Windows 10: Cortana disables Windows Audio Service, Wireless Adapter, & Start Menu

First let me start with laptop specs:

Acer Inspire V V3-372T-5051
Intel Core i5-6200U 2.3GHz
Intel HD Graphics 520
6GB DDR3 L Memory
256 GB SSD
Running fully up-to-date version of windows 10 with no additional software

It seems that whenever Cortana is enabled I cannot use the microphone or speakers because the windows audio srevice turns itself off. As well as some wireless networking and start menu/task bar issues whcih I will explain in detail here. I have experimented with cortana being off and restarting the laptop and it works flawlessly. If i enable cortana I will immediately get a red x next to the speaker logo in the taskbar and i get the error message, "The Audio Service is not Running".

I go ahead and open up services.msc, and can see that the audio service is set to automatic but is not running. I restart the audio service yet I still cannot access cortana. After a few minutes the red x will appear again signifying that the audio service has stopped again. Once this happens I no longer have access to the start menu or the taskbar (none of the icons can be clicked on or selected). At this point my wireless icon in the taskbar will goa way and the symbol for a hardwired connection will come back on. Even putting the laptop into airplane mode and back off again my wireless adapter will not become active.

To gain access again to the start menu, I have to use the windows key on the keyboard to "unfreeze" the start menu/taskbar. At this point I can access cortana settings and turn it off. After this I reset the wireless adapter and restart the audio service and voila! The laptop functions normally again and has not yet switched off the audio service or locked any start menu functions. The laptop however does need to be reset without cortana on to be able to connect to a wireless network.

It truly appears that cortana is the root of the problems that I am experiencing. I honestly do not plan on using cortana, but as a function that comes with my $650+ laptop I would like to know how I can still be able to use this feature.

Anyone else experiencing a problem such as this? If i have to render the laptop as a fault on arrival I have no problem returning it for a new one but figured i'd give it a shot at diagnosing it further before I need to do that.

Please let me know if I need to supply any further information, thank you for taking the time to read this!!

:)

 

After Windows 10 update (Anniv. edition) wireless connection keeps disconneting after 2 minutes or so.

I tried something today and it seems to be working but I am gonna confirm after couple of days.

Try this:

Control Panel > Administration Tools > Computer Management > Services & Applications > Services.

Scroll down this list to find 'WLAN Auto Config'

Double click on 'WLAN Auto Config' On the general tab, select from the start up type drop down menu, select 'Automatic'. Under Service Status click on 'Start'. Then 'Apply' these settings and exit from all open control
panel windows.

If this doesn't work you should first uninstall your Wireless Network Adapter from Device Manager.

Right Click Windows Menu > Device Manager > Network Adapter. Select your network wireless adapter and uninstall it.

And then repeat the above steps again.

 

No internet connection since upgrade to 10 from 8.1

Hi,

My son upgraded his Asus laptop to windows 10 about 2 months ago but recently it will not connect to the internet, wireless or ethernet. It states "no connections are available"

Troubleshooter states there are no problems.

When i open the Network and sharing centre it states " The dependency service or group failed to start".

Tried to rollback to 8.1 but cannot find the product key, therefore not being able to rollback.

Under Device manager > Network adapters it is Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 wireless network adapter & Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller.

Also, there is a warning stating "The audio service is not running"

Many Thanks for any help

 

Hi, never seen this reported; I gather this is a new laptop, with nothing installed.

Assuming you have not configured settings in some strange manner or been infected, there's little to go on.

Your first port of call is definitely your supplier. (Mine is good- technically quick and competent- they did a remote session recently to discover what they believed could be achieved could no longer on this model!).

Given it's a brand new configuration, you could try completely formatting your disk and reinstalling Windows, but I would not do that before contacting your supplier.

You may also have a recovery partition which allows you to reset it to ex-factory condition.

Noted you have posted this here:
Fix Cortana disables Windows Audio Service, Wireless Adapter, Start Menu
Cortana disables Windows Audio Service, Wireless A... - Acer Community - 430298