MSI 945GCM5 motherboard: Audio Problem

My budget motherboard is an MSI 945GCM5 V2 which is part of a new Desktop PC I have built, my first in fact. To get to the point, the issue I have is with the audio output on the motherboard. The spec is basically channell 7.1 surround sound with a successfully installed Realtek High Definition Audio Driver from the disk which came with the motherboard. Sounds and Audio Devices in the control panel states No Audio Device although all devices appear to be 'working properly' in the advanced tab. The speakers I am using are fully functional having checked them on an alternate computer. I installed a very old Creative Sound Card without any problems and managed to get perfect audio output via that. With this information you may see this as a waste of time, as I have got audio on my system but the fact that this is not from the motherboard as it should be is annoying, baffling ... all the other words people use to describe computer problems.// If not for only that reason, the fact that the front audio connector (which would be used for headphones) is not working means that no earphones will be used unless i sit on the floor .. or unless the connector will attach to a modern sound card, not directly onto the motherboard ?

Thankyou for your time

 

I assumed that the 5.1/7.1 depended on the ability of the case to support the extra 2 front connectors ? The connectors are in right place, AUdio1 sits on the JAUD1 slot as instructed by the guide.

The integrated peripherals states 'HD Audio Controller' is Enabled which is the only heading mentioning audio.

Is there any indication as to which driver is currently installed, the 5.1 or the 7.1 ? the driver disk states only 'Realtek HD Audio Driver' and during installation there is no hint as to which one is being installed, nor is there an option to install a different set of audio drivers. Checking the directory has given the same result.

Also, there doesn't appear to be any interface to manage sound devices whereas after installing the graphics driver a small icon appeared in the system tray which when opened offered some options to do with graphics set up. Maybe completely irrelevant but beginners do like to know to the basics !

Thanks for the response PeteC, any more ideas just send 'em my way

 

I suggest you get the Intel INF driver updates as well.

Look in Control Panel for the listing/icon Realtek HD Audio Manager. You will find it has two tabs, Speakers and Digital Output. Unless you are using Digital output equipment, click on "Set to Default" under the Speakers tab. Digital Output is for a S/PDIF or I expect, a HDMI connection (which your m/b does not seem to have), so set the default to Speakers.

There might be some tips here:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-vista/74420-vista-sound-issues.html

In the Realtek HD Audio Manager, there is an i above the OK button, that is where you can set "Display icon in the notification tray ".

Matt

 

OK after a clean install of windows (for other reasons away from the audio problem) on restart installed drivers from disk, this time a success! as PeteC says

I think this is true, the front 2 I/O connectors aren't working whereas the back 6 are perfect. I've been into the Realtek Audio Manager, the front two connectors are shown in a 'Digital' box, seperate from the back 6 which are in an 'Analogue' titled box. I've had a little play with some settings but to no aveil. I can live with the system being 5.1, no problem.

Thanks for the help guys, appreciate it.