I played around with all the settings. But the prob is definitely related to the two monitor situation. I'm using two different outputs on the NUC (HDMI, DisplayPort), and all is the same. the only solution i have found is disconnecting the touchscreen monitor, that is the only way I can get the AV receiver to show in windows as a 7.1 audio device ( the thought was to use the monitor as a control screen, then to watch on the TV). As soon as I connect the monitor I can watch it switch to 2ch.
Would I be better off using a HDMI switch? Switched to the monitor it wouldn't see the receiver, then switch to the TV when I am ready to view, and the NUC would not see the monitor (assuming the HDMI switch works the way I would expect given its name)?