Headphone jack/on board speaker issue


  1. wren415
    Posts : 1
    Windows 7
       New #1

    Headphone jack/on board speaker issue


    I'm guessing that it's probably just a compatibility issue... or just how it is, but I'm curious:

    I updated my laptop from Windows XP Pro to Windows 7 Pro a while back. It started out as just a minor inconvenience, but it's getting to be very annoying. When I plug in my external speakers (via the headphone jack) or my headphones, Windows doesn't automatically switch the sound output to the headphone jack. I have to manually switch it ("Manage Audio Devices"). The same is true for the reverse, when I unplug my headphones.

    Is there any way around this, or is it likely an issue with the compatibility of my sound card?

    Please and thank you!
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  3. fireberd
    Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
       New #2

    Do you have the correct Windows 7 drivers for your Audio system? The XP drivers are not compatible and you need at a minimum Vista drivers as Vista and Windows 7 handle sound functions differently than XP.

    On most newer "HD Audio" systems the jack is "auto sensing" and switches "logically". On many older PC systems that is a mechanical function with the jack.
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  4. ZaLiTH
    Posts : 1,223
    Win 10 x64 Pro x64 / Ubuntu 15.10 x64
       New #3

    wren415 said:
    I'm guessing that it's probably just a compatibility issue... or just how it is, but I'm curious:

    I updated my laptop from Windows XP Pro to Windows 7 Pro a while back. It started out as just a minor inconvenience, but it's getting to be very annoying. When I plug in my external speakers (via the headphone jack) or my headphones, Windows doesn't automatically switch the sound output to the headphone jack. I have to manually switch it ("Manage Audio Devices"). The same is true for the reverse, when I unplug my headphones.

    Is there any way around this, or is it likely an issue with the compatibility of my sound card?

    Please and thank you!
    I'd take a wild guess and say you're asking this because XP used to do that on your laptop?

    Here's what I'd suggest:

    1. Download and run DriverSweeper
    2. Restart computer and get Windows to check for updates
    3. In the Update Manager, go to the list of updates available and switch to the 'Optional' tab
    4. Look for drivers relating to your sound card

    Windows 7 has a much better automatic updates setup compared to XP and Vista, so perhaps you'll find better drivers through that for your sound card chipset?
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