Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Headphones not working

Oct 8, 2012 11:07AM PDT

My speakers work OK. When I plug in the headphones there is no sound - the speakers continue to play sound.
When I right click on the small speaker in the bottom right hand corner and select Playback Devices a small window opens and the speakers have a green tick indication OK.
Below the speakers icon is the Headphones icon showing High Definition Audio Device -Not plugged in. There is a small ring with a RED pointer pointing down!
I have plugged in the headphones but no sound, just the speakers continue to sound.
Please assist me..Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
This is expensive to fix.
Oct 8, 2012 11:28AM PDT
- Collapse -
Headphones not working.
Oct 8, 2012 6:20PM PDT

Bob thanks for the reply.
I am 75 years old and not technical. You say this is difficult to fix.
What is the "few dollar USB thing"?
Where and how would I install it?
What will it Do?

Please Bob it is difficult for me to understand so please make the explanation simple
as possible.
Thanks...Peter

- Collapse -
RE: USB think
Oct 8, 2012 7:23PM PDT

If you click on the link to Amazon, you'll see what it is.

You follow the installation instructions that come with it for the driver (if a driver is needed). Then you put this thing in a USB port in your PC (like your mouse, keyboard, USB-stick, printer).

It will have a jack to put your headphone in and listen to it. This replaces the broken jack you have now.

Kees

- Collapse -
Thank you Kees.
Oct 9, 2012 2:00AM PDT

Sorry if it's hard but if you click on the link you see the device for a few dollars that in most cases you plug in and then put your headphones into that.

It's a very cheap workaround or fix to a common issue.

If you want it fixed right then for laptops they change the motherboard as few techs can find the new jack or in desktops they may change the motherboard too. Better techs can install a new sound card in the desktop.
Bob