Windows 10 - "audio service is not running..."

Factual Questions
1

…and I don’t know how to change that.

I’m using a fairly new HP laptop. Bought it less than a year ago. And it now has no sound. I have the icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar that shows speaker and volume (looks like this) that currently shows my volume on high and unmuted. It will sometimes switch to this image. Either way, no audio.

Using my Google-fu, I came upon an article that suggested doing the following:

[quoted online article]

  1. Click on start menu, type in the search box, Services and hit enter.
  2. find “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder”, right click on it and then click on properties.
  3. Under “startup type” in the drop down box, select “Disabled” then click apply.
  4. At the top of the properties window, click on the “Log On” tab.
  5. under “Log on as:” select “This account:” and in the box, type in: Local Service
  6. For the “Password” and “Confirm password” use your account password that you used to log in to Windows. (must be a administrator account type)
  7. click on “Apply” and click “OK” when the dialog box appears.
  8. Click “OK” to close the properties window.
  9. find “Windows Audio”, right click on it and then click on properties
  10. Repeat steps 3 through 8.
  11. close the “Services” window, and restart your computer.
  12. When you have logged back on ,click on start menu, type in the search box, “services” and hit enter
  13. find “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder”, right click on it and then click on properties.
  14. Under “startup type” in the drop down box, select “Automatic” then click apply and click on “Start”.
  15. Click “OK” to close the properties window.
  16. find “Windows Audio”, right click on it and then click on properties.
  17. Repeat steps 14 and 15.
  18. close the “Services” window, and check your sound to see if it works.
    [/quote]

Did that twice. No change.

It’s been sitting in the same spot all day, free from interference from moisture, food, sunlight, other people using it, etc, and it was working beautifully with no issues.

Now, I’m not tech savvy, nor am I mechanically inclined. So, if possible, please phrase and explain things like you’re trying to explain it to your grandfather.

Thanks in advance.

2

Going to start from very basic, so no offense intended if this seems obvious:

When you click on the audio icon in the taskbar what does the box say? It should say something like “Speakers (Realtek® Audio)” right above the volume bar.

3

I have a few different devices:

  1. Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
  2. Headphones (WEI-01 Stereo)
  3. Headset (ABC2009 Hands-free AG Audio)
  4. Headphones (ABC 2009 Stereo)
4

Try updating the driver:

  1. Press the Windows key
  2. Type “device”
  3. Click on “Device Manager” a new window will open
  4. Double-click on “Audio inputs and outputs”
  5. Double-click on “Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)”
  6. Click on"Update driver"
  7. A new window will appear asking whether you want to “search on this computer” or “search the internet” choose the internet option (they may notappear in that order)
  8. The system will search for an updated driver. If it finds one, you will get automated instructions. If it doesn’t or you already have the latest driver it will tell you so.