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Windows Mixed Reality freezes my pc, causes my headset to display a blue screen, and puts out static noise at 100% volume in the HMD headphones. Please help

Background:

I used my headset on my laptop for a while with no issues and recently built a desktop so I plugged in my VR headset there and for a few days it worked fine, my PC would just completely freeze when shutting down WMR which was really annoying but manageable somewhat, now I have tried everything, even doing a CLEAN install of windows (sorry for the caps but that seems to be the only suggestion people have). There is literally nothing on this windows install except for the latest drivers for my system, WMR, and beat saber. I have run prime 95, furmark, and cinebench to test for instability and they all ran fine with 0 issues whatsoever. Additionally, before I did a clean install I tested several other games and the only thing that had an issue was WMR. I tried unplugging one monitor so I only have one as well. I have also tried 2 different USB 3 hubs (my motherboard and front panel connectors).

What happens when I try to use VR:

Vr loads into the cliff house and works completely fine for a few minutes before My headset goes to a blue screen and my PC is completely frozen. Also the last time I launched WMR it played static noise at 100% volume when it crashed causing a great deal of pain to my ears so I really would like that to never happen again as well.

What am I doing wrong. This computer is a completely blank slate. I know the specs are fine for VR because I ran beatsaber initially amazingly, but if you are curious here they are.

Computer specs

Cpu: Xeon e5-2690

Memory: 8gb ddr3 1600mhz

GPU: RX 580 8gb

Storage: 240gb SSD and 500gb hard drive

HMD: Samsung Odyssey plus

My headset is effectively bricked until i can resolve this issue so it would be greatly appreciated if someone could give me some advice.

Hello Artic Skye,

I can only sympathise.  WMR can be really fussy with USB, this needs to be a USB 3 port, and use of extension lead/repeater/some hubs may cause the blue screen you describe.  I would try plugging leads from VR direct to sockets, if this isn't the case already.  I and many others have been having problems with the random loud static noise, and I will cover my experiences of this in detail, in the off chance this helps.

To summarise this problem, WMR audio can work fine, but suddenly changes to loud static and hissing.  There are certain games on Steam VR that can reliably set this audio problem off, but also can occur in the cliff house.  What I have noticed that if the sound is fairly intense  (i.e. lots of sound effects and/or music) this can set the loud static off.  

Equipment wise I did have a Dell Visor, now like you have a Samsung Odyssey Plus.  Both were prone to this loud random static.   I've recently changed power supply, motherboard and processor (Axus X370A with Ryzen 5 3600) and RAM - none of this made a noticeable difference.  The problem also exists on a second lower spec'd computer, thus eliminating any obvious hardware defect problem.  I found that using a powered USB 3.0 hub reduces the frequency of the problem, but not eradicating it all together.  Extension cables on the USB side make the problem much worse, so best avoided.  Some find that reducing the format in advanced audio properties from 24bit to 16bit, can help - but may tie in with making the sound less detailed in processing terms.  I have Realtek Audio on my motherboard for speaker sound, but my last motherboard used a Soundblaster card, and in any case disabling the main sound audio driver doesn't seem to help.

I have also tried temporarily uninstalling Steam VR, but the problem can still be evident just by running a video with an intense soundtrack in the Cliff house.   Again detailed sound activity, rather than volume seems to be the pattern. 

My VR USB audio had been fairly stable for the past six months or so, but recently the problem has recurred with gusto - windows update?   The one workaround is to use separate headphones with 3M wire link to computer, but this is a little cumbersome and ridiculous when the Samsung Odyssey has built in headphones!

Once the loud static kicks in I see that the volume level indicator jumps right up on its own (and can be dangerously loud).  At this point reducing the volume back to 0 and slightly up can on occasion resolve, but only temporarily.  Using your desktop mouse to left click on your desktop bottom right audio icon, and then clicking on slider bar vertical indicator (changing it from blue to white) can at low volumes offer temporary correction.   Most of the time exiting Steam VR, then Cliff house, then reboot, can be the only way to to correct - but the loud static invariably kicks in again at some (unknown} point.  

My gut feeling is that there is some Microsoft WMR  bug at software level, that still hasn't been resolved.  I have seen this loud static/hissing problem with WMR regularly posted on the web, we would appreciate assistance and advice from a Microsoft representative to resolve.

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Hello Artic Skye,

This is just a quick update on my personal battle to diagnose and resolve the sound issue experienced with my Samsung Odyssey Plus

The following have been tried so far:  Remove all computer cards, leaving just my graphics card.  Show hidden devices and remove all not currently running.  Remove all USB connections bar necessary (Keyboard and Mouse).  Reinstall drivers back to my original Motherboard (Axus Prime X370A with Ryzen 3600. Check Virtual Reality leads for any signs of intermittent faults.    Avoiding extension USB cables, and finding power USB 3 hub is least worst for the sound problem.

None of the above has cured the problem.  

Sometimes the VR may work for a short time, without problems (even a day or two), and will Create a Windows Restore Point at that stage.  However, when the static/hissing/noise returns, restoring to that point doesn't appear to resolve.   The odd thing is though sometimes the static/hissing may occur in the Cliff House, it is usually sparked off on a Steam VR game and usually comes in as a loud hiss - returning to the Cliff House normally removes this hiss, but the sound is then full of static.  This normally requires a complete reboot to get normally sound back, albeit temporarily.

However the next thing I tried was to await the return of hissing and static (not a long wait), and stop processes in the Task Manager.  Bingo!  When 'Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation' process is stopped (albeit soon automatically restarts), the sound instantly returns to normal.  This has at least given me a way to normalised the VR sound problem, without a reboot.  Furthermore this gives an area of focus for a possible solution.  I have also heard that Skype (installed by Windows but not used) may cause a conflict, so will look at this first. 

I will post further following some more detailed investigation over the next few days.

IOW Addick

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Last updated April 20, 2025 Views 1,491 Applies to: