No Sound, tried every software solution I can, it has to be hardware.

I think the problem is with the motherboard..but I can't be sure

Speakers work fine with any and every other device they are plugged into.

Without realtek installed I have no speaker recognition (but they are plugged into the back panel analog side speaker port [i've also tried them in the other ports, no luck] ) with realtek AC 97 i get speaker recognition, but still no sound. the audio device shows it is working under both drivers, and the levels in the control bar volume controller work but no sound. What gives!!

I decided it must be vista and installed windows 7, no dice. no sound. I looked on the asus website

http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=fFZ8oUIGmLpwNMjj

after installing 7 and they list this driver

Realtek ALC883 Audio Driver V6.0.1.5390 for Windows 32/64bit Vista.

So I'm in the process of reinstalling VISTA, but i have no official disc, just a recovery disc I made myself so we will see if it works...I might make the damn thing explode.

Please help, here is my rigs specs JIC you guys need to know.

Custom built Quad-core PC with 4GB RAM, 22-inch LCD

CPU: Intel core 2 Quad Q6600 - never overclocked. More info here ->http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=29765

Motherboard: Asus P5KC - this is a very nice motherboard which can support Core 2 Quad processors and up to 8GBs of RAM. The manual is here -> http://dlsvr.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/ [...] 5_p5kc.pdf

Graphic card: EVGA GeForce 9400GT 1GB DDR2 PCI-E 2.0

CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS9700LED Ultra Quiet Cpu Cooler. (This is really quiet)

RAM: 4GB OCZ

Sony DVD-RW

Case: Antec Sonata III Quiet Mid Tower case. More info here -> http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Sonata [...] 379&sr=8-1

Harddrive: 400GB SATA

Wireless card: Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter with SpeedBooster

Monitor: Dell E228WFP 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor

Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech Wireless

Speakers: Creative, please see pictures

In
Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Services
make sure that both Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder are Started and Automatic.

Also try:

In BIOS > enable onboard audio.
In Control Panel> Device Manager > check for resource conflicts.

Make sure you have the mobo's drivers installed after you reinstalled Windows.

A restart is necessary to enter the BIOS.
See if there is any yellow Exclamation marks next to the sound and game controllers, that would highlight a problem with that device. But first, make sure you have installed all the drivers for the mobo.
And what speakers do you use?

They don't make drivers for windows 7...

However i've read some forums suggesting their vista drivers work on W7, but when I tried to run the audio ones it said something along the lines of:

"This program cannot run on this operating system."

http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=fFZ8oUIGmLpwNMjj

but i checked the resource list and the only conflict i have is with my keyboard (i assume that's because i have a wireless keyboard and mouse that share a USB port?)

I'll try the bios thing now

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I had the same setting. mine was at HD i jjust switched....we'll see if that'll do it

The back panel is the one that requires the drivers in order to work. Make sure that you cycle through the connectors on the back panel before deciding if it works or not. I did plug my speakers in the wrong connector once and I went nuts until I realized it.

Do a restart and then go into COntrol panel>sound and make sure the realtek is set as default. Also double check the services mentioned before and if all looks ok test the sound again. Play a clip or mp3 and while playing cycle through all the connectors on the back panel.
Tell us how that goes.