Windows 10: I Suddenly Have Massive Sound Issues - Speakers Very Quiet And Unbalanced

I've had a HP laptop for a couple years now. The last month or so, I've suddenly been experiencing issues with my laptop's sound. It's abnormally quiet and unbalanced between the left and right speakers. I used to keep my volume at around 30, which seemed comfortably loud enough there. But recently I've been experiencing a huge sound decrease. I essentially need to turn my volume up to 60, even all the way up to 100 at times, to be as loud as where it used to be at 30. This means my laptop cannot get as loud as it used to either, my total volume is essentially halved. This is extreme

:)

 

Speaker sound

The volume using the Lenovo PC speakers is almost not audible. With the sound set to 100%, it is just audible in a quiet room. Suggestions?

 

Good surround sound headset

I know you say you're not that guy, but stepping into the $250+ range really brings a change in build quality that might have you never having to buy another set. Otherwise, getting 6 speakers with decent sound in a headset is hard, and that's what you are asking for, and I have no suggestions, but just a bump up the list. *Stick Out Tongue

 

Speaker/sound issue following 1709 upgrade

Tomseys,

I've downloaded the Realtek HD audio, run the install twice with no effect.

Regarding the steps suggested above, yes.
Issues as I've gone along are: (sorry for big bits of quoted test)

"try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. Here's how:
Open Device Manager, right-click (or press and hold) your audio driver > Update driver software... > Browse my computer for driver software > Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer, select High Definition Audio Device, select Next, and follow the instructions to install"

There is NO HD audio device present to select.

"
Open Start,enter Sound, select it from the list of results. On the Playback tab, select a device, then Set Default."

The only thing I can get to here is to the control panel which takes me straight to the speakers, (Intel SST audio device WDM). There's no "Sound" in the Start section.

"On the Playback tab, right-click (or press and hold) the Default Device, and then selectProperties. On the Advanced tab, under Default Format, change the setting, and then retest your audio device. If that doesn't work, try changing the setting again."

The default format pulldown is greyed out - you can't change it. Its set at 16bit, 48000Hz

Do these missing/unchangeable bits shed any light?