Audio playback conflict (Win 10)

I'm experiencing a new problem with audio playback. When transcribing, I alternate between MuseScore and an audio player to listen to the MP3. Now when MuseScore is open, I get no audio from the audio player (or from multiple other programs such as Band-In_a-Box (BIAB). I continue to get no playback conflicts among any other apps.

Example: Load VLC & BIAB, get sound in both programs. Load MuseScore, get sound; but VLC no sound, and BIAB no sound with error: "Couldn't open the wave device. Likely cause another program using audio playback or has left the drivers open." Close MuseScore, VLC sound and BIAB sound return.

Haven't found this issue in other discussions. Unsure what installs or updates would be causing this. It may or may not have begun when I upgraded to MuseScore 2.1.0.

Any suggestions for resolution or work-around (besides playing MP3 on another device) would be appreciated.

System: Win 10, Dell Precision M4800, 16 MB RAM. Audio players: Win MediaPlayer, VLC 2.6, MuseScore 2.1.0. Drivers remain unchanged: Realtek high definition driver 6.0.1.6098 (most recent), Microsoft high definition Audio Controller driver 10.0.150063.447 (most recent)

Thanks in advance for any help.