Playback: Audio peripheral doesn´t appear to be plugged in.

blue28 · 04 Dec 2014

Hey guys,

The day before yesterday my sound system on the PC started acting funny.
The headphones only worked when, after connecting the headphone (front) jack, I pulled it out half way. It never did that before. This morning the sound just doesn´t work. The speakers are plugged in and it seems that the pc can´t find them.
Normally when I connect the headphones it would automatically come up on screen but now, nothing happens.
I spent the day trying to figure it out and nothing. I even bought a new Case thinking it was the rust (I live in a coastal city) on the front connections.
Is there a possibility that the problem is motherboard related? I saw one guy who had a similar problem and he bought a soundcard.
If you guys could help me out I would really appreciate it.

fireberd · 04 Dec 2014

Do you have speakers connected to the PC and do they work OK? What happens if you plug the headphones into the GREEN speaker jack on the rear?

What sound device do you have? RealTek?, IDT? or other?

I have been to Recife many times.

blue28 · 04 Dec 2014

When I connect the headphones to the back nothing happens. Even the front ones, headphones and earphones alike, nothing.
I have Realtek. The sound management on my pc is a bit crowded. (I´m sending an attachment on jpeg, hope it gets uploaded).

I live in Salvador, it's close to Recife.

fireberd · 04 Dec 2014

The first thing I notice is the RealTek DIGITAL is set as the default playback device. Change the playback device to Speakers and check to see if it works.

I worked on the US Missile and Apollo Tracking station on Ascension Island (about 1000 miles east of Recife). We would go to Recife for holiday. I was there several times between 1966 and 1969.

blue28 · 04 Dec 2014

I can´t set the speakers as the default audio device. It´s greyed out.

I´d love a job like that. Just out of curiosity, when you said 'apollo tracking station', you mean tracking the Apollo missions?

fireberd · 05 Dec 2014

Uninstall the RealTek, in the Device Manager but DO NOT uninstall the Drivers. Then restart the PC and when Windows starts it will detect and reinstall the sound. This fixes may corruption problems.

Yes it was for the Apollo Project. The Ascension Island tracking station and the tracking station in Spain were the two that tracked the "Eagle" to the moon landing. I worked in Telemetry.

blue28 · 05 Dec 2014

No change. Sound still out. Could it be the motherboard? Its about 3 years old. It has a bit of rust on the USB connectors in the back. It´s rather strange because initially the Webcam stopped working from one of the USBs in the back. The front USB from my last case was also rusty...which it stopped doing data transfers from my cell phone a while back. The new case I got didn´t make any difference though.

Must of been the stuff of dreams working with that mission.

fireberd · 05 Dec 2014

Since it has automatically selected the S/PDIF (Digital) output, I would say there is a good chance the problem is in the sound chip.

A USB connected sound "card" is the least expensive way to have audio. You could install a sound card, but they usually cost more.

Spray the "rusty" USB connectors with electronic Contact Cleaner and that may fix them.

With those "rusty" and the problem with the case, it may be time for a new motherboard. I'm in the Tampa Florida area so I'm in sub-tropical, but I haven't heard of the problems you are having because of the tropical environment.

blue28 · 05 Dec 2014

The rust here is bad. Hardware pieces really get worn out in a short amount of time.
I´ve had video cards that in 2 years the rust started eating at it badly. In part it´s my fault, I should of kept the hardware in cleaner conditions. Tomorrow I´ll get the sound card and give an update. Hopefully I´ll get my sound back tomorrow.

blue28 · 06 Dec 2014

Berd,
Thanks a million for the help. I bought the usb soundcard and it worked like a charm.