My receiver no longer produces sound to the speakers unless I push the "Pure Direct" button.

You must have hit the DIRECT button . In this mode it produces pure stereo sound by shutting down the multichannel Digital Sound Processor (DSP). Only your front Left & Right speakers will work

Does you television have an "Optical Audio Output"? This would be the best and easiest way to get surround sound from your system. If your TV has an optical output the you can use an Optical Cable to connect the TV to the reciver. This way whatever you are watching from the TV will be in surround sound. The HDMI connection sends a surround sound signal from each device to the television. If you connect it to this output on the TV then make sure the optical output is turned on in you telivison's menu. If your TV does not have an Optical Audio Output then you will need to connect each optical output from the blu-ray and HDbox to your reciever. Your reciever will need to have two Input channels(one for each device). Then you can select that input to the device(blu-ray or HDbox) that you are using. The optical cable is the best way to go for surround sound because it is pure digital and produces the best sound. If the HDbox or Blu-Ray does not have an optical output then you will need the six rca jacks to get the surround sound. Let me know further info on what you have so I can assist you more.

I went to the HDTV plasma manual. It stated the only way the digital optical audio output would work (from this TV) was to go to the menu, select audio and turn off the TV speakers. Basically, it had nothing to do with the technics receiver.

Check the input mode on the reciever so that they are set for dual, rather than just digital or analog. It might be set for analog and your using a digital optical in cable. Also make sure DTS mode is turned off, unless your watching a DVD that is dts enabled.

What do you mean by "sound programming"? -- I guess it's the ability to change the sound processing, such as from Stereo to Dolby Digital, or to Dolby Pro Logic or Virtual Surround, etc.? Maybe there's a "Direct" or "Pure" or "Tone Control Defeat" button that was pushed, which often (or always!) bypasses all the sound-processing circuits? Check the front panel and/or your remote for such a button and try that.
If it's a DVD player, it may be that the audio connections were accidently pulled or changed. Assuming it's the latter (more likely): Either the digital/analog output setting of the DVD player or the setup of the receiver could have been changed. Next, this is a guess, but most likely, it is the receiver that was tweaked -- in order to listen to some other source (such as the tuner), and it is no longer set up to process the digital signal, but stays in analog mode -- AND there's no analog audio connection from the DVD player (or it was not set-up to output analog to the receiver, since the preferred signal is digital surround). Am I getting warm?

Here are some things to check:
Is the loudness control turned off or set to a very low level? If the PURE DIRECT button is turned on with the LOUDNESS control level at 0, you won't hear anything.
Have you removed the jumpers from the PRE Out/MAIN IN jacks? If so, the unit will only perform as a power amplifier.
Is the CD DIRECT AMP turned on?
If so, the unit will only make sound if the PURE DIRECT button is on.
Check the CD DIRECT AMP and the PURE DIRECT buttons are both turned off. This should produce sounds. If ti doesn't, check that the A and B buttons are on for their speakers. Both can be on.

optical connection in tv is only input optical connection in receiver is only input will not work.need to connect rca jacks to tv's audio out jacks behind tv to any available input in receiver

time to reset the microprocessor. See page 87 in manual.
1) switch off the unit using the main unit's power operation (small power button)
2) hold the PURE DIRECT button and DIRECT button at same time and turn the main unit's power operation on.
3) wait for entire display to flash in 1 second intervals

now the speakers need to be set up again but zone 2 will be working. i suspect a power surge causes the microprocesser to be corrupted. i put a power surge protector and have not had problems (lately).

I can help you solve this problem. However you must describe to me which fuse you have replaced. Is it the fuse on the power line or is it a fuse in the speaker line (which I highly doubt). usually this type of amplifier uses two technologies. One is transistors the second is integrated chips. This is in regard to the output stages. I assumed you speaker cables shorted each other while the volume was set at a high level with music playing. Anyway if you are willing I am able to help.

It's a pain in the butt getting the system set up to use the TOSlink from your PC.

Try this:

1. Hit the DVD button.
2. Use MODE/SET to get to DVD/OPT
3. Turn DSP off.
4. Use the TEST/SETUP button to make sure your speakers all work
5. Screw with your sound card!