Windows 7 - No surround sound through HDMI in Windows 7

I installed and setup a new computer using my TV as display initially connected via my Yamaha RX by HDMI and dirct to a HDMI port on LED TV. Win 7 never managed more than stereo despite my ASUS motherboard having a Creative SupremeFX X-Fi. Its driver was installed direct from the creative site but only stereo is available to HDMI. I only use 2.1 sound on speakers at the PC now so its not a problem currently. I would think this HDMI problem is a Windows 7 / Creative compatability thing and am waiting for an update.

jairichard, welcome to the forums.

First off that sound card is in no way, shape or form a Creative sound card. It is nothing more than a SoundMax/ADI based card (and use that loosely as it is more of just a riser card than an actual sound card), and not a X-Fi. It uses the ADI/Soundmax drivers which you have to get from the motherboard manufacturer, the X-Fi part comes from it getting to use some of the X-Fi software; it does not use the Creative drivers, so not sure what you managed to install from Creative's site.

Have a look through some of these threads dealing with that sound card,

Windows 7 Forums - Search Results

and what others have done to get it to work properly in Windows 7.

Thanks for the explanation Stormy13. I think I may have been confused as I managed to overcome the lack of an audio console that I had no activation code for and now have a pretty blue Creative console after reading this forum. This of course did not change the audio drivers. My Maximus III Formula had and has great sound and on suitable speakers it con be configured up to 7.1 although I just use stereo 2.1. The HDMI output (and the SPDIF) can only be configured to stereo and no more and could not produce more than stereo on my Yamaha RX wich is 7.1 capable but used as 5.1. This is the limitation I referred to which must be an Asus driver inadequacy.

Ok old thread but I have been looking for an answer to the surround sound passthrough and haven't found an answer on the net. But I did get the answer in the TV manual.

So I have been trying to get surround sound from my HTPC -hdmi-> TV -optical-> Sound System but could only manage stereo.

This is the text from the TV manual in reference to digital audio system:
- 5.1CH audio is possible when the tv is connected to an external device supporting 5.1CH
- When the receiver (home theater) is set to On, you can hear sound output from the TV's Optical jack. When the TV is displaying a DTV(air) signal, the TV will send out 5.1 channel sound to the Home theater receiver. When the source is a digital component such as DVD and is connected to the TV via HDMI, only 2 channel sound will be heard from the Home Theater receiver. If you want to hear 5.1 channel audio, connect the DIGITAL AUDIO OUT (Optical) jack on the DVD player or Cable#Satellite Box directly to an Amplifier or Home Theater, not the TV.

Basically the TV HDMI in does not support surround sound, that's why Windows7 will only show stereo as an option. Hope this will help...

My TV is a Samsung 5 series.