Windows 10: After a recent update cortana pops up when a unspecified sound or word is spoken

Hi --I have win 10 build 1904 after an update I was could not communicate with Cortana---I was told that another update was coming for Cortana--when I got it --it seems that Cortana is corrupted and is responding to voice/word/? and then "winking out"

:)

 

Windows sound not playing after recent Win10 Update

Hi all,

Symptom:
Since last windows update, windows doesn't play the windows sounds: Startup, UAC sound, exclamation, warning, notifications, etc.

Note: Other sounds, like games, videos, calls are working well.

I use SoundBlaster Z series sound card. Their recent driver update release notes lists that the driver is fixing this issue.

Actions taken:
Removed the driver completely
rebooted
Reinstalled the driver

Results:
After initial boot and subsequent restarts, the windows sounds play well.
After a computer shutdown and startup - the above symptom is introduced again, i.e., windows sounds don't play anymore.

I've repeated the steps above and ended up with the same problem.

Can anyone please assist?


Win10 Pro
Version 1909
OS Build 18363.657

Thanks.

 

Cortana pops up

Hi Gerald,

To assist you with your concern, you may follow the steps provided below on how to fix Cortana that keeps popping up:

• Click Start Menu > Settings.
• Look for Devices > Mouse & touchpad.
• Click Additional mouse options. (This will open a new window that depends on your device.)
• Look for options that read "Three Finger Tap" or "Four Finger Tap".

Note: You need to make sure that these options are disabled as this is also a factor that triggers Cortana automatically.

You can also find the same options when you go to Control Panel>Hardware and Sound>Synaptics Touchpad.
Just turn off the tap feature.

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you.

 

How do I stop Cortana popping up?

Could we please stop the insults and concentrate on understanding the symptoms objectively?

Now it sounds like you are in your "word processor" when Cortana "pops up", not on the Taskbar. So, is there an option in your "word processor" which allows that? For example, in Edge there is such an option. I think it must be true that its option is
respected because, again, I have never seen Cortana "pop up" in Edge and I assume it is because I have never tested the option of seeing Cortana's services in there.

Pardon me for being slightly incredulous (and perhaps inappropriately facetious) that "Cortana" would "close your word processor". Is it possible that the "pop up" is causing the "word processor" to crash? Have you looked at your Reliability Monitor or
Events log (for example) for signs of that explanation instead?

HTH

Robert

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