Can't access "Sounds" settings in Windows 10

Soldato
Joined
11 Apr 2006
Posts
7,107
Location
Earth
Something has happened today with my Dell 5420 laptop. I use a Plantronics BT Headset and this morning when using Teams it said no audio device or mic enabled. I spent a few minutes reseating the BT dongle, power on off devices and laptop.

Since then the Audio/Sound settings can't be accessed at all. When I left click on the speaker systray icon it doesn't simply pop up with all of the audio devices on the laptop. When I right click it brings up the sub menu options. Clicking "Open Sound Settings" pops open the settings cog but remains on just blue screem with the cog showing. When I try and access any other Sound related menu it is very slow, sluggish too.

When I open Youtube on browser it loads screen but the audio doesn't play at all instantly. Takes a good 30 seconds to start playing. Internet connection is fine so it's not a delay that way. It does play sound through my headset eventually.

When I open MS Teams it says my audio devices are in a customised setup but then when I hover over audio device and mic device it's like greyed out.

I have no idea what's happened to it but doing any kind of Dell SupportAssist, CommandUpdate, Windows Update or any troubleshooter fixes nothing. There is definitely a problem I just dont know where or how to fix it :(
 
Yes I can get to that but it is really sluggish and altho my headset is the selected device the laptop still feels wrong.

If I hit Windows Start and type Settings then select Sound from the menu nothing happens at all. It should load of Sound options right? It just hangs.



Issue 1 - when selecting different devices it hangs for ages

Issue 2 - Clicked on Sounds menu and nothing happens, should bring up a menu
 
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