headphone jack on laptop doesn't work!

[enwar3]

So for some reason, the headphone jack on my laptop (compaq nw8000 workstation) doesn't work. I can plug the headphones in, but I don't hear anything out of the phones and sound still comes out of my laptop speakers. It's as if the headphone jack isn't registering the headphones at all.

Are there any standard fixes I should try? Updating drivers? Or is it a hardware problem that needs to get looked at?

 

[corkyg]

Sounds like a wiring deficiency. When a jack is inserted into the headphone port, it is supposed to mechanically short out the speakers. Sounds as if your port is not connected at all - could it be wired as MIC?

 

[enwar3]

Uh oh... this sounds complicated.

The jack DID used to work before, but I haven't used it for 9 months and now it doesn't work anymore. Do I have to take the lappy apart/send it in?

NOTE: I care more about getting music to my headphones than I do about fixing this problem. Would getting a USB-headphone jack adapter work?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes, a USB soundcard would work. You would switch the sound out in Windows from the motherboard to the USB soundcard, then it will always be used for sound and the speakers will always be silent (unless you switch audio source back).

Newegg and Geeks.com have a bunch of these soundcards, the cheapest with decent reviews should be OK. If you're running Vista instead of XP make sure the product listing or manufacturer website says it's compatibile.

 

[enwar3]

Could I get just a USB to headphone jack adapter?

Like so: http://www.amazon.com/USB-Audi...&qid=1213652399&sr=8-2

 

[jdkick]

Did you happen to reinstall the OS or reinstall/update the audio drivers in the last nine months? Most newer audio controllers tend to have a software component that affects jack sensing. Of course this may not apply to your notebook, but you may want to review the configuration of your audio controller just to make sure that 1) jack sensing is enabled and 2) no other settings are conflicting. You can also try manually assigning the jack, if that's an option, just for troubleshooting purposes. Also, you could try updating the drivers on the off change some of the software components have been damaged.

 

[enwar3]

The drivers might've been updated recently. I updated them earlier today to the most recent form, and it still doesn't work. Are you saying that an earlier driver release might work better?

Also, I haven't seen any options (in control panel) for manually assigning the jack. Where would I find this?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: enwar3
Could I get just a USB to headphone jack adapter?

Like so: http://www.amazon.com/USB-Audi...&qid=1213652399&sr=8-2

That is a USB soundcard with a headphone jack, so yes it will work. Good price too.

 

[jdkick]

Some audio drivers install additional control panels/mixers that work in conjunction with/override the default Windows control. It was worth a shot to look, but if you don't see anything...

 

[0roo0roo]

usb is a pain to carry
get a pcmcia soundcard.
and since your drivers are installed.... its probably physical break?
boot knoppix or something and see if you can get sound to work, or make an image backup then reinstall windows and see if that fixes it... or simply just buy a new card.

 

[enwar3]

Well its a work machine... so I just want a temporary fix. I'm only using it for the summer and don't want to bother people just to get it fixed for a couple months' use.