> not even internal sounds come thru the ASIO drivers
Internal sound can not use ASIO drivers, it needs WDM drivers, thats the reason why you need to configure a speaker in the RME device driver configuration.
> 1709 my last 2 update attempts failed
This sounds strange. But 1803 has 1st issues of its own with SSDs and stuff and 1809 also had issues.
Maybe you would be better off to switch back to Win7. Especially also because the Firewire support in Win7 should be better. If I remember right, then I read reports of people that Firewire support in Win10 is not so good anymore.
IDEA to try: an option to try might be to disable routing in TotalMix FX by enabling DAW mode.
Then you need to route audio in your DAW.
> > Since when do you have these issues ?
> Since upgrading to windows 10 and cakewalk by bandlabs. Actually be upgrading to bandlab
> I was using Sonar X3 and Ableton (briefly) and y audio seemed fine.
If I were you I would restore the Win7 backup (I hope you have one).
As you say that under Win7 you had no issues.
If there is really no support from Microsoft for Win7 anymore in the future (maybe they have to extend it again seeing that many people still use Win7) and no security upgrades available anymore, then I would eventually keep the Win7 installation for recording purposes only (disable the ethernet driver) and if you want to browse the internet etc, then use the Win10 parallel installation with up to date patchlevel and anti virus solution.
BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13