[TriLUG] How to get laptop earphone jack to work?

[Glenn Starling]

Probably the lubricant on the speaker system plugs and jacks was a
mistake, but I suspect it would only result in intermittent operation.
I wouldn't worry too much about it until you get the computer/speakers
working, but wouldn't try it again!

You might also consider:
*	Insure that it is the headphone jack rather than a mic jack that you
have plugged the speakers into.

*	Has the laptop been taken apart where it is possible a jumper from the
headphone jack was not correctly plugged back into the motherboard when
the repairs were finished?

*	 Was the microphone jack physically damaged?  Many times there is a
switch that is a part of the jack, so that when a plug is inserted it
disconnects the internal speaker.  Are the switch contacts clean and
still functioning?

*	Check the way that particular laptop was "supposed to work."  There
may have been a software combination (function key, etc.) that would
activate the headphone.  I don't have any experience with the Compaq
Presario V133CL.  Without knowing, it is difficult to tell if it is
hardware or software.

Good luck!

-- Glenn Starling


On Thu, 2008-01-10 at 20:44 -0500, Steve Litt wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I have a Compaq Presario V6133CL laptop running Mandriva 2007. The sound 
> system works perfectly out of its dinky little speakers. However, when 
> connect the input plug of my powered speaker system, which works perfectly 
> with my desktop, to the earphone jack of the laptop, no sound comes out of 
> them, and the sound still comes out of the little laptop speakers.
> 
> I tried lubricating the speaker system plugs to no available. I turned the up 
> the volume of the speaker system to maximum -- no sound. However, if I put my 
> finger on the plug a buzz comes out the speakers.
> 
> I looked around for a function key combination that would effect the sound 
> system and couldn't find one. The only thing I can find is a speaker on 
> speaker off button and an LED touch slide pot, but neither of these work 
> under Mandriva 2007.
> 
> When I run aumix, there are three sliders: Volume, which works perfectly, 
> Line, which will not let me set it at anything but 100%, and Mic, which again 
> will not let me set it at anything but 100%.
> 
> What can I do to drive powered external speakers from this laptop?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> SteveT
> 
> Steve Litt
> Author: Universal Troubleshooting Process books and courseware
> http://www.troubleshooters.com/
>