At least I don't have another explanation. All of a sudden and all at once
- automatic switch to earphones stopped, can't get earphones manually not to work.
- before the PC speakers would play louder, unacceptable whisper
- impossible to keep keyboard fixed to German, will always go back to English. No manual key -F9- will work.

Can it be that drivers malfunction? I was tempted to use DRIVER TOOL KIT but shied away because I don't understand a thing and secondly its a paid service. I don´t have a problem paying if you tell me it's worth it. Hesitation is only why to pay something which ought to work properly.

I guess you only have some outdated drivers. There’re various huge updates, usually the 1510, 0r 1511 ones.

Regarding your German language problem, you’ll have to download the German language pack and make the keyboard language change as well.

Please click on your language button and see if you have German plus German keyboard.If yes, go to Language preferences and make German your default language. All applications will be in German and the keyboard input for German keyboards.

Driver Booster is a great tool to update all drivers, Advanced System care does the rest.

You can reset your system and start over if you’ve got too many problems. Go to update- recovery- Reset this PC.

If you need help, please page me, I speak German. Good luck.

Screwed up feels different

Open Device Manager:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/open-device-manager

Enter the words Device Manager into the search box on the taskbar, then select Device Manager from the list of results.

Search for the Sound/Audio Devices, right click and try an update.

Otherwise identify the audio device and get the driver from the manufacturer site.

Changing keyboard layout does not need a language pack.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-keyboard-layout#1TC=windows-7

Do you already have the user interface in German language and need the links/tipps in German?

Screwed up feels different

Open Device Manager:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/open-device-manager

Enter the words Device Manager into the search box on the taskbar, then select Device Manager from the list of results.

Search for the Sound/Audio Devices, right click and try an update.

Otherwise identify the audio device and get the driver from the manufacturer site.

Changing keyboard layout does not need a language pack.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-keyboard-layout#1TC=windows-7

Do you already have the user interface in German language and need the links/tipps in German?

Great post. OP should try his speakers on another device. If the speakers are okay, it might be worth to click on the speaker icon and do troubleshooting, which could do the fix.

OP's screwed up.

OP is your computer a DELL notebook by chance? Same thing happened to my Inspiron N5110. Apparently there/s no (proper) W10 driver for IDT sound system. That was the only problem I had with Windows 10 but it was enough to make me roll back to W7. It's an old piece of shlt laptop anyway, can't wait to get a new one.

OP is your computer a DELL notebook by chance? Same thing happened to my Inspiron N5110. Apparently there/s no (proper) W10 driver for IDT sound system. That was the only problem I had with Windows 10 but it was enough to make me roll back to W7. It's an old piece of shlt laptop anyway, can't wait to get a new one.

Sorry, but i could get all upgrades for my really old DELL 1440 Inspirion. Going back is like giving up. Sorry.

the real issue is: why does the poor op now has to fix something that used to work ok?

because W10 "upgraded" his computer without him / her having the slightest control over this.

OP is your computer a DELL notebook by chance? Same thing happened to my Inspiron N5110. Apparently there/s no (proper) W10 driver for IDT sound system. That was the only problem I had with Windows 10 but it was enough to make me roll back to W7. It's an old piece of shlt laptop anyway, can't wait to get a new one.

Sorry, but i could get all upgrades for my really old DELL 1440 Inspirion. Going back is like giving up. Sorry.

Mine got all the upgrades too. The problem is the lowered volume for that specific audio chip and the lack of extra functions that the W10 driver takes away. The W7 driver includes a GUI that allows you to change SRS sound features, such as Bass, Surround, Speaker Setup etc. Sure the volume issue could be fixed with a portable / headphone amp but I'm not willing to either: (a) leave one in the office and wait for it to be stolen, or ( go through the hassle of plugging/unplugging an extra device several times each day.

OP is your computer a DELL notebook by chance? Same thing happened to my Inspiron N5110. Apparently there/s no (proper) W10 driver for IDT sound system. That was the only problem I had with Windows 10 but it was enough to make me roll back to W7. It's an old piece of shlt laptop anyway, can't wait to get a new one.

Sorry, but i could get all upgrades for my really old DELL 1440 Inspirion. Going back is like giving up. Sorry.

Mine got all the upgrades too. The problem is the lowered volume for that specific audio chip and the lack of extra functions that the W10 driver takes away. The W7 driver includes a GUI that allows you to change SRS sound features, such as Bass, Surround, Speaker Setup etc. Sure the volume issue could be fixed with a portable / headphone amp but I'm not willing to either: (a) leave one in the office and wait for it to be stolen, or ( go through the hassle of plugging/unplugging an extra device several times each day.

What is the sound card again?

And have you tried installing the W7 driver manually?

I don't recall at the moment and the laptop is currently at my office but I know it has "SRS Premium Sound". From the DELL website:

Product not tested for Windows 10 upgrade

Dell is not testing or developing Windows 10 drivers for this product. If you choose to upgrade, some features, applications, and connected devices may not work as expected.

I'll put 8.1 on there sometime soon. On the DELL drivers page there isn't even an option for W10 under the OS options. No biggie, it's a relic that I don't want to hold onto much longer.