Realtek Digital Output option disappeared

[sanstour12]

Hi,

I have a Samsung laptop (Windows 7 x64, Realtek) connected to a TV via HDMI cable (audio over HDMI). Some time back, I had got HDMI Audio option (in Control Panel -> Sound) disabled so that I could use Realtek Digital Output (via headphone jack to Coax on my receiver) and it worked fine. Recently I played with these settings again due to change of receiver. I actually cant recall what started the problem, but Realtek Digital Output has disappeared. I have got 'show disabled/disconnected' option on but that did not help. The analog output (also Realtek) continues to show.

I rolled back, uninstalled, re-installed the Realtek HD driver a few times, but nothing has brought the Digital Output option back. I have seen a few posts on this issue, but have not seen any solution.

Thanks in advance.
Ed

 

[fireberd]

Uninstall the Realtek in the Device manager, but DO NOT check the box to uninstall the drivers. Then restart the PC and when Windows starts it will detect and reinstall the sound. This fixes a lot of flakey problems and may take care of the missing Digital output.

However, one thing - on my Realtek, I have a separate Digital output connection, I don't use the digital out via my headphone out as you state - which is Analog and not Digital.

 

[sanstour12]

I have reinstalled Realtek HD drivers a few times but dint help.

 

[fireberd]

My suggestion is NOT reinstalling drivers. Its actually reinstalling the device. Go to the Device Manager (hold the Windows key down and press the pause/break key, when the Panel comes up Device Manager can be accessed from the task list in the upper left of the Panel), RIGHT click on the entry for the Realtek to highlight it and then LEFT click "Uninstall" DO NOT check the box to uninstall the drivers. Restart the PC and when Windows starts it will detect and reinstall the device. If there is any corruption in Windows for the device this will usually fix it.

 

[sanstour12]

Does anyone know how to do a proper clean install of Realtek. After uninstalling the driver, still have so many registry entries. Is there a way to clean up totally? That may solve this problem.

 

[fireberd]

From your comments you have ignored my uninstall/reinstall suggestion. That is a very real troubleshooting step in trying to resolve device problems.

 

[sanstour12]

fireberd, I felt I had followed your steps, but I might have uninstalled driver too. I will try it again with exactly the same procedure as you described.

One observation though. The HDMI Audio option appears only when I connect the HDMI cable. However, Real HD Audio (analog) option appears with no connection too. When I connect an RCA cable into the headphone jack (it's 3.5mm to RCA splitter), then there is a connection notification in the taskbar. I wonder how Windows 7 detects whether I need analog or digital connection at this point as it continues to show the same Realtek HD Audio (analog) option.

Nonetheless let me try repeating the steps of uninstalling the device and report back if any issues.

 

[sanstour12]

Fireberd, I uninstalled the device, w/o uninstalling the driver, but this did not bring the digital output back.

 

[fireberd]

OK. But, that step was needed. If there were a corruption in Windows for the Device that fixes that. And, as mentioned that fixes a lot of flakey problems.

Exactly what is the model of the Samsung?

 

[sanstour12]

It's Samsung RF411

Notebook RF411 - OVERVIEW | SAMSUNG

 

[fireberd]

According to the listed specs for this model on the Samsung web site there is no audio digital output, (unless the analog headphone/speaker output can be configured for digital via the RealTek control panel). I also downloaded the manual and nothing in the manual about that either. ????

 

[sanstour12]

The headphone out can be configured to use Realtek Digital Output and connected to receiver Coax digital in. I was using it in that configuration until I had temporarily connected it to a TV via HDMI. When I wanted to connect it back to my receiver, I could not find any option.

I am left with no choice but to reset to factory installation again and see if it would help.

 

[fireberd]

How did you disable the HDMI? Unless you have an HDMI cable connected normally the audio is not switched to the HDMI link. If you disabled it in the Device Manager that may have had some affect on the Digital Out. If this is the case, enable it in the Device Manager but make sure your "Speakers" are set as the Default Playback device in the Sound Panel. Then you may be able to reset the RealTek for digital out.

If that doesn't work, unfortunately it may take a factory reset (reinstall) to get it working the way you want.

 

[sanstour12]

I had changed the default device to HDMI. After that I did not recall when I stopped seeing the Digital Output option. I would stick to analog out for now.

 

[koala11]

I have exactly the same problem on a Samsung QX410-J01!
It used to show Digital Output option on Playback devices panel but (I guess, as you stated) that since I had connected the laptop to my screen through HDMI it has disappeared. Now I'm trying to pass audio through a receiver I bought but there is not Digital Output anymore!

Anyone who has had this problem and have successfully fix it without re installing Windows?

Thank you in advance,