optical audio output with MS Vista? Anyone know what to do?

[Dolemite69]

I have Vista Ultimate with SP1 installed and a Gigabyte P35-DS3L motherboard which has the Realtek ALC888 codec w/ optical output. I cannot for the life of me get audio to come out of the optical output (plugged into an Onkyo receiver). I have a dual boot system w/ XP on the other side and it works flawlessly. What is the deal!!!???

Ok, so i just discovered that you have to have the digital output set to 'default' to get sound to come out of the optical, but then that eliminates output from the computer speakers. SO you have to go back and forth, setting each one to 'default'??? Can you not have simultaneous output from the PC speakers and the digital output like what I'm used to in XP? That sucks...

 

[keeleysam]

You cannot have them both at the same time because of Vista's new sound model.

 

[Dolemite69]

And what would be the reasoning for that? Doesn't sound like a "feature" to me. I enjoyed having music playing on the computer speakers in the office and on the living room stereo at the same time. Now I can't, unless i run more cable to the receiver (which is next to imposible in my situation)?? Thanks for the reply.

 

[keeleysam]

You can use something like this:

http://www.compusa.com/applica...OBDF&CMP=OTC-GPRODUCTS

It is a feature, because Vista's new sound model is much more powerful with everything being independently controlled.