Need help with 5.1 speakers

[i R PapaSmurph]

First of all, please bare with me. I am not a total idiot when dealing with computers, but I may not know certain things.

I recently got Windows 7 on one of my desktops. I plugged in my Logitech 5.1 speaker system and I am getting absolutely nothing out of them. I went through the obvious checks (not muted). I was then searching my computer for evidence of the speakers even being recognized, and as far as I can tell they are not. I have Realtek High Definition Audio, and I've tried disabling/enabling this several times accompanied with a couple restarts of the computer.

I understand I may need to update my drivers but at this point I'm unable to connect to the internet (Will have access in a couple days). I have searched this problem on my other computers and I'm getting mixed answers. I've heard my soundcard may not be compatible, the drivers are out dated, or I may want to use something other than Realtek.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[fireberd]

Without giving us info on the PC, we can only try to make "educated guesses". Did this PC previously come with XP and you upgraded to Win 7? If that is the case you need Windows 7 specific sound drivers, as the old XP drivers are not compatible. Generally, the PC vendor (or motherboard vendor) drivers are preferred, as non-Vendor drivers either do not work or do not work correctly in many cases. Just installing Windows 7 and no drivers may install a generic "HD Audio Codec" driver which may or may not work.

However, you should have the "Speakers" set as the default playback device. You can also configure the speaker type, such as 5.1, in that panel.

 

[i R PapaSmurph]

I started with vista. Any other information you need on the pc just let me know how to get it. And just to be straight, are you saying a company perhaps Logitech will have the required drivers? Thanks

 

[bobkn]

I started with vista. Any other information you need on the pc just let me know how to get it. And just to be straight, are you saying a company perhaps Logitech will have the required drivers? Thanks

Logitech won't have the drivers. I suggest getting them zstraight from Realtek, although you can probably get them from hundreds of web sites.

Realtek

If you mentioned your motherboard type, or PC make and model if it's a commercial system, you could save us a lot of guessing what's in the box. Few telepaths or clairvoyants frequent this site.

From what you write, it sounds like some sort of sound drivers are installed. Are speakers the default output in the Sound control panel? If yes, can you configure them?

 

[i R PapaSmurph]

It's an HP Pavilion GX624AA. I just got the computer given to me probably a week ago.

I believe this is the mother board- http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01324212&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3652954

Once again, any help is greatly appreciated. I don't need sarcasm, if I'm annoying then don't help me.

 

[fireberd]

Windows 7 uses the same sound drivers as Vista. Go to HP and download the applicable sound driver for your PC model. Many times Windows will install a generic "HD Audio Codec" and usually that will not provide full fuctionality like the PC Vendor's sound drivers.

 

[stormy13]

What are you using for a video card? Is it the onboard Intel or an actual card? If it is a video card and one that has its own built in audio (for use with the card's HDMI connection), then the onboard audio won't be available as the bios on the motherboard will see the audio on the video card as a separate sound card and disable the onboard audio. If that is the case the only solution is to get an actual sound card as HP in their infinite stupidity only left 2 options for the onboard audio, auto and disabled and no option to actually enable it in a case like this.

 

[bobkn]

Once again, any help is greatly appreciated. I don't need sarcasm, if I'm annoying then don't help me.

Annoying? Frustrating is more like it. There are people here who want to be helpful (I don't claim to be one of them), and it's much easier when basic hardware information is provided by the requestor. As you did, after two requests.

Speaking of genuinely helpful people, I haven't checked Stormy 13's post, but it's mildly horrifying.

Gah. Appliance PCs.