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By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Open Device Manager, expand System devices, right-click Intel Smart Sound Technology, select Update driver, and choose the High Definition Audio option.

How to Fix Blue Screens Caused by Audio Drivers (Intel SST) ​

Estimated Time to Fix: 10 minutes

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11 (Intel-based PCs)
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary ​

If your computer frequently crashes with a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) when playing YouTube videos, joining Teams calls, or plugging in a headset, the culprit is likely your audio driver. Specifically, the "Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST)" driver is notorious for causing memory conflicts in Windows 11. This guide explains how to replace the crashing driver with the standard Microsoft audio driver.

Symptoms ​

  • The computer suddenly crashes to a blue screen while playing any sort of audio.
  • The error code at the bottom of the blue screen says PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.
  • The blue screen specifically mentions the file IntcAudioBus.sys or rtkvhd64.sys.

Prerequisites ​

  • You must be able to log into Windows.
  • You need Administrator rights to update drivers.

Instructions ​

1. Identify the Crashing Driver ​

First, we need to locate the Intel audio driver in your system settings.

  1. Open the Start Menu, type Device Manager, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down and click the small arrow next to Sound, video and game controllers to expand the list.
  3. Look for a device named Intel® Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST) Audio Controller or similar.
  4. Note: If you do not see an Intel audio device, look under System devices for it instead.

2. Force Windows to Use the Generic Driver ​

Windows allows you to override the manufacturer's specific driver with a generic, highly stable version provided by Microsoft.

  1. Right-click the Intel Smart Sound Technology device and select Update driver.
  2. Click Browse my computer for drivers.
  3. Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
  4. You will see a list of compatible drivers. Do not select the Intel one.
  5. Instead, select High Definition Audio Controller (this is the generic Microsoft driver).
  6. Click Next.
  7. A warning will appear saying that installing this driver might cause the hardware to stop working. Click Yes to confirm.
  8. Wait for the installation to finish, then click Close.

3. Restart Your Computer ​

  1. Your computer will likely prompt you to restart to apply the hardware changes.
  2. If it doesn't, manually click Start > Power > Restart.
  3. After the restart, play a YouTube video for 10 minutes to test if the crashes have stopped.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

Do not use third-party "Driver Updater" software (like Driver Booster or Driver Easy) to fix this issue. These programs often install the wrong drivers and can make the blue screens worse. Only download drivers through Windows Update or your manufacturer's official website.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
I have no sound at all after the restartGeneric driver incompatibleThe generic driver didn't work for your specific speakers. Go back to Device Manager, right-click the audio device, and select Roll Back Driver.
The crashes stopped, but my microphone sounds badLoss of Intel processingThe Intel driver handles noise cancellation. You can try downloading a newer version of the Intel driver directly from your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo).