Windows 7 - Sound devices auto-changing

CJW · 01-10-2012

I use my mobo's onboard sound & it's worked just fine for over a year. Lately, for no reason that I can pin-point, Windows just changes from my normal Speakers Audio Device to Digital Audio (S/PDIF) & I cannot hear anything/change it back; the only way to get back to it's regular setting is to restart the comfuser.

Anyone have any idea as to why this may be happening?

fireberd · 01-10-2012

It apparently senses that the speakers are not plugged in, according to your display and then defaults to the S/PDIF output.

I notice it says "High Definition Audio Device" which usually means the generic Windows installed sound driver rather than the specific sound driver for whatever sound device you have. If this is the case, install the sound driver from the motherboard vendor's site, as that will be the correct driver. We see a lot of sound problems on the Dell users forum where the generic Windows installed HD Codec audio driver has been installed instead of the correct Dell supplied sound driver - either does not work or does not work correctly.

CJW · 01-10-2012

Thank you for the reply & info. I'm trying to pinpoint exactly what is causing this change, as well as DLing my mobo's sound driver tonight.

Windows 7 - Sound devices auto-changing

Sound devices auto-changing problems?