Computer speakers work, but good headphones don't produce sound

Saginaw · 18 Feb 2016

I'm using Windows 7. The computer speakers work, but when I insert known good headphones into the audio jack, the computer speakers mute (as they should), but no sound comes through the headphones. I checked all the sound indicators (e.g. control panel/sound, the sound icon on the tray and device manager) and everything indicates the volume is up and the device is working. I've encountered this problem perhaps a half a dozen times and a reboot always fixes the problem. My only guess is that some application or virus is running in the background which is interfering with the ability of the headphone jack to transmit sound. Does anyone know how I can fix this problem without rebooting the computer? And does anyone know what the culprit might be which is interfering with the sound being transmitted into the headphones? Thanks!

fireberd · 18 Feb 2016

Can't really say. We need system spec's. Is this a desktop or laptop, etc. Please fill in the "My System Specs". Helps us to try and help you.

Saginaw · 18 Feb 2016

Lenovo laptop T440s
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4600U CPU @ 2.10 GHz 2.70 GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (7.88 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit operating system

fireberd · 18 Feb 2016

Do you have the correct sound driver installed? Or is it only the generic, basic function, Windows installed "High Definition Device" (Codec) driver installed?

Did this come with Win 7 or was it downgraded to Win 7?

A flakey (intermittent) headphone jack could cause this too. I know you say rebooting fixes it sometimes, but that may just be coincidental. Most laptop I/O jacks are on a small "daughter board" that is attached to the main board. If you can get inside, I would reseat (unplug then plug back in) the connection between the daughter board and the main motherboard (if this has that).

Saginaw · 18 Feb 2016

fireberd said:

Do you have the correct sound driver installed? Or is it only the generic, basic function, Windows installed "High Definition Device" (Codec) driver installed?

How do I find this information?

Remember, this is an infrequent problem. Most of the time the headphones work like a charm. So I'm suspecting a virus or too many applications are causing this hardware to shut down. It begins to work again after a reboot. Obviously it indicates a problem. So I'd either like to fix the problem or find a work around so when it does it again, I can quickly fix it so I can use the headphones without rebooting the computer.

Did this come with Win 7 or was it downgraded to Win 7?

It came with Win 7

A flakey (intermittent) headphone jack could cause this too. I know you say rebooting fixes it sometimes, but that may just be coincidental. Most laptop I/O jacks are on a small "daughter board" that is attached to the main board. If you can get inside, I would reseat (unplug then plug back in) the connection between the daughter board and the main motherboard (if this has that).

I'd rather not take it apart, as it is a work computer. If it's intermittent, could it be such that it shuts off the computer speakers, but doesn't transmit to the headphones? And if this were a hardware issue with the headphone jack, why would it always work fine with a reboot?

fireberd · 18 Feb 2016

You can find out what is set as the Default Audio playback device (driver).
Go to Control Panel/Hardware and Sound and finally the Sound panel, Playback section. The "Speakers" should be set as default playback device and it should show what device its using, such as Realtek, IDT, etc. Or if the correct hardware sound driver is not installed it will show High Definition.

I don't know of any application software that would mute the headphone output. I've never seen a report of malware causing that and I've been working computer forums since 2002 (although there could be). You can download and run Malwarebytes and see if it finds anything, just to satisfy that. https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/

Your reported indication is that it is functioning properly as it mutes the speakers. It leads back to the sound driver and/or the actual sound chip since that is where the function is. Reinstall the (correct) sound driver as a first step.