Windows 7 Surround Sound Issues

Trying to configure my new HTPC to have surround sound. I have the Asus F1-A75-V Pro motherboard, which has the Realtek ALC892 on board audio card. What I've tried thus far - installing Shark007's windows codecs following Assassin's HTPC guide here. Still only get stereo out with my Pioneer VSX-30 receiver on auto surround detect.

Figured it might be my actual audio playback device.

In going into "Playback Devices" I have the following options:
Digital Audio (HDMI)
High Definition Audio Device
Outputs stereo only, under configure speakers, only stereo is an option.

Realtek Digital Output
Reaktek High Definition Audio
Ready
No audio when testing, no option to configure speakers

Reatek HDMI Output
Reatek High Definition Audio
Ready
No audio when testing, only stereo as an option under configure speakers

I've set each one individually as the default device, which doesn't do a lot of good as I only get audio out of my first option.

Any suggestions?

Hardware/Software -
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Asus F1A75-V PRO Motherboard
Realtek ALC892 Audio
Pioneer VSX-30 Receiver
Samsung 55" LED TV

The first thing I see is that you have both the RealTek and the "High Definition Audio Device" drivers installed. This will cause a conflict and nothing may work correctly. The High Defiintion Audio Device" is probably the generic Windows (Microsoft) installed sound driver. Uninstall that driver (you can do it in the Device Manager), then restart the PC and you should only have the RealTek driver. Then make sure "speakers" (that will be the RealTek sound) is set as the default audio playback device in the Sound/Playback panel.

First, why do you need Shark007's codec pack? It can cause a lot of issues if you are not 100% on the settings that will work with your hardware and the media you are trying to play. Start by uninstalling it. Then, on the taskbar, right click the speaker icon, left click playback devices, right click the active playback device, left click configure speakers, select the appropriate speaker setup(either 5.1 or 7.1), then select the appropriate settings through the subsequent menus, click finish. Retest using a media that you know is encoded with DTS or Dolby Digital surround. Preferably, a DVD, or BluRay, not a ripped or torrent title.

Thanks for your replies guys - tried each of the steps and still nothing. I contacted a friend though and he had a suggestion so I'll post here for any future searchers.

Basically, the onboard video and audio weren't talking to each other. While I had drivers for both independently installed (and had installed everything off of the driver disc that came with the board, including the catalyst drivers) I had to install the AMD Graphics Drivers from from their website. That changed my playback devices to an AMD HDMI Output, which allowed for surround setup, etc.

As for Sharks007 codecs, I installed for WMP/WMC. Assassin's HTPC blog (link) has a pretty easy step by step process with screen shots that allows you to use WMC to play MKV's and other formats it doesn't normally. Not required if your using a stand alone prog, like VLC or XBMC, etc (which I prefer) - but for ease with the wife .. decided to throw everything into WMC.