Broken Jack/How to disable?

[Summerbear5]

So I have a broken headphone jack on my laptop. Nothing is plugged into it however the computer believes something is and, because of this no audio plays out of the speakers. I had a thought if I could disable the headphone audio jack in device manager that way the audio is force to come out the speakers. Unfortunately I cannot figure out what to disable in device manager to fix this. I’ve already set in sound settings the speaker as default device and even disabled headphones from playback devices. It’s still broke.

 

[strollin]

There's often a physical switch built into the headphone jack that disconnects the speakers. You may need to open the laptop and ensure that the contacts for the switch are closed.

 

[samuria]

Can you put a jack in if it thinks there is something there its likley bent and shorting pushing a jack in may free it

 

[Summerbear5]

There is nothing in the jack and when you put headphones in they work. Strange thing is if the headphones are unplugged it still thinks they are plugged in and if you press on the jack on the side of the computer sound comes out of the speakers. Really strange.

 

[strollin]

Like I said, the jack usually has a mechanical switch that is closed when no headphones are plugged in and the contacts are then separated when headphones are plugged in. The contacts may have gotten bent somehow so that they do not make contact when the plug is removed like they should. You pressing on the jack apparently flexes things enough so that the contacts close. In the attached picture, you can see the switch levers, they are the long metal strips on both sides. When the plug is inserted it pushes against those levers which then separate the switch contacts. When the plug is removed they close the contacts again.

 

[Summerbear5]

Thank you strollin. I wasn’t wanting to take it apart though. I’ll have to take a look.

 

[townsbg]

Control panel > Sound > Playback tab. Look to see if headphones shows up (or something like that). If it does right click and select disable.

 

[Summerbear5]

Control panel > Sound > Playback tab. Look to see if headphones shows up (or something like that). If it does right click and select disable.

I’ve already done this as I’ve stated in my original post but, thank you.

 

[iko22]

Hello,

I know you have already tried several fixes. Have you tried setting your Laptop's internal speakers as Default audio device in Sounds control panel? That way your internal speakers will override the headphone jack, whatever is plugged in.

 

[Summerbear5]

Hello,

I know you have already tried several fixes. Have you tried setting your Laptop's internal speakers as Default audio device in Sounds control panel? That way your internal speakers will override the headphone jack, whatever is plugged in.

Yes I did that and it still doesn't work.

 

[strollin]

If it is a hardware issue as I suspect then you will not be able to compensate or work around it via software.

 

[iko22]

Then it does sound like a deeper hardware issue. Normally, I would suggest try replace the sound card. On a Laptop, the only way of replacing a sound card is to use a USB device with built-in sound card. Plug in USB sound device, then make that device the Default audio device. That way you are bypassing the internal audio hardware altogether.

 

[strollin]

Something like that could work but would require the use of external speakers.

 

[jim davis]

sadly the pic strollin posted is a best case jack, many are attached right on the board and like mine metal covered, this is why sometimes you buy a new board and find the jack input only has one channel, also means you don't have a new board as well.
fact is, i had to buy a real new board once after being sold a "New very Used Board with no left channel". as well, some jacks as mention have circuit going right thru them to your speakers even with no jack in because of the switch mentioned above, As such I fear these little bastards,
So hears my help, skip the comp shop and go to a TV store if there is one left on earth, I am not being rude, where i live its still only 1968 and we have them. it may be cheaper there to have it changed out.