Acer X1200 BIOS update woes

[mlaboss]

I have an Acer X1200 which I recently bought to replace my old HTPC. I've been using the built-in HDMI port for video and audio up until yesterday, when I installed a BIOS update (AX1200_R01A3) to fix instability with the ethernet port. Now, my HDMI port's audio no longer works. I went to the Sound control panel to see if I could fix the problem, and I noticed that the NVIDIA HDMI Output, which is the output I was using, now shows up as "Not plugged in", and there is now a "Realtek HDMI Audio" which shows as "Working", even though I don't get any sound from it.

I am posting here to see if anyone else here has an X1200 with the same problem, and if anyone has had any luck fixing it. Acer tech support has been useless, first suggesting I mail it to their service depot in Texas (yeah right) then pointing me to the very same BIOS update that broke HDMI audio in the first place.

[Maximo]

Just grasping at straws here. Check your device manage and make sure the Nvidia audio component is enabled. Twy it with both the Nvidia enabled and the Realtek enabled. If that doesn;t work try disabling the Realtek.

[mlaboss]

Good thought! I tried that and after disabling the Realtek device, the Sound control panel only had the NVIDIA HDMI Audio device listed, but it still showed as "Not plugged in".

[bburns]

I would STAY AWAY from ACER!!

I purchased this Acer Aspire X1200 and the audio did not work over HDMI. It took over 25 e-mail exchanges before they would take the PC back for repair. They kept asking me to perform the same steps over and over again!!!

When I shipped the PC back to them, they claimed it was damaged and it would cost $200 to fix. I spoke with Customer No Service and she informed me that the case around the modem port was cracked and that it would now cost only $75. I had inspected the PC very closely prior to shipping it and there was no damage. The PC was packed very well with Styrofoam on all sides of the system, so I doubt very seriously that FedEx damaged it. The modem port on it, is a card installed on the PC and attached to the metal card cage, so what plastic broke around the modem port. I am confident that this is a scam on ACER's part to offset the cost repairs.

When I asked the Service Rep to talk to a supervisor, she told me it was against "policy" and refused to put me in contact with a supervisor. That is unheard of!!!

[lsilvest]

Originally Posted by mlaboss

Good thought! I tried that and after disabling the Realtek device, the Sound control panel only had the NVIDIA HDMI Audio device listed, but it still showed as "Not plugged in".

Don't know if you solved your problem yet, but after the update, did you go through your bios setup and make sure everything was set the way you wanted it? The update may have changed your setting for the onboard HDMI which usually has an enable/disable option.