G60jx speakers suddenly stopped working

Hey all,
I have a problem with my brand new g60jx. The internal speakers don't work. They were working recently, but just today they wont playback audio. Ive messed around with sound settings, control panel, and uninstalled and reinstalled realtek drivers, but to no avail. Headphones work when plugged into the audio jack however. I can see the audio playback bar moving, but no sound comes out when using the internal speakers.

I think I've nailed down the issue now. It seems that when headphones are unplugged, windows 7 believes that the headphones are still plugged in, even when they arent, meaning no audio can run through the internal speakers, but that headphones can work. Is this a hardware issue (like maybe a pin is stuck that is telling the computer headphones are plugged in) or a software one? Any help would be appreciated. I just returned a g60jx that was freezing constantly, and I'd like to keep this one since it's the only Asus computer I've owned thus far that seems to work.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

I have a G60J, which basically is similar to yours. If you selected digital output in the audio setup, then the headphones will work, but not the speakers. usually, I get a pop up if I insert or remove the headphones notifying me of that action. I guess it could be a mechanical fault on the output jack. Try connecting external speakers. The laptop internal speakers are virtually worthless anyways.

 

Does the speaker work during the startup period? (When asus logo comes up)

 

check your playback devices

 

Be sure your audio devices are properly selected in Windows. If they are and it still says you have a headphone jack in when you don't, then... welcome to the Order of the Broken Jack. Easiest way to know for sure you are part of our exclusive order (and not a pretender with broken speakers), when you reboot does the bootup animation still make the exploding sound through your speakers? This is a problem common to recent Asus G-series laptops. It may be common to other lines, too. I know I've seen reports of it on other laptops with Realtek-based audio (Acer, etc.).

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic130842.html Asus G51

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=349803 Asus G50Vt

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=6105063 Asus G50Vt

You can google more links if you like. If your jack is stuck and you aren't able to get the little lever on the right side when looking into the jack to unstick (which is what is making the jack think its got a plug), then you can edit the registry to disable jack-sensing and pump audio through the speakers and headphone jack simultaneously.

Instructions for this were found on this forum, but rather than hunt that down, I'll just C&P the instructions I've saved for myself:

--
Ok, assuming you are using Realtek HD Audio Driver, in regedit, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

in there are a enumerated sequence of sub-keys in my case, from 0000 to 0007.

Search for the one that has a subkey named "Settings". This key has a value named "ForceDisableJD" with a value set (probably) to "00", double click it and change to "FF"
--

Thanks to whoever posted those instructions. They returned 99% of the functionality to the laptop. Now he said you needed to reboot after making this change, but that's not entirely true. If you shut down all programs using audio (likely including your browser), you can go to Device Manager and disable the Realtek HD audio, wait for the volume icon to disappear, then enable it again, it will reinitialize the audio and pull from the changed registry settings.

If you find yourself wanting to switch, the easiest way I've found is to create a registry key for Speakers On and Speakers Off along with a link to Device Manager. Takes a minute now to do something that should be built into the driver.

I emailed realtek support twice about this. The first time asking them for any solutions they might have. The second time, a few months later, I emailed advising them I'd found a solution in modifying their drivers through the registry and suggesting they might provide a tool that had worked for someone else in enabling and disabling devices. They would not help me, telling me instead to contact Asus even after I advised them my warranty period was already up (refurb).

I suggested they offer the people with this problem a way to manually switch between devices and override the auto-jack-sensing technology, but they refused. They don't think enough people have this problem to warrant it. Just googling "realtek problem" will get you a storm of problems, but try Asus headphone jack stuck.

Anyways, if you're within your return period, you can return it and hope for the best, but from the accounts I've read, people who DID send their laptops in to have their jacks repaired eventually suffered from jacks that again failed. I remember reading that the jacks themselves were faulty.

I use my registry keys and hackery and call it a day. Damn shame Realtek's so unhelpful.

 

Since the drivers don't seem to work, have you tried Fn + F10? it will disable your speakers. try Fn + F12 it might help, I doubt it after playing around with the settings. I have a G60jx also. If this gets to be to much of a problem and you cna't fix it, just return it to best buy and do a swap, it could very well be hardware problems.

 

Hey sorry guys its been awhile. So, the laptop WILL play the start up sound, which tells me that the headphone jack has a mechanical problem. In order to fix this hardware issue, I returned the laptop and got another. Worked great, until there was another hardware failure on the part of the headphone jack, which prompted another return. The next return worked great, until the headphone jack stopped working. Holy @#$%. The sad thing is I went through five g72gx laptops, which all had various issues such as overheating, BSODS, video driver failure, etc. Then I got this model laptop, which works great, except for I've been through three of them now with headphone jack problems.

So, I know it is a mechanical failure, I have been through all my playback devices, reinstalling drivers, etc with no luck. I may have to revert to the above registry tweak (which is a great suggestion, thank you Shadow!), but I would rather have the laptop I paid $1000 for work like it should. I guess Asus might be able to fix it...

 

I'd like to thank HisDivineShadow for suggesting the registry edit semi-solution.
Like many users with realtek inside their machines I was struck with the "headphones plugged in" when they were not, disabling my speakers.

There was nothing more annoying then hearing the boot up "boom" on startup through the speakers to remind me they were still alive and well. RMA wasn't an option I was looking forward to, considering I had scene many people get repeated issues again afterwards. As with many consumers too I was more concerned getting back the speakers and disabling the headphone jack. As USB or any other option could be used for headphones/set.

To get back to the point though, after following your instructions and rebooting I was pleased to hear windows 7 jingle for once through the speakers again in their sub-par glory.

It's a shame this "fix you can live with" isn't coming up among google or other searches more as often most people are saying you can't disable the jack and the speakers are gone forever until a repair.

Anyway thanks again Shadow. If any more serious issue (IMO) ever came up with my machine I would enable the port again before sending in for repair to get it fixed along the way but personally it's no an issue for me at this point just wanted the speakers back and that's been achieved.

 

Thanks a million. This works. Just opened regedit and did some clicking according to your instructions. My laptop makes sound again! You rock.

 

Seems a fresh install would help, too

 

oh my, sweet this worked! I tried everything! I called Asus 3 times and each time all they said is we recommend that you bring in your computer for repairs... sweet!

 

Thank you "HisDivineShadow" I've been without sound for months. I read your instructions and followed everything closely, and boom it works now!! Thank you!!

 

HI!!!
I finally see a response to people interested solves this annoying problem!
I am sorry I got stuck at this point ..

"Search for the one that has a subkey named "Settings". This key has a value named "ForceDisableJD" with a value set (probably) to "00", double click it and change to "FF""

I can not find the file needs to be changed! Is there anyone that can please help me?
tnx
shachar

 

That sounds like a registry key rather than a file.

 

Thanks for the reference!
Yes I know I can not find what they mean to him .. or am I mistaken in search?

i have sub-keys from 0000 to 0010.
ill get "Settings" and then icant find the registry key there :/

tnx
shachar

 

What happens if you search for forcedisabledj ?

 

yaa i tried it before i raised the question here ..
so i thought maybe there is another registry key that can be changed in favor of solving the problem.?