Recently, I’ve encountered several issues related to media drivers on various Windows versions, particularly after installing recent updates.
After running Windows Update, audio devices either stop functioning entirely or display as “Unknown Device” in Device Manager. Rolling back drivers or uninstalling updates sometimes temporarily restores functionality, but the problem often reappears on reboot. I’ve noticed this behavior on both Realtek and Intel-based systems.
Are others experiencing similar recurring issues with media drivers after updates? Additionally, is there a preferred workflow for troubleshooting and permanently resolving these conflicts, perhaps by leveraging Group Policy Objects to block specific driver updates or by using official driver packages directly from the device manufacturer instead of Windows-provided updates?
Any guidance, experiences, or best practices regarding the management and troubleshooting of Windows media drivers in enterprise environments would be appreciated.