Windows 10: Windows doesn't properly use my new 5.1 surround sound setup

I just installed a 5.1-channel surround sound system connected to my Windows 10 tower. This computer has ports for up to 7.1 surround on the rear panel, the cables all work, and I've narrowed the problem down to being something Windows is doing wrong. No surprise there, but worth mentioning.


Three cables are plugged into my computer for audio: the green front left, front right, the black rear left, rear right, and the brown center, subwoofer. When using the troubleshooter in sound settings and playing sound from one speaker at a time, I can verify that all of the speakers are working.


However, outside of the troubleshooter only the front left and front right speakers the ones plugged into the green jack, which was the only one I used with my previous set of speakers output sound. There is absolutely no bass and the other speakers have nothing but a slight static hiss. Windows system sounds, Firefox, Spotify, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player... they all output to only those two speakers, despite my sound configuration being marked at 5.1 with rear channels in sound settings. By the way, restarting my PC seems to reset that to stereo for some reason. That could be a sign of whatever the problem is


Here's the new weird bit I just discovered: Cortana only outputs sound through my center speaker. What?? I am thoroughly confused and frustrated. Fortunately my system has a button to simulate surround for all speakers with only stereo input, but that barely utilizes the subwoofer at all and I cannot individually balance the speakers in the sound control panel in Windows.


Can anyone help me with this? I'd imagine there are quite a few people using surround setups with Windows 10, but searching Bing or Google doesn't yield any useful information that I can see.


Configuration:

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Build 18363

MSI Baseboard 970A-G43, MS-7693

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5 GHz 6-core processor

GPU: AMD Radeon RX-470 Graphics

RAM: 20 GB DDR4

Displays: 4 2 DVI, 1 HDMI, 1 DP


Windows Update says everything is updated.

I've restarted my system multiple times throughout this process.

:)

 

Windows doesn`t start. Authomatic repair doesn`t work.

Thanks again!!

I`m sorry I had not noticed that the text on the picture was in spanish. It says that windows has replaced some damaged clusters in "name" file and "directory". Then, at the end "an unspecified error occurred (75736e6a726e6c2e 4f6)".

I`ll do it and I`ll be updating this thread when I have the report.

- - - Updated - - -

I ran SeaTools. These are the results:




Does it mean my HDD is useless?

 

Good surround sound headset

I know you say you're not that guy, but stepping into the $250+ range really brings a change in build quality that might have you never having to buy another set. Otherwise, getting 6 speakers with decent sound in a headset is hard, and that's what you are asking for, and I have no suggestions, but just a bump up the list. *Stick Out Tongue

 

5.1 Surround sound in windows 10

Hi Jeka,

There are some reasons why you don't get the 5.1 surround sound. Some of these are caused by the type of audio format, how the file was encoded, if the file supports 5.1 surround sound and such. For us to determine what's causing
the concern more precisely, please provide information on the following:

• The type of file that you're trying to play.
• Troubleshooting steps done to rectify this concern

For now, before we go to a more in-depth troubleshooting, we suggest you run

audio troubleshooter. Look for Find and fix problems playing sounds.

Don't hesitate to update us if you need further assistance.

Best regards,