Solved Cannot access Dell/Realtek Sound Manager

[CBM]

I have an almost new Dell XPS-17 L702X laptop with Realtek Audio. I'm running Win 7 Ultimate SP1 x64 on it. If I choose to customize my taskbar and place the Realtek Icon on the taskbar it disappears after a few seconds. The only way to access it is to go to my C Drive, Program Files, Realtek and manually open it from there. The Realtech icon then appears on the taskbar; however, if you hover the cursor over the icon for one or two seconds it disappears. If I'm lucky enough to open the Sound Manager application before the icon disappears I must right click on it and select "Open". It cannot be opened by a left single click or double click. Once the Sound Manager window is open it displays nothing. The Sound Manager window can be closed only by using the Processes tab in Task Manager and shutting down the process itself. It cannot be shut down by clicking Realtek in the Task Manager Applications tab.


Dell has tried on three occasions to fix the problem, to no avail, by taking control of the laptop. Realtek Audio has been uninstalled from Programs and Features and then been reinstalled, and the drivers have been uninstalled and reinstalled from within Device Manager. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the OS on four occasions while attempting to fix the problem. I did two reinstalls using the recovery partition, one clean reinstall from the Dell provided OS installation DVD, which contains the OS only (no free third party applications that came with the laptop) and one reinstall from the Dell DataSafe Backup DVDs I made upon receipt of the laptop. A new sound card was installed at Dell's Texas repair facility just last week. The problem remains unsolved.


Thank you in advance for your time and any assistance provided.

C.B.

 

[Sardonicus]

Are you using the latest driver from Realtek ?

 

[CBM]

Are you using the latest driver from Realtek ?

Both Dell and I have installed the latest drivers from Dell's download website and Realtek's website. Actually, Realtek prefers that I use the driver from Dell's download page because of Dell's customization of the Sound Manager. It doesn't really matter because the problem remains as none of the drivers eliminated the problem. Dell has escalated my problem concerning this issue but they've done that twice before and I never heard from them again so I don't expect to hear from them this time.

The motherboard was replaced a few weeks ago and the sound card was replaced last week. My only remaining option is to ask Dell to send me a new hard drive with the OS and third party software already imaged on it, although I don't know why that would help me in any way.

What I find hard to understand is that I can find no evidence of anyone else having this problem. The audio is working fine and earphones work fine when connected to the laptop. I simply cannot find a way to keep the icon on the taskbar, the Sound Manager either won't open or opens to a blank window and the Sound Manager window cannot be closed unless I manually shut it down in Task Manager. The hardware has been replaced and the software has been replaced. I have the same Realtek Audio and Sound Manager on my XPS 7100 desktop, which is also running Win 7 Ultimate x64, and have no problems whatsoever with it.

Thank you for your prompt reply. I appreciate it.

 

[Sardonicus]

When customizing the Notification Area Icons, did you select "Show icons and notifications" as the behavior for the Realtek HD Audio Manager?

 

[fireberd]

I do a lot of support on the Dell community support forum, but mainly Desktop Hardware. However, we have found that Dell sound drivers need to be used. Non-Dell either do not work or do not work correctly.

There is a Dell restore partition on the hard drive, accessed by F8 at POST (Power On Self Test) that will allow restoring the PC to the original factory condition and no discs are needed. You can consider this, if it gets to that point. How to run Dell PC Restore

I see you have also posted on the Dell forum. That should be the best place to get an answer.

 

[CBM]

When customizing the Notification Area Icons, did you select "Show icons and notifications" as the behavior for the Realtek HD Audio Manager?

Yes, I did. It makes no difference. As soon as the cursor is hovered over the icon it disappears.

I appreciate your assistance, Sardonicus. By the way, have you ever heard of a music album by Spirit named "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus"?

C.B.

 

[CBM]

I do a lot of support on the Dell community support forum, but mainly Desktop Hardware. However, we have found that Dell sound drivers need to be used. Non-Dell either do not work or do not work correctly.

There is a Dell restore partition on the hard drive, accessed by F8 at POST (Power On Self Test) that will allow restoring the PC to the original factory condition and no discs are needed. You can consider this, if it gets to that point. How to run Dell PC Restore

I see you have also posted on the Dell forum. That should be the best place to get an answer.

Hello fireberd. The driver from Dell does not help. I have already used the Dell recovery partition via F8 on two occasions. It did not solve the problem.

I appreciate your time and assistance.

C.B.

 

[fireberd]

I havent' checked your post on the Dell forum this morning, but Jim probably responded to you. He is the Laptop audio guru on the forum.

I don't have RealTek so I can't confirm that what you want to do is how it should work.

 

[CBM]

I havent' checked your post on the Dell forum this morning, but Jim probably responded to you. He is the Laptop audio guru on the forum.

I don't have RealTek so I can't confirm that what you want to do is how it should work.

Hey fireberd,

I've spent hours and hours searching online and through several forums. I appear to be the only one experiencing this problem and Dell (after three attempts via live chat, a motherboard replacement and sound card replacement) seems unable to solve the problem. I'm almost ready to ask Dell to replace the laptop.

C.B.

 

[CBM]

I was finally able to once again open the Sound Manager after several hours of trying. I have attached a screenshot showing what I see when the Sound Manager is open. I have no access to any of the settings.

I thank everyone for your time and assistance. I appreciate it very much. I'm simply going to have to live with the problem.

C.B.

 

[CBM]

Any ideas, anyone?

 

[Layback Bear]

Give this a try.
Start, type in audio/enter. Realtek HD Audio Manger is at the top on my computer.

 

[CBM]

Give this a try.
Start, type in audio/enter. Realtek HD Audio Manger is at the top on my computer.

Thank you for your reply, Layback Bear. The result is the same. The audio manager window will open but it is blank, as shown in my screenshot earlier.

I'm currently checking out the Dell driver downloads to determine if I missed installing a driver. If I find nothing there I'm going to try running the application in compatibility mode, although that's not necessary on my desktop, which has the Realtek HDA and is running the same OS as my laptop, which is Win 7 Ultimate x64.

I'll let you know about the compatibility mode after I exhaust my search in the Dell driver downloads.

C.B.

 

[CBM]

Give this a try.
Start, type in audio/enter. Realtek HD Audio Manger is at the top on my computer.

Thank you for your reply, Layback Bear. The result is the same. The audio manager window will open but it is blank, as shown in my screenshot earlier.

I'm currently checking out the Dell driver downloads to determine if I missed installing a driver. If I find nothing there I'm going to try running the application in compatibility mode, although that's not necessary on my desktop, which has the Realtek HDA and is running the same OS as my laptop, which is Win 7 Ultimate x64.

I'll let you know about the compatibility mode after I exhaust my search in the Dell driver downloads.

C.B.

Well, there are no new or revised drivers to install. I tried compatibility mode for Vista SP2 and Win 7, to no avail. There are no software compatibility issues involved since the application never worked from day one and during the four reinstalls the Realtek software was installed immediately after the chipset and nic drivers were installed (when doing the reformat and custom, clean install from the installation DVD, which contains no third party software, third party drivers or Dell utilities).

This laptop has been a disaster since the day I received it. The motherboard, sound card, fan, USB 2.0 ports have been replaced. The power adapter plug receptacle in the laptop has been replaced three times. I've never been able to access the sound manager. I have purchased six Dell computers in the past nine years, all of them currently in operation in one location or another. I'm not dissatisfied with Dell by any means. Dell has always quickly and efficiently fixed any problems I've had with the other computers; however, Dell, after four attempts, is incapable of fixing the problem I'm experiencing now. I'm going to ask that the laptop be replaced with a new one of the same configuration. Needless to say, I don't expect Dell to do so.

I thank everyone for their time and assistance. I appreciate it very much.

C.B.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have a idea. Right click on the sound speaker on Task Bar and select Playback devices. I have 5 selections on my system. If you have a selections, right click the one you want and set as default.

 

[CBM]

I have a idea. Right click on the sound speaker on Task Bar and select Playback devices. I have 5 selections on my system. If you have a selections, right click the one you want and set as default.

Hey Layback Bear. I've already done that. Realtek is set as the default and all settings are correct in the Properties. All necessary boxes have been checked.

I appreciate your time and assistance.

C.B.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have put in a request for help from others. So keep a watch for more post to help you.

 

[panais]

Hi.

Download the most recent software\driver form Realtek.


Uninstall the realtek software\driver,restart.


Install the realtek software\driver,restart.


Now,in start search copy paste msconfig and check\ensure that you have\enable in System Configuration Start-up list the Realtek Audio Manager.


Then,go to start\control panel,click on realtek (hd) Audio Manager,click the explanation mark,enable the Display icon in notification area,click ok and ok.

Restart.

 

[Layback Bear]

CBM I noticed you have two System Specs, which computer are we working on?

 

[Dwarf]

It's the laptop, XPS-17 L702X. The other is his desktop, XPS 7100, and he states here that he has no problem with that:

I have the same Realtek Audio and Sound Manager on my XPS 7100 desktop, which is also running Win 7 Ultimate x64, and have no problems whatsoever with it.