Windows 10 changes my default audio output

[soopytwist]

I have an ageing Creative X-Fi with Daniel K’s drivers for Windows 10. It has worked flawlessly for many years but recently Windows 10 keeps changing my default output from Creative SB X-Fi to 27GL850 3-NVIDIA High Definition Audio. Consequently I have no audio when I boot up so I have to disable the 27GL850 again but then I have to disable SPDIF out in the encoder settings for the X-Fi and back again, otherwise I get broken and glitchy sound.

The 27GL850 device is my LG monitor.

I can’t tell if the sound card is failing and so Windows 10 picks the next device in the list instead or if the monitor is forcing the change when it likes. It happens about twice a month, randomly.

I use an Earforce DSS for pseudo 5.1 on headphones using the X-Fi’s optical out. But the problem also affects 2 channel on jack connected USB speakers.

To complicate things further, I also have Index HMD and Oculus Virtual Audio Device enabled with Asus onboard Realtek disabled.

I should probably take the X-Fi out and use on-board, as I do have optical out for the DSS but I like the Daniel K audio package and tools.

[alms]

I had to pull out my X-Fi, but in my case, it was causing stability problems. I wasn’t sure if a software problem or the hardware failing, too, eventually I gave up, as insisting on using the X-Fi was like trying to row a raft upstream, a lot of work to just stand still.

Often the problem is tied to Windows / Windows Update silently changing your drivers. This happens a lot with ancient and unsupported hardware, not just the X-Fi, it’s annoying and you can partly get around it, however it may resurface from time to time.

If setting the primary sound device to the X-Fi doesn’t cure the boot-up issue, you could also try disabling HDMI audio output entirely.