Realtek makes a bunch of chips and adaptors that are used in a wide range of devices, including a lot of PCs. However, while the hardware might hold up without a hitch, the software drivers required to run these devices can sometimes run into bugs and glitches.
In this article, we’re talking about Realtek Semiconductor Corp extension installation errors, their causes and what you can do to fix the problem.
What causes Realtek semiconductor corp extension install error?
There are several reasons why these Realtek extensions can’t install themselves on your PC. Common factors include:
- Outdated Windows version
- Overly aggressive third-party antivirus
- Software issues with the driver or extension itself
Also read: Unidentified network no internet: Quick Fix
How to fix Realtek semiconductor corp extension install error?
Here are five fixes you can try out.
Update your PC
The first thing you should do is update your PC. Updating your PC will, in most cases, update your drivers and fix any issues in the process.
Check out this detailed guide to know how to update your PC here
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows offers a slew of inbuilt troubleshooters that can resolve just about any issue on your PC, including Windows Update.
Step 1: Press Windows Key + I to open Windows settings and click on Update & Security.
Step 2; Head over to the Troubleshooting tab.
Step 3: Click on Additional troubleshooters.
Step 4: Click the Windows Update troubleshooter to run it and let the troubleshooter do its thing.
Clear corrupt data caches
Certain Windows Update components might possibly have encountered some corrupt cache files which can trigger this error.
Step 1: Press Windows Key + X to open the Quick Access menu and click on Command Prompt (Admin).
Step 2: Run the following commands, one at a time and press enter after each one.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
pause
Exit
Restart your PC and try to update Windows again.
Update your Realtek drivers
Updating your Realtek drivers can also often fix the issue.
Step 1: Press the Windows Key + X and click on Device Manager.
Step 2: Scroll down to find Sound, video and game controllers. Double click to see all available devices.
Step 3: Find Realtek High Definition Audio in there. Right-click it to open the context menu. Note that if you’re experiencing issues with some other Realtek device, locate that in the Device Manager.
Step 4: Click on Uninstall device. This will remove the device and its drivers from your machine.
Roll back your drivers
Alternatively, you can also opt to roll back to a previous version of the driver that was working fine for you. Here’s how.
Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type in devmgmt.msc and hit enter.
Step 2: Double-click your Realtek device to open its properties.
Step 3: Under the Drivers tab, click Roll Back Driver. If the option is greyed out for you, the driver can’t be reverted to an older version or is already on the oldest version.
Restart your computer and try using it with the older driver. It should work fine for you now.
Also read: How to fix ‘Realtek HD Audio Manager Missing’ in Windows 10?
