windows 7: Can't get HDMI audio - the hdmi device does not appear under the playback devices

Thanks a lot guys. This was driving me nuts!

I had the same problem with my Acer Aspire 5738Z. Audio & Video were great with Vista when connecting my Panasonic HDTV via an HDMI lead. When I upgraded to W7 video was still great but no audio. The only 2 items showing in Sound>Playback devices were "Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio and Realtek Digital Output)". No sign of a HDMI device.

As suggested I un-installed the High Definition Audio Device from the device manager and restarted my machine.

I then right clicked the Sound -> Playback devices and there was my Panasonic-TV High Definition Audio Device, which I then high-lighted and set as default.

Thanks again!!

me too exact ame issue. no hep from hp or msft told me to go back to vista

THANK YOU !!!!!!!! This totally worked. I have been going crazy about this.

I recently upgrated my HTPC with a new Motherboard and processor.  I installed a Gigabyte H55M-UD2H and the Intel i3 Dual core chip. This rendered my HDMI connection useless. I had stunning video signal through the HDMI cable but no audio whatsoever.  I got great audio through my S/PDIF cable and even through the mini jack output, but i desperately needed the combined signal.

In my device manager there was a yellow conflict symbol. I believed caused the problem. It showed 2 High definition Audio drivers present - one was working correctly, the other was saying (Unit cannot start (Code 10) ... I seem to remember my old configuration showing a HDMI device in the Device manager, but my new mobo seemed to have forgotten about this ...

I tried downloading several drivers on Realteks website - even the one called 'ATI HDMI Audio Device  R.42' which had me cheering because i was quite sure i had struck gold on this one - but no ... The driver rolled back in the middle of the install, saying "This driverpackage does not include a supported driver"

I even tried disabling the Azalia Codec in my BIOS which seemed to carry the onboard Audio. This just caused the two High Definition Audio items in my Device Manager to disappear. After re-enabling tha Azalia Codec, the items returned with the same conflict.

I read this thread and found this:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm.aspx?httpDown=http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18802/a08/WinVista7\_15171.zip&agr=&ProductID=&DwnldId=18802&strOSs=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

I downloaded it, installed the driver and rebooted my system. Nothing seemed to have helped at first, but then i Went here:

Control panel / Hardware and Sound / Manage Sound Units ... A NEW unit had appeared, called SONY AVAMP. Intel Sound for Screen

I Rightclicked it and chose this Sound Unit as the Standard unit - and behold ...

SWEET MUSIC CAME OUT OF MY SURROUND SYSTEM ... I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS !!!

Totally Rocks :o)

Thanks Valec and Chester Pain. 

Your two posts were the solution to my problem, which was the High Def Audio option not showing up in Playback devices and no sound from the HDMI. It a driver issue. First, I downloaded the most recent chipset from Intel for the graphics driver, which also included the high def audio device driver.

I then uninstalled the device in Device Manager and rebooted. I would like to add though, that it took me 3 uninstall and reboots for the problem to be resolved. The first time it reinstalled with no fanfare whatsoever (I just went into device mgr and it was reinstalled), the second time Windows 7 recognized I needed new hardware, but got caught in an endless "installing software" loop. I rebooted again and the high def audio option was available in the Playback Devices. After connecting it to my plasma it now reads Panasonic-Tv and works properly.

Jim