Changing Volume Only Affects Left Speaker

Evil Incarnate · 16 Dec 2009

I was able to resolve my issue via the workaround described in this post: HT Omega Striker 7.1 and Windows 7 Problem

The only difference is that I used the newest Windows 7 drivers (at time of writing: http://www.htomega.com/new/s81738W7.zip), rather than the ones linked to in that post.

After obtaining the newest Windows 7 drivers and the Vista drivers listed in the post, I followed the instructions exactly and now have the ability to control ALL of my speakers via the system volume control.

If anyone else experiences this issue, remember to delete the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\HsMgr.exe file prior to reinstalling the drivers.

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I apologize if this has been discussed before, but I was unable to find information related to my problem.

When I adjust the system volume, the change only affects the left speaker. That is to say, if I lower the volume all the way (not hitting mute, but setting volume to 0%), I still hear sound from the right speaker as if no change was made.

Some things I have checked:
1.) Balance is set evenly in Driver Control Panel
2.) Balance is set evenly in Speaker Properties - Levels tab
3.) Speakers are configured as Stereo speakers
4.) Changed the sampling rate in the Speaker Properties - Advanced tab
5.) Changed the sampling rate back to default
5.) Checked all of the connections

I have tested the speaker on a different computer, and the function perfectly. I have tested in my Ubuntu 9.10 partition on this computer, and everything functions properly as well.

So I believe it to be a Windows 7 problem or a driver problem. As such, I have tried using all available drivers for my sound card that work with 7 and Vista, as well as testing without drivers installed. Every scenario still results in my above problem.

So I think I have fully narrowed it down to a Windows 7 problem, but I don't know how or what, as I have checked everywhere I can think of.

Interestingly enough, if I actually mute the sound, all sound is gone. However, like I said, lowering the volume to 0% still produces sound from the right side speaker only.

The problem still exists exactly the same if I plug headphones into my front and rear audio jacks as well.

This is just a recent change; I have been running Windows 7 RTM since my school got it, and the problem only started the other evening while I was on my computer. I didn't have sound being produced at the time of the change, but there was a 10 minute window were the problem had to have started.

Any ideas/suggestions? I can supply more information as needed.

fireberd · 16 Dec 2009

I have a Striker 7.1 that I used in my main PC for several months. Have you tried reseating the card? That would be the first suggestion, also check the front panel connection to the card to make sure the plug is fully seated.

Evil Incarnate · 17 Dec 2009

Thank you for the suggestion; unfortunately, it did not resolve the problem. I only have one PCI slot on my motherboard, so I can't rule out the possibility of the slot being bad.

However, as I said, I have Ubuntu installed on this machine as well, and in Ubuntu there are no problems. This leads me to believe the issue is a driver or OS problem.

I have tried using all available drivers that I could find, so I am leaning towards it being some obscure issue in Windows 7.

Any other ideas?

Jonathan_King · 17 Dec 2009

Hello Evil Incarnate,
Have you considered doing a Repair Install?

Evil Incarnate · 17 Dec 2009

I had considered it, but was really hoping there was a more convenient solution.

I have not attempted a System Restore yet, but I doubt that would resolve the issue.

Jonathan_King · 17 Dec 2009

It might, give it a try.

fireberd · 17 Dec 2009

Uninstall any existing Striker driver, restart the PC and then install the Windows 7 drivers on the HT Omega site. If that does not fix it, contact the HT Omega tech support - they are pretty good with responding. I had a problem (when on Vista) and they went overboard with getting me a fix for my problem. Even gave me access to an unreleased Beta version of the driver to see if that would fix it.

Evil Incarnate · 17 Dec 2009

Thanks for the help everyone; I actually solved my problem using the workaround described here: HT Omega Striker 7.1 and Windows 7 Problem

I used the newest Windows 7 drivers (not the ones listed in that post), but I did everything else exactly as instructed, and this fixed the issue.

I am not sure what caused my problem initially, as it was working perfectly for several months. I was actually at the computer when the problem started...

I actually used the workaround posted when I started using Windows 7 RTM, as I was having the exact problem described by the original author of that thread. I just happened to glance at the introduction to the instructions and see it also seemed to solve the issue of the system volume control not affecting all of the speakers.

I assume the culprit is still the 32-bit HsMgr.exe process, which I imagine got reinstalled on my system during my attempts to use older drivers to resolve the issue.

I have edited the first post to show this information, should someone happen to have the same issue and stumble across this thread during their search for resolution.

Jonathan_King · 17 Dec 2009

Thanks for posting, glad it's fixed.

chev65 · 18 Dec 2009

The Asus Xonar drivers had the exact same problem which I figured out how to fix back in Jan.

Keep in mind that the HsMgr.exe will only be there AFTER you install the driver and not before. If you already installed another driver then it may be left over from that in which case you would need to disable it in services before hand.

You do not need to delate the HsMgr.exe file, you only need to go into services and disable it. There can also be two of those files 32 and 64 versions, you should try disabling each or them one at a time until the problem is fixed.