Headphone jack not working - Definite Software issue

Question

I once had this problem where the headphone jack on my Vostro 1700 suddenly didn't work. I troubleshooted thoroughly and tried a myriad of different 92xx drivers, to no avail. The problem occured both on my main Vista 64-bit OS AND a dual-booting XP 32-bit system on the laptop (which is really crazy, right?). I was begining to think it was a hardware problem - but suddenly, it simply started working again two days later.

Now the problem has come back again.

This time I've taken a closer look and in the vista sound properties, the "Jack Information" for the Sigmatel High Definition audio CODEC playback device is displayed as "Right Panel 3.5 mm Jack" - the same as in the Microphone/Line In properties. Shouldn't it be the "Left Panel"?!

There's definitely something wrong - the headphone jack is for some reason being wrongly asigned to the same jack as Line In. In fact, when I insert my headphones into the mic jack, for a split second I can hear the music playing before it goes silent and opens a sigmatel window to choose "mic" or "line in".

I also have had an error message popping up a couple of times: "STacSV Module has stopped working".

How on earth can this problem be fixed? I have tried several different drivers. Many, many thanks for your help, I hope someone can help me out of this misery.

Jim Coates · Answer

I don't have the answer but can give you some information that might help with the diagnosis. The laptop models like yours with Sigmatel HD audio are fitted with IDT "Universal Jacks". The jacks have software switching that alters their function, but the software is triggered by a sense pin within the jack. If the jack goes bad then you can get inappropriate software results. Your particular symptoms are not familiar to me so I don't know if that is the case here, but it is a possibility to consider if you can't find a software solution. Also the fact that the problem came and went and returned, that it shows up on both OS, and that reloading the driver does not fix it -- are indicative of a hardware problem. The only definitive ways I know of to diagnose a bad jack are to either replace the hardware or to use Factory Image Restore. If the problem persists afterward then it is definitely the hardware. Dell Diagnostics will give a false result for a bad jack, because it will identify the inappropriate software results of the bad jack and signal that there is a software problem.

Another things is when you are trying different drivers be careful not to install one meant for a Sigmatel 9228HD chip. I don't know if it is even possible to install one of those on your machine, but those chips & drivers are for surround sound on models with 3 jacksand will purposefully assign audio output to the mic jack.

thedoors · Answer

Thanks for that useful info!Well guess what - two days after the problem came back, it simply went away and my headphones work again. again.What happened, was that the sound from the *laptop speakers* even started not working - so no sound at all. I tried fiddling around with the vista sound properrties and even the test tone thing gave an error, 'failed to play test tone'. Then suddenly, I got a BSOD (over some sys file that didn't seem to be soundcard related, can't remember what it was), I rebooted and now it is all back to normal. Yay, but I hope it doesn't come again any time soon.So.....is it a software, or a hardware issue....I simply don't know, but I'm leaning more towards the software side. Let me bet that in a year's time I'll come back reporting the re-occurence of this anomoly. Unless I'll have Windows 7 by then and it's just been some weird problem with my clogged up vista system (and SOMEhow my dual boot XP at the same time :S :S).Bleh

aliento7 · Answer

Basically one last option could be going to CONTROL PANEL go to manage audio devices once there right click on the only device listed check on SHOW DISABLED/DISCONNECTED DEVICES then connect headphones the headphones should appear now if problem continues disable current speakers and then enable the headphone device .... it should work then !! if not well yes you need to contact your local IT or friendly computer repair store !!!

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Headphone jack not working - Definite Software issue

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