Acer 8930 - 5.1 cinematic surround not working

jiv · 05 Jun 2014

Hello to you !

So my Acer 8930 came with Vista, and I recently had Windows 7 installed.
(I am borderline computer illiterate, might be useful to know...)

Since then the only sound I get is from "Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)", ie sound from two speakers instead of all of them (5.1 sound system). I also have a "Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)" option but when I select this I get no sound at all.
I made a bit of research on Google but couldn't find any working solution.

I tried this :

- downloading a realtek program --> When testing the sound (properties of the thing via control panel), I can see green bars in the sound mixer but can't hear anything. I uninstalled it and can't find the precise name anymore =/

- downloading the driver directly from the Acer website, computer tells me (pop up window) "this program might not have installed correctly", when I select "reinstall using recommanded settings" nothing happens.

- finding somewhere to download "empowering technology", couldn't find anything.

- finding answers on this forum and others, what seems to work for other people in my case doesn't for me.

I am going crazy over this stuff, any help would be more than greatly appreciated...

Thanks for taking the time to read my post !

fireberd · 05 Jun 2014

The "High Definition Audio Device" is a Windows installed generic, basic function sound driver.

You need the correct driver for the sound. If it came with Vista, the Acer Vista driver is applicable for Win 7 and should install without problems. If you do encounter installation problems, install it using the Vista compatibililty mode.

The direct from RealTek drivers usually work, assuming that you have RealTek sound. If you have some other sound module then you need the sound drivers for that hardware. There are several RealTek drivers available on the RealTek site and you need to download the ones that are applicable to the exact RealTek hardware that you have, assuming you have RealTek.

The digital is NOT for your PC speakers.

jiv · 05 Jun 2014

Hi, thank you for your answer !

I went there : Realtek
and downloaded and ran the second file in the list. It did this: I now have the "Realtek Digital Output" option in the "Device" part of the sound mixer, and still only stereo sound can be heard. When I test the Realtek device, I can see the lines in the mixer going green, but can't hear anything. (oh and the system sounds are back on).
Now you mention having Realtek hardware, but I have no idea if I have this or not =/

Downloading the Acer driver still gives me the "this program might not have installed correctly" line...

Is there anything else I can try?
Maybe I'm not giving enough details?

Thanks again!

fireberd · 05 Jun 2014

Do not use the Digital. Set the "Speakers" as the default playback device. You can configure and test the speakers in that panel.

The digital output is ONLY for feeding an external device that will accept a digital input. It is not for the regular PC audio.

jiv · 06 Jun 2014

Ok thanks again, it's getting clearer for my little brain

Your answer makes me able to rephrase my problem : I can only configure the balance etc for two speakers - what I'm trying to do is find a way to activate all of them (getting dolby instead of just stereo) - I have a "Dolby" tab in my speakers properties but no options (well when I tick/untick them it doesn't change anything).
For what it's worth I am SURE I have the other speakers since they were working great when I had Vista =)

Any idea what I could do?
Thanks a million !

fireberd · 06 Jun 2014

The Dolby was an add on that you had in Vista. It would need to be reinstalled in Win 7, if Acer has the download for it.