HDMI out on a M15X

Hey guys, I own a M15x (the older design I guess, silver colored, etc) with HDMI out and a 9800 GM card, i´ve been using this machine for the better part of last year connected to my 42 inch plasma via the HDMI cable. all I did was press FN F6 and the image went from my laptop to my tv.. and then all I did was go to sound devices and change the default device from my laptop speakers to the digital out and viola, I had audio coming from my tv speakers as well. all was good.

Until recently, I purchased a pioneer amplifier and a larger LCD screen, I connected the amp to my tv via HDMI and all my devices go into the amp instead of the tv. so I have my directv and my PS3 connected via HDMI to my amp and they work great.. but when I connect my computer, I can easily send the 1080p signal to my lcd with my laptop by pressing FN F6 the way I used to but now the audi doesnt work.. Ive tried a ton of different drivers, hdmi cables and even 3 operating systems (win vista 32, 64 and win 7 64) and no matter what I do.. the most I have got is a few minutes of audio but then as if by magic, the audio stops and no matter what I do weather it is in the configuration department or hdmi cable department or amp department, it just doesnt work.. all the while my PS3 and directv give me 7.1 sound with absolutely no problems whatsoever.. I went back to my old tv and tried the hdmi cable I was using and as I expected, the audio and video work flawlessly there.. so it´s obviously something going on between my laptop and my amplifier.. last night was my day of better success.. I reinstalled windows completly, 32 bit vista... and it started working.. no matter how many times I turned the computer off and on, I was geting sound from my 7.1 and was geting 1080p signal from my screen, was even watching and listening to youtube videos on the large lcd with my wife at night, while installing updates and what not.. right before I went to sleep I decided to try it again just to make sure I wasnt dreaming that I actualy got it to work and indeed, everything was working perfectly.

So I go to sleep, I come in the morning again and turn it on and guess what... again, no sound and I pretty much just gave up, I´ve decided the HDMI out in the m15x is pretty much crap when it comes to connecting it to good audio.. it might be good if you are going to use tv speakers but if you are using a high end amp with high end sound, it sucks, as far as video goes, it works perfect.

So here are my two questions for you all.

1. Do you have any idea what the heck is going on and how to fix it?

2. this computer has a headphone jack and a mic jack.. I have come to the conclusion that for me to get any audio out of my home theater, I will need to connect my computer´s audio to my amp via the headphone cable.

My question is, will SIPDIF digital work? this computer is supposed to have a high definition realtek soundcard but I am not sure how I am supposed to connect my soundcard to an external system if the computer doesnt have an optical connection or another digital connection, all it has is the HDMI and the headphone jack.. is the headphone jack in this computer good enough for digital? or will I have to connect it through a headphone cable and suck it up?

I await your reply, thanks!

 

Bumping my own message just in case somebody with help, missed it

 

do you have a hdmi setting in your audio settings, where you can make the hdmi your primary sound input? also have you tried switching the graphic cards modes. have tried stealth mode and make sure you are not in stealth mode?

 

The default sound card is the HDMI out already and I am pretty sure I am using the GeForce 9800 video card and not in stealth mode, thanks for trying to help, any other ideas I am all ears.

I am pretty sure that it´s a problem with the HDMI signal not making its way to the tv correctly, dunno why

 

try hooking it up just to the tv and see if you get sound

 

There is a setting in Windows 7 under digital output configuration where you select what your decoder can decode. You may need to set that appropriately to make the sound work through the amp.