Vista Tutorial - No Analog Realtek

My GIGABYTE GA-M750SLI-DS4 motherboard (GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Main Page with a built in HD audio board made by Realtek. According to the mfg website it uses the Realtek ALC889A codec.

My system setup is as follows:

AMD Phenom 9850 Quad Core Black processor.
2x 2GB RAM (utilizing 2 of the 4 available slots).
Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit OS.
I am running the F5 version of the BIOS, as the F6 is glitchy and caused me CMOS problems initially. I intend to wait for F7 to see how that fares.

Here is my issue: I have researched in detail and have come down to this problem.

In the Realtek Device Chooser software screen the only option available to me is 'Realtek Digital Output'. The 'speakers' option and the 'NVIDIA HDMI Output' options are greyed out and completely unchangeable. I cannot modify or change anything listed in those options. As I do not own any HD audio equipment (nor do I intend on purchasing any in the near future), I cannot verify whether or not the HD audio features truly function. All of the analog jacks are completely greyed out, I show four jacks on the list but none of them display as usable, again completely greyed out. I own a set of Bose Companion III speakers, consisting of two satellite speakers for L and R sound and a subwoofer. All 3 of these are routed to a standard analog mini jack that I used on another machine with the standard green audio out port, and they function just fine. So I know they are not the problem either.

I CAN, however get a Logitech USB Headset to play sound. It functions through the Realtek software as it would be predicted. No issues there. However, it is sad when I cannot have even basic music playing in the room unless I am tethered to my machine. While it does not render my machine unusable, it is a considerable drawback.

Essentially I am able to get NO EXTERNAL AUDIO from this device. I am otherwise happy and impressed with the quality of the hardware on the motherboard but this is terribly depressing, as it seems my only option to get usable external audio is to sacrifice my SLI capability by plugging an audio card into my one remaining PCI slot.

I have downloaded various versions of both Realtek and GIGABYTE software/drivers in order to attempt to resolve this issue. I have removed the audio drivers completely and reinstalled with the most current on the Realtek site also, to no avail. I have researched various google results, including but not limited to forums, manufacturers websites and microsoft fixes, with no change. I am not an 'expert' at this type of troubleshooting but from what I can tell this seems to be a software related issue and not a hardware one. I am fully prepared to be wrong if it corrects my issue. I spent a pretty penny on this machine and would like to get it audible ASAP. If anyone knows of any ongoing issues I'd love to be informed, please let me know if there's any hope or whether I should just be satisfied with a mediocre graphical framerate and go buy the 40 dollar sound card.

Thanks!

No help at the moment other than to say hope it isn't what happened to this poster,

Please someone help me... Im gonna go crazy!!!!!

Hi Es0ter1c

Try going to the Control Panel, uninstall software, Uninstall the Realtec software and drivers you will be promted to restart the computer do this Vista will reststart and automatically install the drivers.Your sound should then work.
Should Vista not install drivers go to Control Panel, Sound, and do an automatic search Vista should detect your speakers and install drivers.

Hope this helps

Pooch

Hi guys, i have a similar problem to this one and I can't solve it. I'm nearly crazy allready.

I have Asus M2N-VM mobo with Realtek AC'97 type on-board soundcard (Realtek ACL883 to be more specific).

Everything worked jus fine under WinXP, untill i've recently installed a clean copy of Vista Ultimate 64 bit (formated my primary partition)

Now instead of sound i have only noises and glitches. I have installed newest realtek drivers, and what i get is Realtek High definition audio in sound options (ctrl-panel). It has 2 devices: speakers and high definition output (both are Realtek High definition audio and both are labeled as working. When i set speakers as default device, i get only in-comprehensive noises (very unpleasant to the ear). When i do the same with the DH output, i get no sound at all. I have analog speakers, connected via 3.5 mm jack, it has external amplifier. It is tested and is definately ok.

Plz help me i AM GOING CRAZY

Is your motherboard set to use HD Audio (Azalea) or AC'97? I think the drivers cannot make the distinction when there is motherboard setting to use one or the other....

Also, you said RealTek Ac'97, but it sounds like you downloaded the RealTek HD Audio drivers - which makes sense that they would not work, since AC'96 is *not* HD audio.

I've tried to install drivers that came on as cd with the mobo, but i get the same results (the drivers are for 64 bit vista, accordig to the cd readme)

BTW my soundcard (Realtek ACL883) doesn't have a HD output SPDIF for example), only analog)

I have downloaded drivers both from realtek and from asus websites, and none of the helped

Right - but for it to say you're using RealTek HD drivers when in fact you said AC'97 makes me suspicious at best.

Have you tried going to GigaByte's page and getting their latest driver for the sound card that they offer?

My mobo is ASUS, not gigabyte

Ok tried to take a look in BIOS, Onboard devices cfg, but it only lets me change front panel output - i can set it up HD audio device or an AC'97.

I downladed latest drivers from ASUS webpage, description says they are specifically for Realtek ACL883, made for Vista 64, but the result is the same, when I install them, i get the same Realtek HD drivers.

When I set up a front panel output to AC'97, i get the same result.
When I disable front panel output, windows cannot find any soundcard at all.
But problem is, that I do not connect my speakers to front panel. I connect it to back panel.

Hello DieForDethklok,

Try selecting just the speakers as output.
You can disable the other device by right click and selecting disable

I have tried that, i doesn't seem to help. There are still only glitches and incomprehensive noise coming out of the speakers

I have also tried connecting headphones instead of speakers, the result is the same.

I have popped the case, and I have noticed that there was two front panel connectors - one labeled HD audio, and another labeled AC97 (which is currently connected) I tried switching and testing, but the result is the same: back panel produces only noise, and front panel is completely silent.

I tried different sets of drivers, nothing helps.

If I don't get this PC audible by tomorrow, I'm f-d.