Failure from Drivers with an Asus Xonar DG

TheRandomGuy7

TheRandomGuy7

TheRandomGuy7

Associate
Joined
5 Dec 2013
Posts
142
Hello,

Today I received a new Asus Xonar DG 5.1 sound card.

I disabled the on-board drivers in the BIOS, then turned off the PC and unplugged all cables. I did the usual procedure for installing a sound card, simply slotting it in firmly then securing with a screw.

When I turned the PC back on, I cancelled the Windows driver search as the Xonar manual dictates. I inserted the driver CD that came with the card, and began installing the drivers.

The installation got stuck when the bar was almost filled, and after about 5 minutes I got an error stating that I need to insert the audio card [into the PC]. Slightly irritated, I took the card out, repeated the installation process but using drivers from the Asus website instead of the disc.

While installing the drivers from the website, the exact same issue occured. This time, I wiped all traces of the drivers and restarted my PC. I then tried the installation via 'Run as Administrator' mode. The driver installation apparently worked, and made me incredibly relieved. I rebooted my PC when it prompted me to.

After this 'successful' installation, I launched the Asus audio settings application (forgot the name) to check out the new features I paid for. Instant, simple error message: "No audio card detected", or something along those lines.

Utterly fed up, I stripped all the drivers from my PC once again. This time, I physically removed the card again. I reseated it, and turned on the PC. To my complete shock and fright, a far worse problem occurred. The CPU fan stopped spinning, the speakers failed to beep, and the PC repeatedly rebooted every 10 seconds with no user input.

I then seated the card differently again, and the same problem happened again. Cursing Asus for possibly breaking my CPU, I took out the card altogether. I re-enabled on-board audio, and the PC now works fine again.

Sorry for the very long description, I hope that if I give plenty of detail this imponderable problem, a solution can be found.

Any helpful advice is greatly appreciated, this is the most infuriating thing to ever happen to me with my PC. After wasting 3 hours of my life, with limited time on my hands, the damn thing doesn't even work.

Thanks a lot.
 
How can the motherboard be faulty if the PC works fine without the DG? Faulty sound card, a likely possibility. Either that, or some conflict is occurring.

If you can't try the DG in other machine to confirm any potential fault with it, then I'd just RMA it, then wait to see how the replacement fares.
 
The ASUS drivers are pretty awful for the DG, and I had exactly the same issue with the installer failing telling me to 'install the card' - IF you are still able to boot into windows when the card is installed, give the UNi Xonar drivers a go: I use them, and so do a lot of people on here - they are widely recommended in most circles over the standard ASUS ones.

http://maxedtech.com/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/
 
Last edited:
Steveocee said:
Faulty card or possibly faulty motherboard?
Click to expand...

I highly doubt the motherboard is faulty in any way.

I don't think the card itself is at fault either. A quick browse shows me hundreds of people with the exact same issue (not being detected by the driver), and many of these got theirs working by means I have tried already.


- IF you are still able to boot into windows when the card is installed, give the UNi Xonar drivers a go: I use them, and so do a lot of people on here - they are widely recommended in most circles over the standard ASUS ones.
Click to expand...

Today, I tried a completely fresh installation.

As I first booted up, the Device Manager said "Unknown Audio Device" or something, and there was the yellow exclamation mark error warning.

The Windows drivers failed for some reason, but I didn't want them anyway.

As you suggested, I downloaded the Uni Xonar drivers, as elsewhere people have said the same as well.

The Uni drivers took several minutes to install (it says it should take no more than 60 seconds) and gave me the same error, telling me to install the card.

I am now here, with the sound card still fitted but no working drivers and the disability of using headphones with the DG inside.

Device Manager now lists the device as "ASUS Xonar DG Audio Device" as it should, and there is NO warning symbol.

What should I do?
 
Last edited:
It just occurred to me that perhaps the Realtek drivers might be causing the issue? If I removed all Realtek audio software then tried again, would it be a waste of time or a possible solution?

Otherwise, I guess I'd have to go for the Soundblaster Z. Would I be best to try another Xonar DG, don't bother with a sound card at all, or double the spending on the Soundblaster?
 
Definitely worth a try. Make sure onboard sound is disabled, uninstall the realtek drivers, reboot into safe mode and try the unified drivers again.
 
Fantastic news!

I uninstalled all Realtek and Nvidia audio drivers from my PC, then fitted the sound card yet again.

After missing the F8 time slot to enter safe mode, it loaded up Windows normally. As I was about to restart, I noticed that Windows had begun auto-installing drivers for my "Multimedia Audio Device", and after a few seconds it was 'Ready to use'.

I then realised it may be working, so went ahead and installed the Uni drivers.

The drivers installed correctly, I can use the DG Audio Centre and it all works!

I feel like a fool for not removing all other drivers beforehand. In my defense though, the manual and all guides simply suggest disabling the on-board first (which I did, every time). ;)

Problem solved. Thanks PapaLazaru for suggesting that the driver removal was worth a shot, and thanks to all others who pitched in.
 
I'd be surprised if it were the onboard audio drivers that caused the trouble, especially with the onboard being disabled. I've used a fair few sound cards over the years, and I've never had any issue running one along side various onboard audio solutions. I'd hazard a guess that the Nvidia audio drivers were the problem.
 
Marsman said:
I'd be surprised if it were the onboard audio drivers that caused the trouble, especially with the onboard being disabled. I've used a fair few sound cards over the years, and I've never had any issue running one along side various onboard audio solutions. I'd hazard a guess that the Nvidia audio drivers were the problem.
Click to expand...


Actually, it turns out the Nvidia ones were fine all along.

I had to reinstall them just now so that I could use their HDMI sound output through my monitor (there doesn't seem to be a way to play sound through the monitor with Xonar drivers).

Everything still works fine with the Nvidia Audio drivers combined with the Uni Xonar ones simultaneously.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom