Z790 Maximus Extreme Audio Driver Issues

[scyto]

I have a Z790 Maximum Extreme

After months of back and forth with support I am tearing my hair out. The driver package doesn't fundementally work. By default when installing DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R from the full download package it results in:

a) all sonic studio apps giving the "the current system is not supported, or the audio driver has not been properly installed. NOPKEY"
b) the Realtek audio console app doesn't work with the error "could not connect to the RPC service" (if the apps get installed at all)

I fixed a) by realizing that AVoluteSS3Vad.inf is not correctly processed and doesn't change the driver of device USB\VID_0B05&PID_1A53&REV_0009&MI_00
at all. Forcing this device to use the inf fixed problem (a) but has not fixed probelm (b).

How do i get someone at ASUS to take me seriously on this issue?
I am happy to supply setupapidev logs / enabled tracing whatever is needed

(oh and the install routine creates a scheduled task to install the Windows App Store apps for sonicstudio and realktek, not sure why but that scheduled task sometimes doesn't run until a clean reboot and login - when it need to be run at the end of the install.bat and BEFORE the batch file reports it is finished.

Pretty annoyed given the cost of this motherboard the lackluster support I am getting.

edit: Hmm could b) above be caused by the fact there is Realtek Audio Service installed in services - if so it seems the installer forgot to install that....

[scyto]

Yup i can say for definite now that neither AVoluteSS3Vad.inf is not correctly processed at install by the current installer and nor is RealtekService.inf.
Forcing these to be processed by hand fixes the issue.

To get everything working I have to 1) for the right driver to be installed for the USB device and 2)process EVERY 3rd party and realtek inf file by hand.

To be clear this is the order of operation after running install.bat and waiting for it to complete:
1) change the device Realtek USB2.0 Audio to use the driver from .\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\USBAud\Win64\RtDUsbAD_asus.inf

2) right click all inf files in each of the folders under .\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\USBAud\Win64\Realtek\ and choose install

3) right click all inf files in each of the folders under .\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\USBAud\Win64\ThirdParty\ and choose install

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, scyto.

May I ask if the issue (a) has been solved? Could you help confirm the OS version you are currently installing?
For issue (b), the "could not connect to the RPC service" might be caused by corrupt Realtek HD Audio Drivers, audio card problems, or disabled Realtek Services.
Please try running the Audio Troubleshooter or uninstalling and reinstalling the Realtek Audio Drivers to see if the error message still appears.

If possible, please share a screenshot of the error message to help us better understand.

Thank you.

[scyto]

Jiaszzz@ROG wrote:
Hello, scyto.

May I ask if the issue (a) has been solved? Could you help confirm the OS version you are currently installing?
For issue (b), the "could not connect to the RPC service" might be caused by corrupt Realtek HD Audio Drivers, audio card problems, or disabled Realtek Services.
Please try running the Audio Troubleshooter or uninstalling and reinstalling the Realtek Audio Drivers to see if the error message still appears.

If possible, please share a screenshot of the error message to help us better understand.

Thank you.

I also did some more digging and created a video (DM me or give me your email if you want a link to the video) of a fresh install, i think these two symptoms show how the install fails

1. in windows the DLL called during setup.exe / pnputil is failing

Faulting application name: rundll32.exe, version: 10.0.25272.1000, time stamp: 0x972c92d3
Faulting module name: RtSetupAPI64.dll, version: 1.0.0.14, time stamp: 0x5bcd76b7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000017ffe
Faulting process id: 0x0x7C68
Faulting application start time: 0x0x1D926E0D92C52F0
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Realtek\Audio\USBAud\RtSetupAPI64.dll
Report Id: f2194f5d-7244-43ce-a745-bcf3d073ce5f
Faulting package full name: 
Faulting package-relative application ID: 

and this is all there is in setupapi.dev - you can see it reported a failure to install over drivers

[Device Install Log]
     OS Version = 10.0.25272
     Service Pack = 0.0
     Suite = 0x0100
     ProductType = 1
     Architecture = amd64

[BeginLog]

[Boot Session: 2023/01/12 15:23:31.500]

>>>  [Driver Install (DrvSetupInstallDriver) - C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf]
>>>  Section start 2023/01/12 15:52:37.860
      cmd: pnputil  -a ".\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf" /install
     dvs: Flags: 0x00000000
     dvs: {Driver Setup Import Driver Package: C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.872
     sto:      {Copy Driver Package: C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.874
     sto:           Driver Package = C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf
     sto:           Flags          = 0x00000007
     sto:           Destination    = C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}
     sto:           Copying driver package files to 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}'.
     flq:           {FILE_QUEUE_COMMIT} 15:52:37.880
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.cat' to 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.cat'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf' to 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\Downloads\DRV_Audio_RTK_USB_CNT_DTSP_TP_W11_64_V6396002342_20221013R\VAD_Driver_Install\AVoluteSS3Vad.sys' to 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.sys'.
     flq:           {FILE_QUEUE_COMMIT - exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.899
     sto:      {Copy Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.899
     ump:      Import flags: 0x00000000
     pol:      {Driver package policy check} 15:52:37.910
     pol:      {Driver package policy check - exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.910
     sto:      {Stage Driver Package: C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.911
     inf:           Provider       = Nahimic
     inf:           Class GUID     = {4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
     inf:           Driver Version = 10/14/2021,1.0.2.0
     inf:           Catalog File   = AVoluteSS3Vad.cat
     inf:           Version Flags  = 0x00000001
     inf:           {Query Configurability: C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.925
     inf:                Driver package uses WDF.
     inf:                Driver package 'AVoluteSS3Vad.inf' is configurable.
     inf:           {Query Configurability: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.931
     flq:           {FILE_QUEUE_COMMIT} 15:52:37.932
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.cat' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}\AVoluteSS3Vad.cat'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp\{2e262282-4119-ee4f-b6a8-48f217f39188}\AVoluteSS3Vad.sys' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}\AVoluteSS3Vad.sys'.
     flq:           {FILE_QUEUE_COMMIT - exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.949
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE} 15:52:37.951
     sig:                Driver package catalog is valid.
     sig:                {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 15:52:37.958
     sig:                     Key      = AVoluteSS3Vad.inf
     sig:                     FilePath = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf
     sig:                     Catalog  = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}\AVoluteSS3Vad.cat
     sig:                     Success: File is signed in catalog.
     sig:                {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.973
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.975
     sig:           Signer Score  = 0x0D000005 (WHQL)
     sig:           Signer Name   = Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher
     sig:           Submission ID = 30097070_14179270821917425_1152921505694034308
     sto:           {Core Driver Package Import: avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a} 15:52:37.977
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN} 15:52:37.978
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.978
     cpy:                {Copy Directory: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{2f6847d4-f7c2-8a47-a5a7-7b693ee0ae3a}} 15:52:37.978
     cpy:                     Target Path = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a
     cpy:                {Copy Directory: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.980
     idb:                {Register Driver Package: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.981
     idb:                     Created driver package object 'avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a' in DRIVERS database node.
     idb:                     Created driver INF file object 'oem8.inf' in DRIVERS database node.
     idb:                     Registered driver package 'avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a' with 'oem8.inf'.
     idb:                {Register Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.985
     idb:                {Publish Driver Package: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a\AVoluteSS3Vad.inf} 15:52:37.985
     idb:                     Activating driver package 'avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a'.
     cpy:                     Published 'avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a\avolutess3vad.inf' to 'oem8.inf'.
     idb:                     Indexed 2 device IDs for 'avolutess3vad.inf_amd64_79cd9525c9a5e12a'.
     sto:                     Flushed driver database node 'DRIVERS'. Time = 0 ms
     sto:                     Flushed driver database node 'SYSTEM'. Time = 0 ms
     idb:                {Publish Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:37.999
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END} 15:52:38.000
     dvi:                     Flushed all driver package files to disk. Time = 3 ms
     sig:                     Installed catalog 'AVoluteSS3Vad.cat' as 'oem8.cat'.
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:38.055
     sto:           {Core Driver Package Import: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:38.056
     sto:      {Stage Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:38.056
     dvs:      Driver Package:
     dvs:           Outcome        - Imported
     dvs:           Driver INF     - avolutess3vad.inf (oem8.inf)
     dvs:           Class GUID     - {4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
     dvs:           Driver Version - 10/14/2021,1.0.2.0
     dvs: {Driver Setup Import Driver Package - exit (0x00000000)} 15:52:38.166
     dvs: {Driver Setup Update Device: SWD\DRIVERENUM\{1b98ef90-ca0e-11e7-8f1a-0800200c9a66}#AVoluteSS3Vad&7&193a70a1&2} 15:52:38.177
     dvs:      Marking non-present device 'SWD\DRIVERENUM\{1B98EF90-CA0E-11E7-8F1A-0800200C9A66}#AVOLUTESS3VAD&7&193A70A1&2' for reinstall.
     dvs:      {Install Related Drivers} 15:52:38.179
!    dvs:           Unable to install related drivers. Error = 0x00000002
     dvs:      {Install Related Drivers: exit(0x00000002)} 15:52:38.180
     dvs: {Driver Setup Update Device - exit(0x00000000)} 15:52:38.180
<<<  Section end 2023/01/12 15:52:38.180
<<<  [Exit status: SUCCESS]

Hilarious it exits with success with such a catastrophic failure3 lines earlier.

This is the root cause of my issue - your installation package crashes silently. This is why none of the inf files are processed at all. I gues this also means that setup.exe is only copying the files and that actual install is done purely by calling pnputil - if thats correct then I am horrified by how far away this is from best practice....
Hope this helps.

[scyto]

Sure, for issue a) i have tested on Windows 11 22H2 and because that didn't work on Windows Insider Dev multiple version, currently on 25272 (yes i get insider versions are likely not supported, but I had same issue on Windows 11 22H2. And to be clear i now know how to fix this by hand.

I have clean installed maybe 10 times at this point, using driver explorer to remove anything. It makes no difference.

Issue b) is 100% caused by the service not being installed (i can correct all my issues by manually clicking EVERY inf file in 3rd party and realtek folders and saying installe)

Pictures of what system looks like after running install.bat as admin (as you see wrong driver is device manager)


To be clear I know manually how to go around the installer and get everything working (i once worked at Microsoft as a consultant who helped customers create MSI packages driver packages etc). The point is the installer is NOT working.

The symptoms imply that almost no inf file was correctly processed during install.
These are pretty fresh builds of windows with not too much installed, so either:
1) the package is fatally flawed for use on Win11 22H2 or..
2) there is some process on my PC preventing the installer from working correctly

either way the logs don't give me enough information to grok why, hence why i am asking
i don't have 3rd party AV installed (just windows defender)

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, scyto.

Thank you for sharing the details.
Please assist in confirming the following in order to enable the appropriate departments better understand your issue:
- Did you also update Audio ALC4080/ALC4082 FW update tool which released on 2022/12/26?
- Did you update the drivers through Windows Update or did you download directly from the support page of the official website?
- the current BIOS version
- the content of the setting in BIOS (or whether it is the default)
- the brand and model name of the CPU, DRAM, GPU, and PSU currently installed

Thank you.

[GAuViTec]

Hi,

i tried this also because i have the same Problem.
Sonic Studio won`t start correctly.
Normaly with " No Driver or Soundcard, Timed Out" Message.
So i Tried this stuff install the .inf Files per Hand.
I thought it would work but it`is the same as i would "repair" or Fallback in Windows App.
First Time it says "base Mode doesnt Support" then if i try again Timeout error.
I am using Win 11 Pro 10.0.22000 Build 2200
Rog Strix B650 E-E Board with Bios 0421

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, GAuViTec.

May I ask if you have tried to reinstall the Realtek Audio Driver V6.3.9600.2333 from the ROG STRIX B650E-E GAMING WIFI support page?
If you continue to face this issue, please also provide the content of the setting in BIOS (or whether it is the default) and the brand and model name of the CPU, DRAM, GPU, and PSU currently installed.

Thank you.