Hi Flibble99,

What Operating system is installed on the computer?

Please check the version of the audio driver. Go to Device Manager>> Right click on the audio driver>> select 'Properties">> Click on Drivers tab>> check the version and share it with me.

Please check if the cable connections on the audio ports are as follows:

1. The silver connector (no. 4) connects to surround sound speakers. 
2. The black connector (no. 5) connects to multichannel-capable sound speakers. 
3. The orange port (no.6) should connect to a sub-woofer. 
4. The pink connector (no. 7) should connect to a microphone for voice or audio input. 
5. The green port (no. 8) connects to headphones and speakers with integrated amplifiers. 
6. The blue port (no. 9) connects to devices like cassette or CD players. An image for the audio connectors is shown below.

You may also try to change the settings in Realtek HD Audio Manager

To launch the interface double-click the Realtek HD Audio Manager icon found in the System Tray.

The utility image is shown below.

Select '7.1 Speaker' listed under Speaker Configuration and test the sound. 

Hope this helps.

Do write back with the findings.

Hi Flibble99,

You've got the cable plugged into the green jack on the back, right? Have you tried the headphone jack by any chance? Have you tried turning up the bass on the back of the sub?

Thanks fo the replies. Answers to some of the questions above.

I have various operating systems on the computer. The speakers work fine under the Linux ones.... sub-woofer for bass and other sound from the 2 satellites. This is with the cable plugged into the orange socket. (There is one input cable coming out of the subtoofer to be connected to the computer and the left and right speakers are in turn connected through the subwoofer...not into the computer)

As I stated, with windows 7 64-bit, when I plug the cable from the subwoofer into the orange socket on computer and open the HD Audio controller software, and choose 5.1 or 7.1 and run the test...The sound that is supposed to come from the "centre" speaker on the software diagram  actually comes out of my left hand speaker, (on my LHS as I face the speakers). The sound that is supposed to be coming from the subwoofer actually comes out through my RHS satellite speaker. (For this reason I do not want to turn up the bass on the subwoofer as the small satellite speaker is not made to take it.)

The above is what happens on the test. When i actually try to play something via netflix or the media player for example...no sound comes out at all when using the orange socket. I have to use the green one (or is it blue, I cant remember...either way, this is only a temporary measure) .In any case I get sound only from the right hand speaker.

I will check the version of the audio driver when I get home

Hi Flibble99, Please check the version of the audio driver. Go to Device Manager Do write back with the findings.

High definition audio device  driver= version 6.1.7600.16385

Realtek High definition audio driver = 6.0.1.5864

thanks

Hi Flibble99,

Do I understand correctly that you get sound only from one side using the green socket? That's the one I believe you should be using. I have the similar XPS 8100 with a Klipsch 2.1 speaker system. I've got the single cable (coming from my sub) plugged into the green socket, and in the Realtek HD audio manager, I've got stereo selected. Works fine.

@osprey4...

yes,that is correct, with 1 cable and Realtek HD audio manager set to stereo..only sound from1 speaker

How about the headphone jack in front?

Yes, that works perfectly. Maybe we are geting somewhere.

It does mean that I have to have the computer positione at an awkward angle, so not a long term option.

After that worked,I tried the green at the back agian, in case something had freed itself up, but still the same problem