So I've been having issues with the Realtek HD audio drivers on my Sony VAIO laptop (model number VPCCW21FX). No matter what version of Windows I use (Windows 7 or 8), the Realtek Audio Manager will not open. Currently, I am running Windows 8.1 x86 on my laptop. Before, I was using the Microsoft provided HD audio driver with no problems, but I decided I would install Realtek's driver to see if I would have the issues present when using Windows 8 before. So far, these issues are still present (must be driver related then). For example, whenever I boot up the laptop or restart it, anything that requires playing a sound for the first time will cause the speakers to output a loud pop before the audio starts to play. Another issue I'm having, like I said before, is the Realtek HD Audio Manager will not open. Even when I had Windows 7 installed with Sony's Realtek Audio driver from their website, the audio manager still refused to open, although I did not have the loud popping that occurs under Windows 8 and 8.1.
I read that it is related to Realtek's power management, where the driver will turn off the audio chip when it is not in use. I guess the pop is the audio chip turning back on. If that is the case, then I don't mind the pop and everything, but I would like to have it so it doesn't disable the chip when I have the laptop plugged in, because there is no need for that. I read on this thread that if you change some registry settings, you can have it so that it only disables the chip when the laptop is running from battery power. Here is a quote from post #58:
I found out that RAVCpl64 is actually the name for the executable located in the Program Files/Realtek/Audio/HDA for Realtek's HD Audio Manager. I am running the 32 bit version of Windows, so the executable name is different: RtHDVCpl. So I adjusted the key name under the registry according to the executable name. Now, the problem is, the Audio manager won't run at all, so if my theory is correct, these new registry entries are doing absolutely nothing, as apparent by the loud pop I still get whether I'm on battery power, or if I have the laptop plugged in. Either that, or the keys and strings I am entering do not apply to 32 bit systems, and are only available to 64 bit systems. I'm thinking my first theory is the reason why the adjusted settings do not do anything, as I have adjusted the key name according to the executable name for 32 bit machines. It's just the program won't run, so the settings aren't actually doing anything.
I've tried running the program as administrator. Nothing. I've tried running the compatibility wizard. Still nothing. Every time I double click the executable, it doesn't do anything. No system tray icon, no new process in task manager relating to Realtek. Nothing. I have no idea what to do, or what the problem could be. I've tried looking all over the internet for problems relating to Realtek Audio Manager not opening, but I have still yet to find a solution. If anyone on these forums could help me, I would really appreciate it!
I read that it is related to Realtek's power management, where the driver will turn off the audio chip when it is not in use. I guess the pop is the audio chip turning back on. If that is the case, then I don't mind the pop and everything, but I would like to have it so it doesn't disable the chip when I have the laptop plugged in, because there is no need for that. I read on this thread that if you change some registry settings, you can have it so that it only disables the chip when the laptop is running from battery power. Here is a quote from post #58:
Just wanted to say that the Realtek registry key was stored in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on my laptop.
I had to create the power management key though.
This is how it worked for me:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Realtek\RAVCpl64\PowerMgnt]
"Enabled"=dword:00000001
"DelayTime"=dword:0000000f
"OnlyBattery"=dword:00000001
So basically i set it to enabled for battery use only, with a delay of 15 seconds.
I found out that RAVCpl64 is actually the name for the executable located in the Program Files/Realtek/Audio/HDA for Realtek's HD Audio Manager. I am running the 32 bit version of Windows, so the executable name is different: RtHDVCpl. So I adjusted the key name under the registry according to the executable name. Now, the problem is, the Audio manager won't run at all, so if my theory is correct, these new registry entries are doing absolutely nothing, as apparent by the loud pop I still get whether I'm on battery power, or if I have the laptop plugged in. Either that, or the keys and strings I am entering do not apply to 32 bit systems, and are only available to 64 bit systems. I'm thinking my first theory is the reason why the adjusted settings do not do anything, as I have adjusted the key name according to the executable name for 32 bit machines. It's just the program won't run, so the settings aren't actually doing anything.
I've tried running the program as administrator. Nothing. I've tried running the compatibility wizard. Still nothing. Every time I double click the executable, it doesn't do anything. No system tray icon, no new process in task manager relating to Realtek. Nothing. I have no idea what to do, or what the problem could be. I've tried looking all over the internet for problems relating to Realtek Audio Manager not opening, but I have still yet to find a solution. If anyone on these forums could help me, I would really appreciate it!
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8.1 x86
- Computer type
- Laptop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Sony VAIO - VPCCW21FX
- CPU
- Intel Core i3 - M 330 @ 2.13 GHz
- Memory
- 4 GB DDR3
- Graphics Card(s)
- NVIDIA GeForce 310M
- Sound Card
- Realtek HD Audio