890GXM-G65 No onboard (realtek) analog sound

Question

About a month ago I saved up enough of my precious dollars to upgrade my slow, single core computer into something a bit more passable for this day and age.  The new computer is much better, but it is lacking something very important to me: sound.
I can't hear any audio.  Windows, in all flavors, thinks the device is functional, while the Realtek control panel app swears up and down that I have not plugged anything into the back ports.  I've talked to my dealer, friends, one online forum, and finally found my way here, a forum dedicated to MSI boards that I somehow didn't come across earlier or I would've come here straight away.
Well, without further ado, here are the specs:
890GXM-G65 MS-8642 BIOS 1.B0
AMD Athlon 2 X3 3.2Ghz
Crucial 2x2GB CT25664BA1339A
Antek25 650W +12V~38A, +5V~24A, +3.3V~24A
XP Pro SP3 x86 / Server 2003 R2 x64 / *cough* 7 x86
I have other hardware of course, but since I've been testing I've stripped it down to the bare essentials.
I also found a very similar thread (https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=151266.0).  It was resolved by putting in a different sound card, but that's not an option for me.
As I've said, I've tried to figure this out with the help of others for some time now.
Things I've tried:
* Tried multiple OSes, including to my chagrin Windows 7.  I was going to try Delphi but the installer didn't like my setup, and well, this IS a gaming rig so it's not worth figuring out why.
* Tried multiple drivers, both new, old, MSI, Realtek, and on 7 the default drivers, across all of the OSes above.
* Tried jumping the front panel connector.  Supposedly you don't have to anymore, but just in case I shorted 5-6 and 9-10 to no effect.
* Tried every combination of settings I could think of in the realtek manager, especially the one related to ignoring the front panel jack detection.
* Tried removing, reluctantly, the board from the case.
* Tried fresh install of 7 on the stripped down and removed board.
* Tried RMAing the board after everyone concluded that the board was bad.  This was very painful.  I was without any reasonable computing power for a week.  To my great shock, this did not help and I am right back where I was last month.
Things I can't try:
* Testing the front panel audio (I don't have any such connector; JAUD1 is open)
* Testing the digital out (again, no such equipment)
Things that people always ask just in case (if there's a stupidly easy thing I've missed though go ahead and ask it--I sometimes miss stupidly easy things):
* Is the on-board sound enabled in the BIOS?  Yes it is.
* Do the speakers work?  Yep.  Worked since the 90s, works in laptop today.
* On 7 did you switch it from digital out to analog out?  Yes, sort've.  The analog out options couldn't be selected normally, but I could select the headphones option if I disabled the front panel jack detection.  Not having a front panel, I was not surprised to find that this didn't work (though the green volume bar was moving).  A 'disable rear jack detection' setting would be very nice.
I am stumped, as is everyone else I've asked--we all thought the old board must have been defective but getting a new, equally incapable board seems to put that theory to rest.  I'm well past the point where I'd normally write it off and use a spare sound card, but this board only has one PCI slot, and it is occupied.  The only available slot is the second PCI-E 16 slot, and I don't think they make sound cards for that.  And even if they did I really don't have the money to buy anything new; I've already sunk more than I budgeted for on this.
Any ideas?

Answer 1

Enable Digital IO.. is not under properties.. Control Panel/Sound/Double Click (to open) on your choice of 'playback devices'.. in this case 'the default out choice..Speakers and then under the 'Custom' Tab.. it is the Only check box or option under the 'Custom' Tab. Odds are it is unchecked but worth looking. I unhooked my Speakers and it was still there. Also without my speakers attached is the  Configure Icon box.. but it is unavailable to open, unless the output choice (the Default out choice) is clicked on and highlighted. Then you can enter Configure.
We are both using Windows 7.. The question of your posted pictures is seen in the pictures. Lower picture shows 2ea Default.. Green Circle active as default. Your upper picture doesn't show Speakers as a selection, it shows a Headset. So my question was leading to a possible conflict of Default outputs. No I'm not drunk, but I am electronic capable.. poss that's a reason my explanation is seeming drunk..lol
My point is.. when setting your DEFAULT output choice... If you have your speakers 1/8" plugged into the Boards 'Green" jack. Have it that way only... no other speakers or headsets attached. Make the Speaker out choice under Control Panel/ Sound and under the Playback tab.. the only Default choice. Undo any second Default selection. That is the Output choice showing a Green Circle with a check mark inside it. That is what you are assigning as the audio out you are using. Just to see if there is a conflict. Again the posted lower picture that you show under the Sound box has 2 defaults.
You also have the Realtek HD Audio Manager shown. Possibly that is a conflict.. Is one set different than the other? You have 2 separate audio control programs. One is the Windows OS Sound control choice, and the other is your Realtek HD Audio Mamager. If you un-install the Realtek HD Audio Manager program, you still have the Windows 7 OS Sound controls. Both is just an option. You do want to always have your Windows Sound programs installed.. it controls a lot to include your Theme Sounds and more... Your Realtek HD Audio Manager is optional. If both are not set for defaults out, such as the exact same output selections... they will conflict.
You can always reinstall the Realtek Audio program. Since you have no sound and don't know if it is a board electrical problem.. as in a broken circuit. Use just one.. Windows one!! Then if you have sound from the Green jack input on the board... it will tell you that the board is infact OK. Then it all boils down to which program to use.
Fixing a problem is a task of the process of elimination. Make it simple to see if it will work.
Try again removing the Realtek HD Audio, optional program. Plug your speaker into the proper output. Make sure that under Sound and the playback tab.. speakers are default. That green circle. Highlight the Speaker choice. Click on Configure. and follow to configure. Double click on the Speaker selection. Go through all the tabs and make proper choices. Also on your desktop, on the bottom right open settings from the Speaker Icon next to the Time and Date. Volume is on and up, and the mixer setting also are up for volume. Now you are setup for speakers without out a secondary conflict of two programs and 2 defaults. If you have no sound after that... at least you know you finally have all the proper settings, and no conflicts.
Keep it simple and basic until you figure out your no sound woes. Still not working? Then it's time do figure out if you problem is software based or hardware based. Man, I hope you are following this.. I really am trying to help. I know problems can be so frustrating. I build and fix a lot of problems for Friends. No master but I do understand diagnostic processes.
I hope the next Post from you is that your possible conflicts are gone, and you have sound. If it is a conflict? Sure seems possible.