MaxxAudio missing after fresh install of Win 8.1

Hello. Waves software is bundled with, and installed along with the Realtek audio driver. This is the only one Dell has released for the 5735 with Win8.1, so if you install it you should get the same Waves you had before.

If you have already installed the Realtek driver but have no Waves, make sure WavesMaxx is enabled -- I think in the Startup tab, although it should be enabled by default.

I downloaded the Realtek player, but still no Maxx. I went to the install location and found an exe called MaxxAudio, but when I hit it, a blank window comes up.

The driver for that system for Win 8.1 is from 2013 and shows Realtek ALC3223 HD audio driver.  The driver for Win 10 is from 2016.  Since you seem to have the combined audio port, I would think the Dell driver would support that device.  But there is a chance it was done using just the Realtek audio controller before the Waves was added.

Since Downloading the latest drivers from Realtek will reinstall the Waves component on my system, it should, if compatible, install it on yours.  Are you currently showing your output devices as Speakers/Headphones or just Speakers?

On my system, In the Program Files (x86)\Realtek\Audio\Waves folder, I show an Installer for Maxx Audio, so you might check if you show the same thing.  Possibly, it could be installed using that installer.  If this is what you refer to in your post, I suppose a blank window will do no good, unless it might mean it is already installed.  I show Waves on the App listing in the Start Menu, from which I can open the control panel.  I also show it in the Startup tab of Task Manager.

Beyond that, all I can suggest is to repeatedly uninstall the sound device and select uninstall all drivers, until you get to the Basic Windows driver.  Then try the 8.1 driver from Dell, or the Realtek one.  This should be done from offline so make sure you have the driver you want to use available while offline.

The link is just in case you want to research anything.

www.waves.com/.../activate

I'll try your suggestion now, but I don't even have a waves folder. When I go to the Realtek folders, it just has a folder for drivers and Installshield.

I don't know anything about Win 10, I just used the link Jim provided and went from there. I got Realtek, and I do notice a boost in sound, but what I really want is the ability to set an enhancement through MaxxAudio.

I'll try your suggestion now, but I don't even have a waves folder. When I go to the Realtek folders, it just has a folder for drivers and Installshield.

I suppose that means you also do not have any Waves app.  What shows in the hidden icons on the taskbar regarding sound?  

I am not sure the Waves would do much more that you currently have available if you check the Properties on your output devices.

So I did as you suggested, Jim, and went into Dell Audio and finally got what I was looking for! Thank you Saltgrass and Jim for all the help.

On my system, In the Program Files (x86)\Realtek\Audio\Waves folder, I show an Installer for Maxx Audio, so you might check if you show the same thing.  Possibly, it could be installed using that installer.  If this is what you refer to in your post, I suppose a blank window will do no good, unless it might mean it is already installed.  I show Waves on the App listing in the Start Menu, from which I can open the control panel.  I also show it in the Startup tab of Task Manager.

Thanks, Saltgrass. I was hoping you would provide that information, which I wasn't sure about. The only Dell laptop I have with Realtek/Waves is my wife's work laptop (Latitude E5550), which stays at work most of the time so I can't check it.