Win 10 ver 22H2
When I turn on my laptop, the headphone output is (usually) active. So I can plug my phones in and hear. But if then unplug the headphones and plug them in again later, then the headphone out in NOT active. I have to restart, and then it is active again (usually). What the heck is going on,....please. ::)
Brian,
Wisconsin
Brian,
That sounds to me like an audio driver problem.
Go to Dell, Drivers & downloads then give them your Dell service tag.
Download & install / reinstall your audio drivers & display drivers.
While you're there you could check for any Bios updates as well.
And it would not hurt to have a nose around the Documentation tab of that Dell support section so you can download a copy of the Service manual for your model. It will guide you if you ever have to replace any components such as internal disks.
Best of luck,
Denis
Denis, I'm so sorry I just realized failed to get back to you and thank you, so...Thank you so much for your quick help.
I downloaded the new drivers and it seemed to work for a few days, but now I just noticed it's back to its old behavior. I didn't do any Bios updates, as I couldn't find how. I'll try looking again.
Brian,
Bios updates are listed in the same place as driver updates.
- You can also see them separately by changing the Operating system selection box to Bios.
- In the list underneath always click on the Release date header [twice?] so that its arrow is pointing downwards i.e. so that the latest entry is at the top.
- Dell Bios & driver Release dates are actually almost meaningless but they do succeed in letting you list the newest one first.
Do you know how to check what your Bios version is?
- One method is to run msinfo32.exe and look in the summary section for the entry Bios version/date.
As for the main problem, I assume your tests have eliminated the possibility that it is an application rather than the driver that cannot use the headphones [I have an old application that can't].
I get audio problems whenever my Dell's power lead slips partially out - distorted & out of speed sound.
I used to run through the troubleshooter but all that did was take quarter of an hour to tell me to reinstall the audio driver.
Now I just reconnect the power lead properly & reboot.
At one point, when trying to fix the problem by reinstalling drivers, I found that the headphones did not work. That was, I think, when I'd reverted to the default Windows driver instead of the Dell driver {which I'd only done out of frustration}.
Since your fix worked once, I wonder what was the event that stopped it.
It would be well worth your stating your Dell computer model in your system specs*** in case somebody who knows many Dell models can help.
*** At the top of the page - Quick links, Update system specs
Thanks for the rep,
Happy New Year,
Denis
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