No matter what I do the volume setting is always lowered at startup. I hope there's a setting somewhere that I'm missing. Could it be a Realtek setting/problem?
Any ideas?
Try updating the Realtek audio driver from here. Then click the search icon, type Audio and select Manage Audio devices. Click on Speakers, then Properties, and click on the Levels tab. See if any level is too low or muted and put it higher. You may also see Realtek's own audio control if anything is low there. Search for Control and click on Control Panel to open it. Click on Realtek HD audio manager and see is you have to adjust the levels there.
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