Unable to activate native Windows (Realtek) audio devices

[Hittin it]

There is a setting in windows that might be a global workaround for this
unclick "allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"
control panel
Hardware and Sound
Manage Audio Devices
Playback
properties
Advanced
unclick "allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"
Apply
Recording
properties
Advanced
unclick "allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"
Apply