Default Sound Device changes on restart

[Xirix]

I'm having a slight problem here, Windows 7 Ultimate. I'm set up with two monitors, the second with HDMI, but I have default sound as the speaker/headphone outputs on my motherboard.

For some reason everytime I restart my computer it defaults to HDMI for audio and I need to switch it back, kinda annoying. The HDMI audio is at the top of the sound list if that's relevant.

 

[fireberd]

That is the way Windows works. If there is an HDMI cable plugged in to the PC, it will automatically set the default audio playback device as HDMI. In these cases you must manually change the playback device to "Speakers", as you have found out.

This works the same way in Windows 8. As more and more HDMI monitors are becoming available Microsoft needs to change the way it manages the sound playback. But, until they do you will have to continue to manually set it.

If you can use DVI or VGA for the second monitor, instead of HDMI, that would solve your problem.

 

[Xirix]

Really? That seems really stupid to me, I don't suppose there's a third party tool that could force sound settings to stay default?

 

[fireberd]

There is no utility that I know of. You can create a shortcut for the sound on your desktop. That will allow you direct access to the Sound/Playback panel.

Go to the Device Manager/Hardware and Sound. RIGHT Click on "Sound" and then click on "Create Shortcut".

 

[carwiz]

Mine doesn't work that way. My default is set to speakers and it stays speakers unless I change it or unplug the speakers. If you disable the default device (unplug), Windows will default to whatever is connected. I often swap my HDMI cable to the second monitor (TV) from the PC to a Blue Ray player. (Yes, I know; I need to get a switch.) Even with the TV connected (used as second monitor), my PC speakers are/remain the primary output. If I want the sound to come out of the TV, I have to change the default sound to the TV. Then back to the speakers when done.

Perhaps it's more dependent on the sound chip and drivers. I have a Realtek chipset.

 

[ComputerGeek]

Try disabling HD audio device on your video card in DevMgr. That should keep Windows from changing it. Re-enable when needed.

/* EDIT */
Oooops. I just noticed carwiz already suggested it

 

[fireberd]

My RealTek works the way the poster reported his works, on two different PC's and with both Win 7 and Win 8.1. There are many posts on here and other forums of users complaining because it works the way I posted.

 

[carwiz]

Hmmmmm. Strange. I certainly don't have to reset my speakers every time I turn on my PC. And I run a dual monitor setup with the second monitor (TV) connected via HDMI. The sound still comes out of the PC speakers. I have to select the HDMI as the default output to get the sound out of the TV speakers. So something is wrong but it isn't Windows.

And, I did not say to disable the device in Device Manager. There should be no reason to do that.