Hello. There is no separate download for the MaxxAudio software. It is included in the Realtek audio driver when you download it from your support page.
There were 2 versions of the Realtek driver for the 5521 with Windows 7. The newer one is buggy -- fails to detect when a plug is in the jack. Install the older one. If you already installed the newer one, completely remove it.
1. Open the Device Manager
2. Expand the Sound, Video & Game Controllers section.
3. Right click on the Realtek and select to uninstall.
4. Put a check mark in the option to delete the driver software, and then ok.
5. Restart the laptop and go back to the Device Manager and check again for a Realtek driver. Keep uninstalling & restarting until Realtek no longer appears under Sound...Controllers and "High Definition Audio Device" appears in its place. "High Definition Audio Device" is the name of the Windows native driver.
[The reason you might have to go through the process more than once is because the driver files for more than one Realtek driver could be on the hard drive. When a Realtek driver is removed, the next one gets installed if Windows can locate the files. Windows installs its generic driver only after all Realtek files have been removed.]
You can install the older Realtek driver right over the native driver -- no need to remove it.
