I have a soundblaster audigy 2 ZS card and creative inspire t6060 5.1 speaker set up and am running XP. I recently had to re-install all drivers following a hard drive failure. Initially all worked well, with full functionality. However, over the last few days i've noticed that I have lost the use of the rear two speakers. When I run a diagnostic check, all is apparently ok. When I run the speaker noise & channel checks, the sound from the front L&R, centre and sub-woofer speakers is all ok, but the sound for the rear L&R speakers comes from the front speakers. There is no sound (other that a very gentle normal hiss) from the rear speakers when I put them to my ear. I have checked and double checked the setup, which is definately correct, but cannot explain what has happened. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello Amadams,

it sounds like the drivers have gone corrupt. uninstall your drivers, restart your machine, let xp search for new hardware, install drivers again. restart and let us know.

I have tried this, but no difference. I have discovered one thing. If I enter the THX setup console and test speakers using that, I get the same problem, but If I play some music, it would appear I do get sound from the rear two speakers. This only occurs though If I have entered the THX setup console first, otherwise sound only comes from the front speakers.

Try this Amadams916, Open Control Panel. Click Sound and Multimedia. Click the Audio tab and under sound playback make sure the prefered device showing is the Sound Blaster. Next click the Advanced button. Under the Speakers tab you will see the Speaker Setup dropdown. Click that then scroll down to 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers if this entry does not appear in the box. Click that then apply..


LC

Had already done that. I just don't get it!!

Ok go to device manager and uninstall all drivers for this sound card.If the sound card has its own software installed uninstall it to.Then via device manager uninstall the sound card then reboot your computer and found new hardware wizard should reinstall it.If drivers have become corrupt they need to be removed or they could just corrupt the next one being installed.

Reinstall drivers and software for this sound card.

Then in windows sound options make sure all items listed in options and advanced are not muted.Check your sound card is set as default.

Make sure sound card is fully seated in its slot.

Is onboard sound disabled or enabled in BIOS?