Sound through Speakers and Headphones

[Guest]

I am having a technical problem with my Windows sound playing through both my
laptop speakers and headphones simultaneously. When I plug them in, nothing
changes. I use the RealTek AC97 driver, no other sound cards added, does
this when I play videos or music. All the system sounds play through both.
Not sure what the conflict is, I've tried reinstalling the windows audio
drivers from two sources. ANY HELP? Please - advice welcome.

 

[jonah]

I am having a technical problem with my Windows sound playing through both my
laptop speakers and headphones simultaneously. When I plug them in, nothing
changes. I use the RealTek AC97 driver, no other sound cards added, does
this when I play videos or music. All the system sounds play through both.
Not sure what the conflict is, I've tried reinstalling the windows audio
drivers from two sources. ANY HELP? Please - advice welcome.

Its not usually controled via the OS the mute of the speakers is a
hard wired function of plugging in a headphone jack on built in LT
sound. Its probably your jack socket which is at fault and as its
wired into the MOBO fixing it could be more trouble than its worth.

Its possible there may be a jumper or on the MOBO or a setting in BIOS
to enable / disable mute but I doubt the OS gives a toss weather the
headphones are in use or not.

Jonah

 

[Joe]

I am having a technical problem with my Windows sound playing through both my
laptop speakers and headphones simultaneously. When I plug them in, nothing
changes. I use the RealTek AC97 driver, no other sound cards added, does
this when I play videos or music. All the system sounds play through both.
Not sure what the conflict is, I've tried reinstalling the windows audio
drivers from two sources. ANY HELP? Please - advice welcome.

Try going to the control panel, go to sound/audio options, and change
the speaker type (or something like that) to headphones when you are
using them. I am not sure if that would fix the problem, but see if it does.

 

[jonah]

Try going to the control panel, go to sound/audio options, and change
the speaker type (or something like that) to headphones when you are
using them. I am not sure if that would fix the problem, but see if it does.

Nay Joe it won't work, that only "optimises" the sound output for
different types of speakers, its a kind of graphic equaliser it just
alters the output signal on frequency ranges ie boosts bass when using
headphones for instance. The settings also allow you to mute various
inputs but thats no help either. The headphones mute is hardwired.

Jonah

 

[Guest]

www."laptopmfgwebsite".com/techsupport

 

[Squire]

Try plugging the earphones into the speaker jack, not the computer.
The speakers will automatically cut out when you plug them in.
If you are using a transformer on your speakers, keep it on and regulate the
volume with the speaker control knob.

 

[Guest]

I think you are probably right, it's a hardware connection issue. I use my
laptop for presentations so the sound output is vital to my job, I'm
thinking of just buying a sound card, either PCMCIA or USB, that I can use
for the headphone out jack. Will I be able to choose between that and the
builtin speakers? Do you think it will pick up the headphones and override
the system sound like normal? Any suggestions on what kind of card to
purchase?

 

[jonah]

I think you are probably right, it's a hardware connection issue. I use my
laptop for presentations so the sound output is vital to my job, I'm
thinking of just buying a sound card, either PCMCIA or USB, that I can use
for the headphone out jack. Will I be able to choose between that and the
builtin speakers? Do you think it will pick up the headphones and override
the system sound like normal? Any suggestions on what kind of card to
purchase?

Have you had a dig in the BIOS before you go any further?

I dunno that putting a soundcard in will make any difference to your
LT as its probably a hardware problem ie if the on board sound does
not mute on headphones why should a new one work.

I have a USB soundcard which by-passes the onboard sound and plugs
into an Audio Amp input. It shuts off all sound on my LT and only
plays via the Amp giving me full control of Speakers / Phone or both.
As a by product the sound quality is far better than the onboard
output.

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/xitel_hi-fi_link.htm

You will need some external speakers and an Amp though.

Jonah

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice. Any ideas on how to "dig into the BIOS?" I'd try but
I'm not even sure how to start. Do you access it through DOS commands or
msconfig or what?

I was thinking about getting something simple like this USB card

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=333305&pfp=BROWSE

Any further assistance would be great, but you have helped a ton already.
Thanks.