My USB 7.1 Surround sound headphones are now in Stereo?

Right well for some reason or another my USB headset now only wants to work in stereo. I can do the configerations in the soun pannel and when i test in 7.1 i hear all 8 of the speakers. But ingames and in itunes its CLEARLY in stereo. now ive updated the drivers for my headset (SteelSeries 5hv2 USB) and it hasnt solved it. I have checked all the setting and there is nothing i can see that should be wrong. in my sound pannel i can choose from 2 to 8 Channels. But under output mode i can only select 2 speakers or headphones. I really dont know whats up, it was fine for the first 2 days, any help would be ace.

what make are they ?

i do belive that these are the little buggers that jack has
http://www.steelseries.com/int/products/audio/5hv2-usb/information

Have you plugged them into a different USB port? I know this may sound daft but front and back panels can use different drivers etc.

nope backpannel straight into the board, and its the same one.

hmmmm
so:
When tested, works fine.
When in games, doesnt work.

So the hardware must be ok...

Other possibilities:
Codecs - have you installed new codecs recently? I've had issues with sound in films before when I updated some codecs. Had to configure the codec (either from icon in system tray or via contreol panel).

If it started happening recently - Roll your PC back with system restore and if that fixes it, you know it was something that was installed!

Besides... you only have 2 ears, so stereo will be enough

still having problems and its really anoying.

Ive tried deleting the drivers in the device manager and it still sounds shit.