Trouble with Blackhawk XR-5 and digital audio

I just received a set of Logitech z 5500 speakers today, and I'd like to output digitally from my Blackhawk to the speakers. Unfortunately, the digital output of my laptop doesn't seem to be active and I can't find any setting anywhere to enable it. There doesn't seem to be a BIOS option to turn it on, nothing in msconfig, the Realtek audio panel doesn't recognize anything if I plug the cable in, and there's nothing in the sound card properties or the master volume menu. HELP!!

P.S: tried reinstalling the driver. it made no difference.

 

its not supposed to recognize what you plug in.

You have to set what you are wanting in the Realtek software.
- 6 CH (5.1, analog, uses 3 of the jacks)
- 8 CH (7.1, digital SPDIF, uses one port that is requires 3.5mm jack to male-RCA cable)

 

I don't have an option for 8 channel. I think it has something to do with enabling digital output as a windows setting. On my desktop (which has an audigy 2 zs), all I have to do is plug the coax cable in to the digital out on the sound card and click the "Advanced Controls" button under the volume control panel. But on my laptop, there is no advanced controls button.

 

you can enable SPDIF/digital out on your Realtek software

 

what kind of digital out are you using... because optical will not work.

only SPDIF with an 3.5mm to RCA will work.

I went over this a couple of times here.

 

Yeah, it's SPDIF with 3.5mm to RCA. It works perfectly in my desktop's digital out. I also do not have the ability to enable digital out in the Realtek software or anywhere else on the laptop like I do on my desktop. I'm still thinking it's driver related, but I've tried both what PCMW gave me and what's available on the Realtek site without success.

 

I believe there is a Digital Output tab in the Realtek HD Audio Manager.

As well as a Device Advanced Settings on the top-right in the Speakers tab/section.

 

No dice on either of those tabs/menus. I'm going to put a call in to PCMW support tomorrow. I'm thinking the digital options may not be showing up due to a problem with the hardware.

 

its in the manual if you want to know.

 

Update: something was seriously wrong with my XP installation. This morning a problem started where using the function shortcut keys would lock up the system, forcing a reboot via power button. I decided to give vista 32 bit a try and everything seems to be working fine. Several options for digital output are available in the Realtek sound manager that were not available in the XP version. Go figure. Thanks for the help.