H55M-UD2H: Win 7 says HDMI audio is not plugged in

[mightyeric]

Sytem details: H55M-UD2H, rev1.0, F10 firmware, Intel i5-660  using on-board video, 8 gigs ram DDR3-1333, Sony Optiarc 5600s bluray drive, Arcsoft Total Media Theater 3 Platinum, Samsung TV LN46C650, same HDMI cable as has worked on previous build.  All chipset and audio drivers provided by Gigabye updated as of today.

HDMI audio works by choosing "Samsung" as my audio output device in Win 7 (pro-64bit).  The regular HDMI audio device appears in the sound devices list, but cannot be enabled because win7 says the device is "not plugged in" - but this is the on-board HDMI device. Video over HDMI is perfect.

DVDs and all other media play fine except BluRay. 

When I play a bluray, the sound works in the menu, but when I start the movie, I get a very loud high pitched beep for a second or two then just very loud static thereafter.  Is this a HDCP issue?  If so, how do I convince the system that it is HDCP compliant?  Or is this motherboard NOT HDCP compliant?

This is a new build using this new motherboard.  The bluray drive and decoding software were used on my previous build without problems so I know they work.  Software patches and firmware updates have all been applied.  I have NOT tried using other audio output methods as I don't have cables, but I want HDMI to work in any case.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry it took so long to answer but it has been a bit hectic today.

After digging through the manual the only facts that seemed to be relative were as follows:

(Note 3) The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.
(Note 4) You can use only one of the onboard digital graphics ports (e.g. DisplayPortj, HDMI, and DVI-D) for output when in the BIOS Setup program or when during the POST screens.

As far as HDCP goes I find it hard to believe that Gigabyte would incorporate a graphics output that would not conform. You could always prove the point by borrowing a discrete graphics card and try playing the movies through that.

[mightyeric]

Let me clarify a few points.  The HDMI connector on the motherboard is working - somewhat.  Video (all video, even bluray video) is perfect.  Sound from Windows and Media Center is working over HDMI connection as well.  The HDMI cable is the only cable connecting the computer to the TV.  I have nothing attached to the other display ports at all - not even once to test them. 

The tricky part is this:  Win7 seems to have autodetected my Samsung LCD TV and created a sound device called High Definition Audio Device and has named the device SAMSUNG - interesting as this did not occur on my previous build with an different MB and same TV. (BTW-this device reports in the properties page to be HDCP compliant).  This is the device that it selected and running as the default audio device.  HOWEVER, there is also another High Definition Audio Device showing up  in the list of available devices - it is named HDMI, but it is listed as "not plugged in".  From my searching, this seems to indicate that win7 is aware of the device but believes it has been physically disconnected from the motherboard (not just the TV unplugged). 

I've tried Microsoft's default drivers, drivers downloaded from RealTek, from Gigabyte, and from the driver CD included with the MB.

Now, you may ask:  If everything is working, who cares what the port is named in win7?  The problem is that sound for bluray movies is just a high pitched beep for a couple of seconds followed by interminable loud static.  This is what has lead me to believe the problem may lie with HDCP authorization.  My thinking is that if I can properly activate the sound device in win7 that should show up as the motherboard's HDMI port, perhaps the HDCP authenitcation issue will be solved.

Any another advice floating around out there?

[Dark Mantis]

Have you tried removing the HDMI device from Device Manager and see if that will cure your problem. It may just find and reinstall it again but it might do the trick. It soulds to me like it is the way the devices have been detected that could be the problem, you know how Windows can be picky about the proceedure for installation.

[mightyeric]

Yes, I have certainly tried, and sometimes it disappears and is auto-reinstalled with next boot (should be a good thing, right?).  But, it is sometimes quite difficult to identify exactly what you're uninstalling from the Device Manager - especially when it's a dual purpose device (sound and video port).

Still no luck as of this morning

[Dark Mantis]

Absic is the man for this I would say as he is our audio wizard. I will PM him and see if he can help you.

[absic]

Hi there

I don't know if I can live up to DM's high expectations of me but I will do my best.

I think that your problem might be due to having the on-board Azalia Codec chip enabled. If you disable this, then any HD Audio conflicts should be eliminated. The only problem would be if you are also trying to use the on-board sound cuip to drive a set of PC or surround sound speakers from what you have written so far, I don't think that is the case.

[mightyeric]

I have no idea what the Azalia stuff is, but I do remember that in the BIOS it can be set to AUTO or DISABLE.  I will try to disable it when i get home from work (I work nights) and let you know.

Thanks for continuing to help me here.

[absic]

I have no idea what the Azalia stuff is

Just so you know the Azalia Chip is also known as the Realtek On-board Audio.

[Dark Mantis]

And there was me looking for this nice flower on my board and wondering whether I should RMA it because I had been shortchanged 

[mightyeric]

Just so you know the Azalia Chip is also known as the Realtek On-board Audio.

Which is why I had absolutely no audio options once I disabled it in the BIOS.  

Ending note:  I gave up, picked up an inexpensive ATI 5450 card and everything worked easy peasy - even bluray.  Disappointed in this MB.