Want to use External 2.1 Analog but only have Digital in Win 7

KLund1 · 02 Dec 2015

I know this must have been asked and answered many times, but I can't find the thread that works for me.
I have HD TV as my monitor. It has the usual built in speakers, with sound coming through HDMI from the Nvindia HD audio output driver, from the video card. No video on MB.
I do not want to use that. I have a very good 2.1 analog speaker system I want to use.
In Control Panel/Sounds; Speaker:Realtek High Def Audio is grayed out, RealTek Digital Output is availible, Nvdia HDMI HD Audio is set as default.
All drivers are up to date.
Also from Control Panel I have RealTek Audio Manger. In that the Analog inputs/outputs a grayed out, and the digital are ative.
In the BIOS I only have HD Audio enabled/Disabled. Nothing about front end speakers. Though there is header for those on the MB but is not connected.
Nothing happens when I plug or unplug the grean 3.5mm audio jack in Win 7 x64. Obviously I can't unplug HDMI cable. This is the first time I have used HDMI with this MB. I know the sound works on this MB.

Any fix out there through windows?
Thanks

fireberd · 03 Dec 2015

Please fill in the My System Specs. All we can do is guess without that.

However, I suspect the Realtek drivers are corrupted. Have you tried reinstalling the Realtek?

KLund1 · 03 Dec 2015

Thanks
I have updated the systems specs. I reloaded the RealTek drivers before I wrote the first post. Actually I rolled back to the MS drivers, then removed the realtek driver/software. rebooted, waited for the system to settle. The reinstalled latest version driver from the motherboard manufacture's web site. There was no change so I wrote this post looking for some additional help.

fireberd · 03 Dec 2015

Have you tried the Realtek drivers direct from Realtek? If not, give that a try.

Consider a BIOS reset, too. If the BIOS is not detecting the sound chip correctly then Windows will not either.

Realtek

A comment, not related to your problem. I see you have a 64 bit version of Windows but only 4GB of RAM. A 64 bit OS uses more basic memory and thus less is left for programs. The main reason to use a 64 bit OS is that it will address/use more than 4GB of RAM.

KLund1 · 03 Dec 2015

Thanks, I will give that a try with a driver from realtek. I'll do a bios reset just in case. I cleared the bios a few weeks ago just before put this system together. (my standard practice when using previously installed parts.)
This used to be a XP system, and didn't need more then 4GB. This system is only going to be running WIN 7 and MAME emulators, offline in a stand up game cabinet. 4GB should be enough. When MAME is running the HD hardly ever gets accessed, and CPU hangs around 25-40% usage, on about 50 services, when playing games.