[ecwong]

For a couple of weeks, I've been trying to fix a friend's audio on a Sony VAIO FS. Without anything plugged into the headphone port, there is no audio coming from the laptop speakers. Plug in headphones halfway (on the verge of complete contact) there's audio from the laptop speakers. Plug in the headphones all the way, the headphones work normally. Any specific idea as to what the problem is, and how to go about solving it? I'm not 100% certain that the user was rough with any headphone plugs, but it's certainly not out of the question.

 

[kiwiguy]

Almost certain to be a poor switching contact on the headphone socket.

When the headphones are unplugged, the speakers are supplied with audio, but that audio is via the headphone socket switch, which disconnects the speakers when headphones are used.

That socket is part of the motherboard usually, so unless you have the microsurgery skills you will be risking the laptop if you opt to DIY.

Just getting them apart and back together and working again is a challenge.

 

[ecwong]

That could be considered covered under warranty, right? (even though it's not worth half the trouble.)

 

[mshabsovich]

If the laptop still has a warranty, this problem would be covered by the hardware warranty. since the headphone jack and the speakers are all in some way shape or form connected to the motherboard, there must be something wrong with it. it would be almost impossible for a person to figure out the motherboard on a laptop. plus, taking a laptop apart could void the warranty.