suggest you read through them one by one to check if there is any reference to your soundcard or usb in it (or however else you stream your music). Then install them, reboot, and check whether everything works still. If it does, then it wasn't MS, but something else in the last three days that tripped you up or the update did not install properly the first time round. If it does cause the same issue again, you can restore again and then contact MS to alert them that their patches are causing havoc.

From what you are describing your system is sick. You should never have to reinstall software to get it working.

At a guess you are running a 32bit Win 7 system.

It does sound like you need to do a system rebuild.

Do you have the windows install disk?

Do you have the install routines (software and keys) for your software?

Do you know what is involved in a system rebuild?

Bananahead: you're right, my computer (MSI VR 705) is sick e.g. often freezing. It's Windows 7 Home Premium. Service Pack 1. 64 bit operating system. I frequently run security checks. Virus protection is up to date. I've unistalled programs I don't need.

A while ago I got a new power cord as the old one came loose and so the computer then switched itself off. Now the same problem is happening again: switching itself off.

This message came up last night:

I gather that a new battery would cost £20-£25. Hopefully I could install that myself. But I'm worried that something deeper is the problem. I don't have any system back up disks and am not qualified to do any major work. So I've sent an email to the local computer repair shop with all this information.

Under Control Panel / System and Security / System you should see Product ID. Write this down -  it is your windows license key.

You should be able to find the license keys for any other software under Help / About.

It is possible that a new battery might make your system much more stable so that is a good idea.

However, a system rebuild is probably needed. Ask your friends or anyone else if they have a windows 7 install disk that you can use and then try doing a system recovery from it. You will have to do a search to find out how to do that on your system - it is possible that it will do it automatically if the disk is in the DVD drive at boot time.

And make sure that you get a quote from the computer repair shop because it might be more economical to just buy a new system.