Problem with Speaker Output

[[H]eckel]

I have an issue that I really hope someone here can help me with. I've tried everything I can think of.

I bought a new 5.1 speaker set the other day and I cannot get anything to output from the rear jack or center/sub jack. I have used three different sound devices. My onboard Realtek AC'97 7.1, a Sound Blaster Live 5.1, and a Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1. They are all doing roughly the same thing. When I do a speaker test in whatever application is associated with the particular sound device, I get nothing from the rear, center, or sub.

Is there something in Windows blocking these channels? I don't see why it would happen on different sound cards. I know my speakers are working because I can plug the rear ones in to the front port and they work fine.

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.


<edit>It does the same thing when I use a digital connection. Is there something in windows that disables all but the front speakers? The sound is set to 5.1 in Windows, BTW.</edit>

 

[Mister X]

Edit: I hate it when that happens.

 

[[H]eckel]

Its as if Windows is only outputing sound to the front channels. It seems no signal is being sent to the other four channels at all. Like I said, it does exactly the same thing whether I am using six channel direct analog or spdif. With the Audigy, It creates a center speaker out of the two fronts and plays the rear tests out of the front speakers. I hope that info is helpful. This is very frustrating.

 

[[H]eckel]

Just in case anyone else has this same issue, I got it working. I bought drivercleaner and used it to clean the old realtek and creative drivers, reinstalled the creative drivers and its working like a charm now.

Spdif still only outputs two channels though. I guess I would only use that as a passthrough for dolby digital or dts encoded material anyway.