"HP DV7 2278CA" Laptop Audio Problem

CrazyCanadianGuy · Mar 27, 2011, 07:58 PM

Hello Hardwareheaveners', I know, technically this could go into the audio section, but this seems to be mostly a laptop-related problem.

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.

Mar 27, 2011, 07:58 PM	#1
CrazyCanadianGuy HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 31 Rep Power: 0	"HP DV7 2278CA" Laptop Audio Problem Hello Hardwareheaveners', I know, technically this could go into the audio section, but this seems to be mostly a laptop-related problem. 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.