[Drov]

Ibook G4 OS X latest updates.

Internal speaker option is gone. Only headphone option shows. Thus, no sound from internal speakers at all, only through headphones. Dont know what caused it - no hardware additions, or music software downloads etc.

Trying to avoid using disks to reload system for fear of not backing up completely or correctly and losing any info or files (wife's ibook!)

Is it possible to only download missing driver? The system says the sound card is Texas Instruments TAS3004.

THANKS for any help. Last post on this forum was a year ago...this ibook has been great until this.

[pat++]

Try to reset the PRAM: press command-option-P-R during startup.

[Drov]

Pat - thanks for reply - but the reset didn't do it. I tired a couple of times, holding it for 3 resets. The chime could only be heard through the headphones. When I looked in the pref. under sound, only headphones was listed as a choice for sound output.

Will keep investigating, thanks again

David

[Drov]

IBook G4 OS X

Still trying to fix the problem with the missing output / internal speaker option on wifes ibook sound preferences. She's ok with it - but it kind of drives me nuts - so I need to ask:

If the only option is "headphones" and they work fine as well as an external speaker when plugged into the jack, does the missing "internal speaker output" indicate that the computer thinks the speakers aren't attached at all? I was wondering if by going in, detaching speakers and re-attaching - or replacing part altogether that it will "find" them again and load the option back into the sound preferences. I also tried opening and closing Garage Band, making sure MIDI was set correctly, checked for mutes and volume lever shifts etc...I have been all over the internet, and through my book Max OS X The Missing Manual and can't find an approach to the problem. Tried PRAM thing, tried re-loading software packages only - from original discs and tried hardware check - which shows it passed all tests (it didn't do a sound test however??) Stopped short of reinstalling OS - even though it says it saves all your data...just dont know.

Just thought I'd ask again - more specifically to ask if the missing option is an indication that it doesn't sense the speakers are attached on the inside of unit? I can usually fix anything with a reputable guide / repair links /source.

Perhaps smack it like the guy with the display problem.
Thanks

[seanc]

It sounds like maybe the thing that says when headphones are plugged in or not is stuck and so the computer always thinks they're plugged in. Un and re plugging might unstick it.

[Drov]

Originally Posted by seanc 

It sounds like maybe the thing that says when headphones are plugged in or not is stuck and so the computer always thinks they're plugged in. Un and re plugging might unstick it.

I tried that after your post. Toothpick too - trying to trip something. Nothing changed. Even reinstalled OS X last night and sat through that with no results. The option for internal speakers just wont come back in preferences.

The last step seems to be opening the thing and seeing if a physical disconnect / reconnect of the speakers to the board will get it to remember. If not, then perhaps a new speaker assembly. I don't know what it looks like yet - I've only messed with PC'S (good results) but I am trying the simplest things first.

Is there a more complete reinstall then the one I did? I used my disc, held C button, and reinstalled with the option to save everything - I didn't back up all files and erase. Perhaps something different has to be done in order to get sound drivers to repair.

Any thoughts would be great. Thanks

[maccatakka]

Just had the same thing happen to my G5 today, and came here to find a solution. I managed to fix it by keeping open the sound control panel and jammin' and rippin' out the headphone jack til it worked... I think it's just worn out.

[skinner696]

Same thing happened to me as well; the internal speaker was going away intermittently. Finally picked up the pattern of it happening after I had used headphones. I think the previous poster was right; thing just gets worn out; i ended up sticking my heaphone jack in and ripping it out hard, and that immediately flipped it in the control panel back to internal speaker. weird, but true...and indeed, i use the headphone jack ALL THE TIME, so i'm not surprised something like this would go down...

[Dork.]

This happened to me on my old iBook G3. I don't remember doing anything in particular to fix it, just manipulating the plug in the headphone jack and unplugging it until whatever circuitry senses the insertion of the plug started doing its job properly again.

Now that I have a 12" PB G4 w/ built-in Bluetooth, it makes me wonder whether it's worthwhile to get Bluetooth headphones that don't need to be plugged in. When I use my headphones it's mostly with Civ IV, I wonder if using Bluetooth would be that taxing to an already-overtaxed laptop trying in vain to play a game it's under spec for....