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Strange Audio Headphone Jack and Sound Problem

I built my PC in March 2012. Recently I'm having a strange problem with the audio. First off, I will get alternating notifications "You just plugged a device into the audio jack" followed by "You just unplugged a device from the audio jack" when I've done nothing with the audio jack. Secondly, I have no sound from the speakers UNLESS I plug headphones into the front panel headphone jack. Thirdly, when I DO plug headphones into the front panel headphone jack I get the notification "You just unplugged a device from the audio jack". When I remove the headphones I get the notification "You just plugged a device into the audio jack." The opposite notifications for the actions being taken.

Specs:
ASRock Z68Extreme4
RealTek HD Audio with latest drivers (there have been no updated drivers for audio since I built my rig, so I didn't touch the drivers.)
Windows 7.

Things I've tried:
Changed settings in RealTek HD Audio Manager, specifically:
1. Checkmark "Disable front panel jack detection" This will get sound out of the speakers without the headphones plugged in. It will also get sound from the speakers with the headphones plugged in. This means plugging in the headphones on the front panel jack will not mute the speakers, which defeats the reason I use headphones.

2. "Make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams". With front panel jack detection disabled this results in no sound coming from speakers with headphones unplugged or with headphones plugged in. With front panel jack detection enabled I'm back to my original problem of no sound from speakers unless the headphones are plugged in.

Restarted computer. No change in problem.

Checked Device Manager. All looks good.

More info: My son uses a Sony wireless USB headphone set to play games on my computer. He has been doing this for a couple of months. This problem just started yesterday.

I suppose I could re-install the audio drivers. Or I could do a system restore.

Any ideas?
7 answers Last reply
More about strange audio headphone jack sound problem
  1. Definitely sounds like a driver problem, it cant be anything to do with the motherboard because it is detecting it. REinstall the drivers and this problem should be or might be fixed ;).
  2. KieranDavidW123 said:
    Definitely sounds like a driver problem, it cant be anything to do with the motherboard because it is detecting it. REinstall the drivers and this problem should be or might be fixed ;).


    Ok, I've fixed one thing. By going to
    Control Panel>Sound>Playback>Speakers>Properties
    and then disabling speakers and then enabling them and setting them to Default Device I can get sound out of my speakers without having the headphones plugged in so long as I have either "Disable front panel jack detection" checkmarked and/or "Make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams".

    When I checkmark "Make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams" and I'm looking at Control Panel>Sound>Playback I can see Realtek HD Audio 2nd output and a headphone icon. It's status is Ready. If I plug in the headphones the status changes to "Not Plugged in".

    When I'm looking at the RealTek HD Audio Manager and I look at the Speaker tab I can see that the Microphone tab is checkmarked, as if there is a microphone plugged in. Then, if I plug in my headphones into the headphone jack the Audio Manager switches to the Front Mic tab (and I get the notification "You just unplugged a device from the audio jack".

    I've found the drivers and will re-install them.
  3. Yeahh Definitely re-install the drivers, get back to me as soon as possible :)
  4. KieranDavidW123 said:
    Yeahh Definitely re-install the drivers, get back to me as soon as possible :)


    Uninstalled and re-installed drivers and I have the same symptoms. For some reason the RealTek HD Manager thinks there is a front microphone installed.

    If I checkmark "Disable front panel jack detection" the FrontMic tab will suddenly appear on the RealTek HD Manager and this FrontMic tab is checkmarked. If I then checkmark "Make front and rear output devices playback two different audio streams" the HD Audio 2nd Output tab will suddenly appear.

    In this configuration I can play sounds through the speakers with or without the headphone plugged in. If I click on the HD Audio 2nd output tab and run the Test I hear sound ONLY through the headphones.

    If I use the Control Panel and disable the FrontMic as a Recording Device the FrontMic tab disappears and I can play sounds through the speakers with or without the headphones plugged in.

    If I uncheck "Disable front panel jack detection" I can play sounds through the speakers with or without the headphones plugged in. (And I get the reversed notification pop up, i.e. when I plug the headphones in it says "You just unplugged a device from an audio jack".

    If I then check "Mute the rear output device when front headphone plugged in" the 2nd HD Audio Output tab disappears and with headphones not plugged in I get no sound out of the speakers. With headphones plugged in I get sound out of the speakers.
  5. Hang on...

    If I plug the headphones in part-way, that is do not fully seat the plug in the audio jack, the proper notification comes up, there is no sound out of the speakers, and there is sound out of the headphones (stereo). If I plug the headphone jack in all the way, sound plays out of both speakers and headphone and I get the improper notification "You just unplugged..."

    Defective headphone jack?

    [Searching for audio jack problems related to my case, CoolerMaster 690II]
  6. Happy Ending. I decided to open the case and check for loose wires and also examine if the headphone jack could be easily replaced. While I had the case open I used a can of air and a vacuum cleaner to clean out the dust. After buttoning up the case and re-attaching everything, headphone jack works fine. There must have been some dirt inside the headphone jack that was interfering with proper operation.

    I had also contacted CoolerMaster tech support and they quickly replied asking me to fill out an RMA form since the case was covered under warranty.
  7. Ex_Dell_User said:
    Hang on...

    If I plug the headphones in part-way, that is do not fully seat the plug in the audio jack, the proper notification comes up, there is no sound out of the speakers, and there is sound out of the headphones (stereo). If I plug the headphone jack in all the way, sound plays out of both speakers and headphone and I get the improper notification "You just unplugged..."

    Defective headphone jack?

    [Searching for audio jack problems related to my case, CoolerMaster 690II]


    Ex_Dell_User said:
    Happy Ending. I decided to open the case and check for loose wires and also examine if the headphone jack could be easily replaced. While I had the case open I used a can of air and a vacuum cleaner to clean out the dust. After buttoning up the case and re-attaching everything, headphone jack works fine. There must have been some dirt inside the headphone jack that was interfering with proper operation.

    I had also contacted CoolerMaster tech support and they quickly replied asking me to fill out an RMA form since the case was covered under warranty.


    That's brilliant!, you also have the same case as mine accept mine is windowed!
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