Question: Q: Audio not working on Windows 10 installed on external SSD running on iMac

I installed Windows 10 (April 18 update) on external SSD drive that can be selected on the iMac’s startup. Run the Boot Camp Windows Support Software and everything is fine, Apple mouse & keyboard, except audio is missing. Windows 10 Device Manager app does not show any problems with the drivers such as yellow triangles or red crosses. In fact, when a video is played the green volumen bars in the audio device driver properties move but there is no sound at all.

• iMac is the latest 2019 model.
• Windows 10 is up to date according to Windows update app (had to use April 18 update as start version since the installation does not work with October 18 version).
• Drivers are update to date according to Windows.
• Installed Windows 10 on external SDD following these instructions: https://blog.macsales.com/40947-tech-tip-how-to-use-boot-camp-on-an-external-drive, https://medium.com/@svenkirsime/install-windows-on-the-external-ssd-hdd-for-your-mac-5d29eefe5d1, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=910Y1hLreRc&t=117s.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Apr 19, 2019 1:38 AM

I had the same problem as you with a 2019 27” iMac with Windows 10 (1809) on external SSD with no sound to speakers or headphones. After a lot of Google searches I started to suspect a problem with the High Definition Audio Device (not the AMD one, if you have one) in the Device Manager (Sound, video and game controllers) due to it using a standard Microsoft driver. One search result mentioned replacing the driver with the one in the Cirrus folder from the BootCamp drivers (WindowsSupport/$WinPEDrivers$). After confirming the driver in the Cirrus folder is a High Definition Audio driver, I did an update of the driver in Device Manager and pointed it at the Cirrus folder for the location. I got confirmation that the install was successful and the sound started working (no reboot).

I had assumed that running setup (more than once in my case) in the WindowsSupport folder would install all the drivers necessary, but clearly I was wrong.

Question: Q: No audio in windows 10

Ok here is a good one.

I am building some MacBooks with windows only for a few friends.

I am doing A1278 versions.

I am maxing out the Ram and installing an SSD in as well for them.

So i used the factory HD to make sure windows 10 would install correctly and work correctly. This was on a A1278 with 2.4 core 2 duo. Nvidia chipset graphics. I installed boot camp and everything works correctly. So i pulled out that HD and swapped in an SSD and installed windows with bootcamp and done all good.

I got a 2nd A1278 with 2.3 i5 processor intel chipset graphics. I put that same test HD in with windows 10 on it and it installed everything correctly and everything worked with that mac’s version of bootcamp. The sound works correctly.

So I installed an SSD and installed windows 10 on it. And I cannot figure out how to get the audio to work at all. I keep getting fault code 10. I have tried everything i know and I can’t get it to work at all. And i know its not a hardware issue. I can’t figure out how to get the right drivers on there for it to install correctly.

What can i do to fix this issue.

Posted on Apr 2, 2017 7:27 PM

All replies

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So I installed an SSD and installed windows 10 on it. And I cannot figure out how to get the audio to work at all. I keep getting fault code 10. I have tried everything i know and I can’t get it to work at all. And i know its not a hardware issue. I can’t figure out how to get the right drivers on there for it to install correctly.

Did you check the Device Manager for any unknown devices? Did you install the SSD on the Intel GPU Mac or the nVidia GPU Mac? Did you install Windows on the SSD from scratch using BC Assistant?

Apr 2, 2017 7:57 PM

I used a factory drive the non ssd and installed windows 10 without boot camp. Just installed windows 10 straight with booting off the disc. And fresh install on the Nvidia chipset laptop. Then ran all windows updates and installed the boot camp installed and everything worked correctly.

Then I took that same drive and put it into the intel chipset and then installed the boot camp for that laptop version and everything works correctly.

The platter hard drive is for testing only.

Then I put a fresh SSD into the intel laptop and installed windows 10 like I did the other hd and updated to latest updates and then installed boot camp and everything by sounds works. I tried to update chipset to latest version.

If I’m correct it needs to install the high depth audio controller before it installed the speakers and mic and stuff like that and I can’t get it to install correctly.

Apr 3, 2017 7:02 AM

On the Mac where Audio does not work, can you run msinfo32 and check the BIOS Mode value?

Apr 3, 2017 7:14 AM

It’s not a bios issue. It’s a driver problem. It works fine with one hard drive and not the other so it’s deff a software issue.

Apr 3, 2017 7:59 AM

If you install W10 using UEFI, Audio on the A1278 will not work. This is why we need to check what is the mode of the installation. Bypassing BC Assistant usually creates a problem because the installation type is chosen incorrectly. If there is no hardware exposed, drivers do not work.

Apr 3, 2017 8:36 AM

What do you mean UFEI? Well I installed windows 10 the same way on each hard drive. The only difference was that it was in thr Nvidia chipset first before it went into the intel chipset laptop. But both were installed the same identical way as far as the OS is concerned.

I don’t think BC matters because it works on that one hard drive. I don’t want OSX on it at all. I ran the BC installer once I had windows up and going.

What do you think about installing windows 8.1 then if the driver works then upgrade to windows 10.

Apr 3, 2017 9:20 AM

What do you mean UFEI? Well I installed windows 10 the same way on each hard drive. The only difference was that it was in thr Nvidia chipset first before it went into the intel chipset laptop. But both were installed the same identical way as far as the OS is concerned.

There are two types of Windows installations. EFI and BIOS. EFI does not work correctly on Macs older than late 2013 models. Macs prior to late 2013 require BIOS otherwise Audio does not work. This is achieved by creating a Hybrid MBR using BC Assistant. If you do not use BCA, it is a guessing game on which type is installed. This is why msinfo32 will show you what type of the installation it is.

There are differences in Audio when installed on a nVidia (discrete GPU) Mac vs a Intel-only Mac (integrated GPU). W10 has no Apple-certified drivers on Macs older than 2012 Macs. Generic drivers must see hardware correctly to work. If you are moving hard disks around between these two models, you are creating issues for yourself.

I don’t think BC matters because it works on that one hard drive. I don’t want OSX on it at all. I ran the BC installer once I had windows up and going.

The BC Driver installer is unrelated to BC Assistant . BC Assistant downloads the correct BC drivers based on Mac Model identifiers. If you do not use BCA, you must create the appropriate disk partitions and MBRs as necessary, before you install Windows.

What do you think about installing windows 8.1 then if the driver works then upgrade to windows 10.

If W8.1 is supported on your model and you have the correct disk partitioning structures, then you can start with W8.1 otherwise you will need W7 (or WXP) and upgrade it to W10.

See the following links for supported versions of Windows on Mac hardware.

Here is an example of a W10 installation on a 2012 Intel-only MBP.

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *512.1 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_HFS OSY-MBP13 380.3 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3

4: Microsoft Basic Data BOOTCAMP 131.0 GB disk0s4

sudo fdisk /dev/disk0

Disk: /dev/disk0 geometry: 62260/255/63 [1000215216 sectors]

#: id cyl hd sec — cyl hd sec [ start — size]

1: EE 0 0 2 — 25 127 14 [ 1 — 409639]

2: AF 25 127 15 — 1023 250 4 [ 409640 — 742676624] HFS+

3: AB 1023 250 5 — 1023 1 27 [ 743086264 — 1269536] Darwin Boot

*4: 07 1023 2 5 — 1023 121 5 [ 744355840 — 255858688] HPFS/QNX/AUX

Notice the Cirrus Audio devices and the BIOS Mode shown in the following image. Audio works.

Apple Sound / Audio Drivers Download

After you upgrade your computer to Windows 10, if your Apple Sound / Audio Drivers are not working, you can fix the problem by updating the drivers. It is possible that your Sound / Audio driver is not compatible with the newer version of Windows.

• Updates PC Drivers Automatically
• Identifies & Fixes Unknown Devices
• Supports Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP

Popular Utilities

Driver Updates for Popular Apple Sound / Audio Models

How to Update Device Drivers

There are two ways to update drivers.

Option 1 (Recommended): Update drivers automatically — Novice computer users can update drivers using trusted software in just a few mouse clicks. Automatic driver updates are fast, efficient and elimate all the guesswork. Your old drivers can even be backed up and restored in case any problems occur.

Option 2: Update drivers manually — Find the correct driver for your Sound / Audio and operating system, then install it by following the step by step instructions below. You’ll need some computer skills to use this method.

Option 1: Update drivers automatically

The Driver Update Utility for Apple devices is intelligent software which automatically recognizes your computer’s operating system and Sound / Audio model and finds the most up-to-date drivers for it. There is no risk of installing the wrong driver. The Driver Update Utility downloads and installs your drivers quickly and easily.

You can scan for driver updates automatically and install them manually with the free version of the Driver Update Utility for Apple, or complete all necessary driver updates automatically using the premium version.

Tech Tip: The Driver Update Utility for Apple will back up your current drivers for you. If you encounter any problems while updating your drivers, you can use this feature to restore your previous drivers and configuration settings.

Download the Driver Update Utility for Apple.

Double-click on the program to run it. It will then scan your computer and identify any problem drivers. You will see a results page similar to the one below:

Click the Update button next to your driver. The correct version will be downloaded and installed automatically. Or, you can click the Update All button at the bottom to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out-of-date on your system.

Before updating, use the built-in driver backup feature to save your current drivers to a specified folder. Use this backup folder to safely restore drivers if necessary:

Option 2: Update drivers manually

To find the latest driver, including Windows 10 drivers, choose from our list of most popular Apple Sound / Audio downloads or search our driver archive for the driver that fits your specific Sound / Audio model and your PC’s operating system.

Tech Tip: If you are having trouble finding the right driver update, use the Apple Sound / Audio Driver Update Utility. It is software which finds, downloads and istalls the correct driver for you — automatically.

After downloading your driver update, you will need to install it. Driver updates come in a variety of file formats with different file extensions. For example, you may have downloaded an EXE, INF, ZIP, or SYS file. Each file type has a slighty different installation procedure to follow. Visit our Driver Support Page to watch helpful step-by-step videos on how to install drivers based on their file extension.

How to Install Drivers

After you have found the right driver, follow these simple instructions to install it.

1. Power off your device.
2. Disconnect the device from your computer.
3. Reconnect the device and power it on.
4. Double click the driver download to extract it.
5. If a language option is given, select your language.
6. Follow the directions on the installation program screen.
7. Reboot your computer.

Apple Drivers Download

Apple is a global technology company, often considered to be one of the biggest in the world. Apple offers both products and services in a wide range of categories, including software and hardware. Their hardware products include computer systems, smartphones, tablets, and peripherals. The company was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Some of the most popular products today include the Macbook laptops, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

• Updates PC Drivers Automatically
• Identifies & Fixes Unknown Devices
• Supports Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP

Recent Help Articles

Popular Apple Device Categories

Driver Updates for Popular Apple Device Models

Featured Apple Downloads

How to Update Apple Device Drivers Quickly & Easily

Tech Tip: Updating drivers manually requires some computer skills and patience. A faster and easier option is to use the Driver Update Utility for Apple to scan your system for free. The utility tells you which specific drivers are out-of-date for all of your devices.

Step 1 — Download Your Driver

To get the latest driver, including Windows 10 drivers, you can choose from the above list of most popular Apple downloads. Click the download button next to the matching model name. After you complete your download, move on to Step 2.

If your driver is not listed and you know the model name or number of your Apple device, you can use it to search our driver archive for your Apple device model. Simply type the model name and/or number into the search box and click the Search button. You may see different versions in the results. Choose the best match for your PC and operating system.

If you don’t know the model name or number, you can start to narrow your search down by choosing which category of Apple device you have (such as Printer, Scanner, Video, Network, etc.). Start by selecting the correct category from our list of Apple Device Drivers by Category above.

We employ a team from around the world. They add hundreds of new drivers to our site every day.

Tech Tip: If you are having trouble deciding which is the right driver, try the Driver Update Utility for Apple. It is a software utility that will find the right driver for you — automatically.

Apple updates their drivers regularly. To get the latest Windows 10 driver, you may need to go to the Apple website to find the driver for to your specific Windows version and device model.

Step 2 — Install Your Driver

Once you download your new driver, then you need to install it. To install a driver in Windows, you will need to use a built-in utility called Device Manager. It allows you to see all of the devices recognized by your system, and the drivers associated with them.

How to Open Device Manager

In Windows 10 & Windows 8.1, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager

In Windows 8, swipe up from the bottom, or right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose «All Apps» -> swipe or scroll right and choose «Control Panel» (under Windows System section) -> Hardware and Sound -> Device Manager

In Windows 7, click Start -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Device Manager

In Windows Vista, click Start -> Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Device Manager

In Windows XP, click Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System -> Hardware tab -> Device Manager button

How to Install drivers using Device Manager

Locate the device and model that is having the issue and double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.

Select the Driver tab.

Click the Update Driver button and follow the instructions.

In most cases, you will need to reboot your computer in order for the driver update to take effect.

Tech Tip: Driver downloads and updates come in a variety of file formats with different file extensions. For example, you may have downloaded an EXE, INF, ZIP, or SYS file. Each file type has a slighty different installation procedure to follow.

If you are having trouble installing your driver, you should use the Driver Update Utility for Apple. It is a software utility that automatically finds, downloads and installs the right driver for your system. You can even backup your drivers before making any changes, and revert back in case there were any problems. You can safely update all of your drivers in just a few clicks. Once you download and run the utility, it will scan for out-of-date or missing drivers:

When the scan is complete, the driver update utility will display a results page showing which drivers are missing or out-of-date. You can update individual drivers, or all of the necessary drivers with one click.

For more help, visit our Driver Support Page for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.