What does HRESULT 0x80660004 (E_HDAUDIO_NO_LOGICAL_DEVICES_CREATED) mean?

E_HDAUDIO_NO_LOGICAL_DEVICES_CREATED

The scope of E_HDAUDIO_NO_LOGICAL_DEVICES_CREATED is HD Audio logical-device construction. HD Audio enumeration completed without successfully creating any logical audio subdevice. Keep 0x80660004 beside the returning method because a wrapper can replace this distinction with a generic subsystem message.

What the status establishes

Creating no logical devices is an aggregate outcome reached after codec discovery. The root cause can precede endpoint registration by several stages: parsing widget routes, matching platform configuration, pairing topology and wave miniports, installing PortCls subdevices, or publishing device interfaces. The earliest rejected node or subdevice is more useful than the final zero count.

This is an aggregate outcome. Earlier failures can occur while parsing the codec, matching endpoints, installing PortCls subdevices, creating topology and WaveRT pairs, registering interfaces, or applying platform configuration.

Keep neighboring failures separate

Unlike the other E_HDAUDIO codes, this one does not identify a single malformed widget field; it says the enumeration produced zero usable logical devices. Do not focus on the final aggregate code while discarding the earlier, more specific creation error.

Evidence to preserve

• Every per-node or per-endpoint failure before the aggregate HRESULT
• Codec topology, endpoint templates, and platform configuration
• Subdevice creation and interface-registration results
• Plug and Play start sequence and rollback actions

Reduce the scenario safely

Instrument every candidate logical device with a stable identifier and a stage result. Re-run enumeration with one endpoint definition at a time so a single malformed route cannot hide otherwise valid devices behind the aggregate failure.

1. Enable one minimal known-good render endpoint.
2. Create topology and wave subdevices separately to locate the first failing half.
3. Compare inbox and vendor endpoint configuration.
4. Verify partial creations are rolled back before the next start attempt.

Technical references

• Microsoft: COM error codes for Input and graphics.
• Microsoft: PortCls interfaces and structures.
• Microsoft: Windows audio driver design guide.
• Microsoft: hdaudio.h header reference.
• Microsoft: SysVAD virtual audio driver sample.