Realtek sound effects and headphone virtualization absent.

[Rumpelstilzkin]

I recently just replaced my motherboard and processor and everything works perfect except I've noticed the sound effects tab and headphone virtualization option are gone from Realtek HD Audio Manager. I did a search and found a topic stating that this is because of Dolby Home Theater, which I have had since replacing my motherboard, I didn't have it prior to replacing the motherboard though. This is my first time dealing with Dolby. The article I found is here.

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=8940.15

However, the thread instructions to fix the issue did not work for me. I tried uninstalling current audio drivers, uninstalling Dolby, used a registry cleaner to get rid of old Realtek stuff, and installed a few different versions of Realtek drivers. I believe I tried every applicable driver for Windows 8, which I am using, but it did not work. I fully got rid of Realtek each time I tried a new version.

I also tried going into control panel>sound>speakers properties>enhancements to check if the 'disable all sound effects' option was active. It was not. Anyone know what I can do to fix this? It's a mega pet peeve. Here is an image I found that is basically identical to what my Realtek looks like except the sound effects, room correction, and headphone virtualization options are just not present (I don't care about room correction btw, not sure if I ever had it either).

http://i.imgur.com/TP0Ynzu.jpg

Not sure if my motherboard and processor information are necessary, but here they are.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284

[dmdilks]

Have you just tried using the windows driver for the sound? This has been a problem for years with this. I have friend on another forum that had the problem. Plus it was on AMD board too. What he did was used a realtek driver from another board that was older.

[Rumpelstilzkin]

I don't think I've tried that. How can I do it?

[dmdilks]

Uninstall the realtek driver and let windows install a driver to see if that will work. I can't remember if windows 8 will do that. I try not to use windows 8 if I can. Plus I a Microsoft Partner too. So what that is telling you even us Partners hate windows 8.

[Rumpelstilzkin]

It doesn't seem that windows 8 installed anything afterward. I preferred windows 7, myself, but 8 came on this machine by default and I don't much feel like spending money on an OS right now. Anything else I can try?

[dmdilks]

The only thing you can do reinstall Realtek and wait till windows 10 comes out this year. Maybe somebody else that had this problem might come in and help.

The thing is that you said you upgraded the motherboard and CPU. How did you use windows 8 that you said that it came with this computer just asking?

[Rumpelstilzkin]

Windows 8 was still available on this computer after I started it up with the new motherboard and cpu, not sure how or why. I believe it was now considered a test version of unactivated version, or at least that's what the computer read it as afterward. I had an issue trying to get a watermark off my desktop and when looking into it online I was told it was because Windows 8 wasn't yet activated or something, I forget. Anyway, I had to call Microsoft and enter in a giant number broken down into 9 segments to get it reauthenticated and prove I had a legit copy of Windows 8.

[AgentFXA]

It's the system board. I had problems with the realtek sound as long as I had it (3 years) - rev 4 board is fixing this issue but got other issues.

Well, what can we expect from a US$1 share value company?

[Rumpelstilzkin]

I guess there isn't much I can do about it then. Thanks for trying.