Overcoming Vista SP1 Realtek Sound Problems
Last week I upgraded Vista to SP1, but found a new problem after the upgrade: no sound. My speaker in the tray had a red “X” through it, but the drivers didn’t seem to have any problems. When I tried to automatically upgrade the sound driver, it told me that I had the most up-to-date driver available. When I went to the Control Panel’s “Sound” applet I was able to select sounds, and had the option of clicking the green play button, something that isn’t available when the driver is wrong.
I’m just using the on-board sound that came with my motherboard. I have an Intel DG33BU, and the Intel site offers no help on the situation. Hopefully the Googlebot will pick this up and help others with Intel SP1 Realtek sound problems.
I was able to get the sound working by disabling the front panel jack detection. The way you do it isn’t intuitive:
- Open Vista’s Control Panel (Window | Control Panel)
- Open the Realtek Audio Manager (not “Sound”)
- In the navigation bar in the far right, there is a little yellow folder icon. It is just below “Device advanced settings” and above “ANALOG”. Click the folder icon.
- Click “Disable front panel jack detection” so that a yellow check mark shows up. Hit “OK”, and close the Realtek HD Audio Manager. That should re-enable the sound.
I just want to say thank you for this information. I was so frustrated for the last several days that I was considering “upgrading” to XP. I went into the Realtek Audio manager and never even thought to click on that folder. You are the best. Thank you again!!!!
You truly are my hero of the day!
worked like a charm. Sound is as good as new. Thanks so much for the tip.
uhm, i’ve the same problem, but no realtek audio manager in control panel
Yes for me too no Realtek Audio Icon in Control Panel,who can help me,if somebody no write message in xvitalijusx@yahoo.com
Hi, I have the same problem but I have no folder icon there. Do you know how to enable the front panel jack detection without that?
Thanks much for the tip! I just upgraded to SP1 and you guessed it, no sound. Also, FYI this tip works with Vista 64 bit too, as that’s what I have.
I also would like to thank you for this solution, after trying and failing with those provided by Microsoft.
For those not seeing a folder icon, I’ve placed an image of the Realtek Manager screen. Does anyone know why that folder image would not appear in the manager?
Thank you sooo much!
THANKS!!!!
Thank you so much for this! I kept looking in booklet that came with the package but it showed an older version of the driver software. I must have opened the Realtek Manager a dozen times looking around but never even noticed that folder icon until you posted screenshots. Terrible design…. Anyway, thank you again very much for the post.
Oh my god. Thank you. You are my hero!
Thank you,
your tip has helped me,
although my problem was “reversed”.
After installing a new Realtek driver on my computer
(with Vista SP1), I had no sound any longer from the front connector. But sound was ok from the rear.
Realtek Sound Manager / “yellow folder” /
“Disable front panel jack detection” was off
I switched it on and there was again sound at the front.
Thank you so much, I have gone around in circles today for hours. Uninstalling/reinstalling, drivers, codecs, cleaning registries, using Driver Sweeper.
I probably should have realised as my front jacks aren’t hooked up internally, but I just didn’t think to try it.
Have a great week!
my realtek control panel has no folder icon, i need help on how to get around this.
For those of you who (like me) have no folder icon, I managed to find another way to disable the jack detection.
Using the registry editor, find all instances of ForceDisableJD and change the value from 00 to FF.
After making sure I got all of them, I was able to reboot and everything works fine now.
wow thank you guys.. i updated realtek drivers and suddenly my speakers quit working. everyone on forums said to go into the Audio I/O and disable Front panel detection. The new Realtek does not have this option!! I looked everywhere – checked individual drivers, sound, ANYTHING to do w/ sound.. nada.
updated the registry editor.. rebooting now.. fingers crossed!
Thank u Dana!
Cant believe that works (why?) after days of searching and reinstalling drivers. Gawd how I hate rebooting over and over
Mik
Thanks JD, I had the exact same problem of not seeing the folder icon, but I followed your advice and now it works =D
Wierd.
I tried JD’s trick on my HP Pavilion DV6000 and the value of FF switched OFF the loudspeaker sound!
putting 00 back restored it thank goodness.
Still cannot find a way to put the mic back in the playback box for sidetone purposes.
is there a registry hack?
amazing. I played with this for hours. new drivers, wiping the old ones, etc etc nothing worked.
thank you!
Thanks a lot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you very much jd…had searched almost all websites before coming here…
Thanks so much JD….That was awesome !!
Get SP3 update(which is what casued my driver to stop working in the first place or installing the motherboard driver-take your pick. Then go to windows directory at: My Computer/local disk C/Windows/KB888111. Delete KB888111 and restart your computer. If this does not work try ASUS update at this point (if you have an ASUS MOBO. See if it has the HD update to install. If that does not work go to the ASUS Support site and search for the problem related to your motherboard. Some sequence of these steps worked for me on an ASUS M3A79-Deluxe MOBO. I make no guarantee.