Windows 7 - Win7 Realtek Audio Manager Missing‏

So I just completed my HTPC build and installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 Home on it.

Here are the specs:
CPU: AMD Regor 245
Mobo: Asus M4A785-m
Vid card: Gigabyte 4550
HDD: WD 100g (upgrading in the future)
PSU: OCZ 650 SiltentXstreaM
so on so on, i think i listed anything needed to help solve my problem.

And my problem is! I CANNOT get Realtek to install correctly and run during Windows 7, nor can i get more than 2 channel output from my 4550 HDMI.
- It does not show up in the Sound and Devices tab in the CP.
- It does not show up in the toolbar
- The driver for the audio on the 4550 is the latest Realtek one, i know that as the Device manager confirms.
- I have tried using many drivers from 2.39 through 2.42 (which was released yesterday)
- In the windows audio manager, i can only get two channels (stereo) from the HDMI on the 4550
- I have tried installing/uninstalling/re-installing drivers countless times through Windows 7 and with compatibility mode.
- I have spent hours upon hours searching the google machine and have not found a fix for myself.

I will continue updating my progress on this as it drags on.
Any help is HIGHLY appreciated!

Thanks,
~Jake

If you are ever uncertain about a driver, or have a question mark for the driver, you may want to do the following.

Control panel. System. Device Manager. Right click on driver in question. Left click properties. Details. Provides vendor and device id (e.g., alphanumeric string like this PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7130&SUBSYS_012F1025&REV_01\4&6B16D5B&0&33F0). Take this info and go to PCI Vendor and Device Lists

You can do a vendor search or a device search.
Solved Realtek HD manager missing - Vista Forums
try here, if you didn't already

Tried that, still nothing