Shouldn't This Be Simple to Resolve?

I have a completely fresh install of OpenSuse 12.1 64 bit with KDE. I used the netinstall CD for the installation, dual booting with Win 7 Pro 64 bit.

I booted into Suse to start setting up documents etc. I had no sound so I clicked on the sound icon in the notification area, then clicked on Mixer.

The default card was set as - Juniper HDMI Audio (Radeon 5700 Series) Digital Stereo (HDMI)
I have never used that option on my graphics card, I use the motherboard sound card - Realtek 5Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio.

No matter what I do I cannot get full 5.1 sound after I select the in use (ie connected to the speakers) sound card I want to use.
I click on Mixer-Settings-Audio Setup-Audio Hardware Setup, select Internal Audio as the Sound Card, Analog Surround 5.1 Output in Profile, click on the speaker test buttons in Speaker Placement. I get correct responses from the front, centre and sub-woofer but nothing from the rear speakers (yes they do work in Windows so it isn’t a physical connection issue).
I log out/log in, restart the PC. The default gets reset to the Radeon card again. I appreciate that Suse thinks this is the best option, but personally I would appreciate being able to make my own decision and make a permanent change to reflect that choice.

So, three questions:

  1. Do I need to install something else to resolve this?

  2. How do I permanently disable the Radeon sound card in Suse( as I have in Windows) so that the OS automatically uses the sound card I want to use?

  3. Am I going to have to resort to a command line and manually editing config files just to get the sound working. This is 2012 isn’t it, not 2002? Don’t tell me that it is still a necessity to do this just to get basic stuff working in Linux.

Try making your sound card of choice a default in yast2-sound
Try installing pavucontrol, you can turn-off the hdmi in pavucontrol
configuration. As to why it doesn’t seem to play 5.1 I can’t suggest
anything,

This link from my bookmark is about sorround also, not sure enough if it will be
of help.
http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/multimedia/470514-no-surround-sound-creative-x-fi-logitech-z-5500-solved.html

Hello and welcome here.

I see that allready someone tries to help you. But I suggest that you next time use a title for your thread that identifies in short terms your technical problem instead of such a nothing saying title. People are trying to help in their spare time. They glance through the subjects in the (sub)forums they think they have enough knowledge to help. And then open those with a title according to facts as: I have this runnin g also, I once had a symilar problem, etc. Many people will simply skip a thread like yours.