windows audio keeps going mute

[PalmettoTiger]

Not sure if this is the best place to post, but here goes.

I'm using the audio out on my NForce3 motherboard. Previously, I was using TOSLINK optical and handling volume controls on the head unit of my Logitech speakers. I noticed that the Windows audio mute was always on, but because it didn't affect the TOSLINK, I didn't care.

Now those speakers are on the TV and I've moved to computer speakers that use the stereo outputs, and the muting thing is killing me. If I turn it off, it goes back to mute after 7 or so seconds.

3 questions:

• is there any way to disable the TOSLINK output? I think that's why it keeps putting mute back on.
• are there any programs I might have installed that would be muting sound automatically?
• What are the different places mute can be activated on a WinXP computer? system tray icon for volume control is one; I've seen it in control panel sound properties too.

Relevant specs: WinXP SP2, MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard, DirectX 9.0c, and the audio device listed is Realtek AC97 Audio.

Troubleshooting attempted so far: installing latest audio drivers, un-muting from different places, installing sound utility included on mobo driver disc.

 

[PalmettoTiger]

Anyone?

 

[MichaelD]

It looks like you've done a good deal of fruitful troubleshooting so far. :thumbsup: Sounds like the board is stuck in a loop of going back to the Toslink.

Try poking around in the BIOS to see if you can disable the Toslink. The Realtek sound chip has it's own control panel..and the ability to choose the output, IIRC.

If it's not in your system tray, check Control Panel. If not in there, try Program Files/Realtek, then just look for an executable (.exe) of some kind.