"HP DV7 2278CA" Laptop Audio Problem

CrazyCanadianGuy · Mar 27, 2011, 08:20 PM

Hello Hardwareheaveners',

The deal is, when I play certain games the audio will not playback to my external Creative speakers. Instead, the audio is fed to the laptops built-in speakers, which are not bad, but I would rather have the deeper and higher quality sound provided by my external speakers. For example, Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour, does this. I do not know why. I have not been able to figure out how to force the audio to the prefered playback device. It also happens in some Steam-based games, but it was a Steam problem and I was able to fix it easily by changing an audio setting.

Under the "Playback devices" in Windows 7, I have two devices that mainly provide sound: "Speakers and Dual Headphones" running under the "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC" and "Independent Dual Headphones", which uses the same codec. So my best guess is that when C&C Generals: Zero Hour plays, it is only using the Speakers and Dual Headphones device, I guess turning off the audio ports, or however it works.

Is there anyway I can have the game(s) feed sound through the Independent Dual Headphones device, when it's not the default? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

**synthesis204** · Apr 4, 2011, 03:52 AM

There should be an option ingame to select which device it should play audio through. Check through its options and settings.

Likewise, you can always just "shut off" your laptop speakers in the playback devices menu, play the game, and then reenable them afterwards. It may be a pain, but it only takes a couple seconds to disable/enable a sound device.

Mar 27, 2011, 08:20 PM	#1
CrazyCanadianGuy HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	"HP DV7 2278CA" Laptop Audio Problem Hello Hardwareheaveners', The deal is, when I play certain games the audio will not playback to my external Creative speakers. Instead, the audio is fed to the laptops built-in speakers, which are not bad, but I would rather have the deeper and higher quality sound provided by my external speakers. For example, Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour, does this. I do not know why. I have not been able to figure out how to force the audio to the prefered playback device. It also happens in some Steam-based games, but it was a Steam problem and I was able to fix it easily by changing an audio setting. Under the "Playback devices" in Windows 7, I have two devices that mainly provide sound: "Speakers and Dual Headphones" running under the "IDT High Definition Audio CODEC" and "Independent Dual Headphones", which uses the same codec. So my best guess is that when C&C Generals: Zero Hour plays, it is only using the Speakers and Dual Headphones device, I guess turning off the audio ports, or however it works. Is there anyway I can have the game(s) feed sound through the Independent Dual Headphones device, when it's not the default? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

Apr 4, 2011, 03:52 AM	#2
synthesis204 Dragonborn Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,174 Rep Power: 97 System Specs	Re: "HP DV7 2278CA" Laptop Audio Problem There should be an option ingame to select which device it should play audio through. Check through its options and settings. Likewise, you can always just "shut off" your laptop speakers in the playback devices menu, play the game, and then reenable them afterwards. It may be a pain, but it only takes a couple seconds to disable/enable a sound device. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure alzheimers, ALS, huntington's, parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!