Microsoft shared some details regarding a compatibility issue with Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) drivers on Windows 11 PCs. Windows 11 (version 21H2) devices with the affected Intel SST driver might receive an error with a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death).
To safeguard your upgrade experience, Microsoft applied a compatibility hold on devices with affected Intel SST drivers from offering Windows 11. Microsoft also shared a workaround to mitigate this issue.
Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) is an integrated audio Digital Signal Processor (DSP) which is responsible for processing audio signals on many modern Intel devices. If you are using Windows 11 version 21H2, your system may throw Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or a Stop error if you have an Intel SST driver installed on your system.
On the Windows 11 Release Health Status page, Microsoft mentioned:
Intel and Microsoft have found incompatibility issues with certain versions of drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) and Windows 11. Windows 11 devices with the affected Intel SST driver might receive an error with a blue screen. The affected driver will be named Intel® Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST) Audio Controller under System Devices in Device Manager and have the file name IntcAudioBus.sys and a file version of 10.29.0.5152 and earlier or 10.30.0.5152 and earlier.
To mitigate this issue, you will need to check with your device manufacturer (OEM) to see if an updated driver is available and install it.
Microsoft mentions that this issue will be resolved by installing the updated version of Intel® Smart Sound Technology drivers. If you are using Intel SST driver version 10.29.x, upgrade it to version 10.29.00.5714 or later. If you are using Intel SST driver version 10.30.x, upgrade it to version 10.30.00.5714 or later.