Can't get any 5.1 sound to work.

ellkay · May 16, 2012

Hello,

I have tried googling this problem and have tried what feels like (but obviously isn't) every sollution posted!

I bought a computer second hand, and all in all it's an upgrade from my last computer, except for one thing: I can not for the world get my speakers to play any kind of 5.1 sound.

The sound drivers installed are Realtek High Definition Audio 6.0.1.6602 - but this could be a mistake on my side, as for all I know, I'm not even supposed to have them installed. As the newbie I am, I just assumed I needed the Realtek Audio Manager like I did on my last computer, to get the 5.1 sound to work, and this is probably completely wrong, heh.

So how can I get the 5.1 sound to work? What information do you need to guide me? And how do I find that information?

If the motherboard type is needed (I read somewhere else it might be) then I assume it's this: ASUSTeK Computer INC. 2A73h 1.01

When I go to the Control Panel, there is no Realtek Audio Manager there. Clicking Sound, I get the following information:

Speakers
Realtek High Definition Audio
Default Device

Clicking Configure, I only have ONE option: Stereo. No 5.1.

Can anyone help me figure this out? I really want the option to listen to sound from all my speakers (I don't even care if it's pure 5.1 sound, as long as there's music/sound coming from all the speakers I'm happy!)

Thank you in advance,
Daniel

richc46 · May 16, 2012

Welcome Daniel,
Go to search, by the start button and type device manager.
Do you see the Audio drivers. If there is a small yellow marker by the driver that means there is a problem with the driver, uninstall, then boot the computer. Make sure that your Windows updater is set to install non Microsoft Products.
(for Vista and Seven: Windows Update Settings - Change - Windows 7 Forums
If there is not yellow marker, uninstall and update from the device manager.
If that does not work, uninstall the drivers and go to Realtek site and find the drivers there. This is always the best way to go, but I am trying to make it easy as possible, just to get the speakers to work.
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads...=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

ellkay · May 16, 2012

There's no yellow marker. So am I to right click "Realtek High Definition Audio" and select uninstall?

I mean, the subwoofer, and the two front speakers work. It's the two back speakers and the center speaker that do not work.

richc46 · May 16, 2012

OK, this is new information. The speakers could be bad and the drivers will not help in that situation.
If the speakers are connected via cable, try another port.
I am not too sure the problem is with the Driver, now.

richc46 · May 16, 2012

With your set up this thread may be of big help
http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/239281-speakers-do-not-work.html

ellkay · May 16, 2012

The speakers work fine on my other older computer, which had Windows XP installed.

To try see if they work, I plugged them in to my iPhone, and sure enough, they do work - the Green one plays music from the front speakers, the black one from the rear, and the red from the center.

There's no other connector on my computer apart from the three in the back (red, blue and green), where I plugged them in accordingly (except I plugged in the black plug thingy to the blue connector).

But in Windows 7 I cannot find any way to get 5.1 sound!

richc46 · May 16, 2012

richc46 said:
With your set up this thread may be of big help
http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/239281-speakers-do-not-work.html

If the above does not work, uninstall the drivers and go to the Austek Site and go from there. Be sure to pick drivers for Seven.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download

ellkay · May 16, 2012

Thanks, but that doesn't really help me, as there is no Audio Manager of any kind in my control panel - and all those suggestions involve using the Realtek Audio Manager... Which I guess is one of my main issues.

richc46 · May 16, 2012

richc46 said:
richc46 said:

With your set up this thread may be of big help
http://www.vistax64.com/sound-audio/239281-speakers-do-not-work.html

Click to expand...

If the above does not work, uninstall the drivers and go to the Austek Site and go from there. Be sure to pick drivers for Seven.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download

OK start over, go to the Austek site

ellkay · May 16, 2012

So I should start my deleting the Realtek High Definition Audio drivers by going to Device Manager -> Sound, Video and Game Controllers -> Realtek High Definition Audio, right click it, and select Uninstall, correct? (I'm sorry for asking the most basic questions, I just want to make sure I do the right things).

Also, what do I search for on the Asustek website?

richc46 · May 16, 2012

OK
First do not be afraid to ask questions, that is why we are here.
Your question is very good, it shows me your level of expertise and what you have not done before.
In device manager, use the update function and then boot the computer, see if they work.
If they do not work uninstall the way you have said.
Then, the best way for you is go to Austek site and click on automatic detection. It will do most of the work for you.
ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download

IIl be out for a short while. Ill answer any more questions when I return. Wish you luck to then

Start with a system restore point just in case
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

ellkay · May 16, 2012

The update function tells me the drivers are up to date.

On the ASUSTeK website, using the automatic detection gives me a totally unrelated problem - clicking "Go" after "Begin installing "ASUS Navigation Wizard" and related components." gives me a pop-up error stating "The server method 'GetModel' failed."

richc46 · May 16, 2012

Did you install the necessary add on. I tried the site and was told to install an add on. Did you do that?
If you cannot get the site to work. Ill try to find the correct driver manually when I get back.

richc46 · May 16, 2012

Make a system restore point now, in case you make a mistake and we have to start over.

If you cant get the automatic thing to work, try clicking the second icon. Which lets you choose.

ellkay · May 16, 2012

Yeah, the problem is I can't install the addon, as that is what gives me the error. I will update Java and see if that helps!

richc46 · May 16, 2012

richc46 said:
Make a system restore point now, in case you make a mistake and we have to start over.

If you cant get the automatic thing to work, try clicking the second icon. Which lets you choose.

Ill try to help you do it manually, when I get back. Make a system restore point, so that any problems that may occur can be corrected easily.

ellkay · May 16, 2012

None of it worked. Tried using IE instead of Chrome, but then, when clicking go, I was sent to an error page, saying:

The URL you are looking for does not exist.

You probably used an expired or wrong URL. Please try to find out the information you need from the following links.

Strange.

richc46 · May 16, 2012

OK
Start with a system restore point, then uninstall the driver. Now boot the computer. Make sure that your Windows updater is set to accept non Microsoft Products. The correct driver should install, be sure that you are connected to the internet.

ellkay · May 16, 2012

How do I set it to accept non Microsoft Products?

richc46 · May 16, 2012

Go to Windows update
Left panel change settings
Then check the appropriate box.

Can't get any 5.1 sound to work.

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