iMac headphone jack nonfunctional in XP (Boot Camp)

Question

Level 1

5 points

iMac headphone jack nonfunctional in XP (Boot Camp)

I recently installed Windows XP Home SP3 on my late 2008 iMac 20". I installed the Boot Camp drivers from a recent retail Leopard DVD, Boot Camp is version 2.1. Today I discovered that the headphone jack doesn't work. I plug in headphones, and sound continues to be played through the system speakers. These same headphones in this same jack DO work as expected in Mac OS X.

I have noticed in the Realtek HD Audio Manager, when I plug the headphones into the headphone jack, the "Line In (Realtek HD Audio Input)" icon lights up instead of the headphones icon (looking at the Audio I/O tab). If the driver was confusing the line-in jack with the headphone jack, as this observation indicates, it would explain why no sound is getting to the headphones.

The only relevant KB article I could find was this one relating to the MacBook Pro: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3588 , however it seems to be addressing Windows Vista (it doesn't specify), and in any case I don't have an MBP. I cannot find any place in XP or Realtek's software to choose between internal speakers and headphones or to disable either.

I am going to try installing the latest drivers from Realtek's website, but I am curious if anyone else is experiencing this problem.

iMac 20", Windows XP

Posted on Jul 8, 2009 11:26 AM

Reply

Answer 1

atonaldenim Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 8, 2009 12:09 PM in response to atonaldenim

I can confirm that the latest Realtek drivers do not fix the problem. I unstalled the Realtek driver and software via Add/Remove Programs, rebooted, and installed the newest version. It still recognizes the headphone jack as the line-in jack, and ignores the line-in jack altogether.

The Boot Camp driver version was 5.10.0.5713, the driver I downloaded today from Realtek is 5.10.0.5874. I found the drivers here: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=24&Level=4& Conn=3&DownTypeID=3

Reply

Answer 2

bramvera

Level 1

0 points

Aug 1, 2009 7:40 PM in response to atonaldenim

is there any solution??? i have exact problem, even updating latest driver from realtek on imac 20 inch

xp sp3

help please

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 6, 2009 12:35 PM in response to atonaldenim

I'm having the same problem with vista x64 ultimate. The head phone jack just detects itself as line in and it doesn't let me change it from properties.

If I uninstall the driver Vista will install its own driver where it recognizes the head phone jack correctly, but the sound levels I can get from there are way too LOW. I'm mean I have to crack up the volume all the way and still barely hear anything.

Reply

Answer 4

NzA21

Level 1

0 points

Oct 13, 2009 6:09 PM in response to Anttimonty

Same Issue here has anyone found a way to fix this yet or no??

Reply

Answer 5

ppsaoda

Level 1

0 points

Oct 25, 2009 2:46 AM in response to atonaldenim

Exactly same problem with Mac 8.1. Anyone contacted Apple Support?

Reply

Answer 6

Oct 27, 2009 11:09 PM in response to ppsaoda

I have the same exact problem, It was so bad during Summercamp time in my labs all the kids will plug in their headphones not knowing the sound is still coming out from the internal speakers.

Any solution yet to this issue ?

Reply

Answer 7

Oct 27, 2009 11:35 PM in response to Kong, Jason

Funny, headphones work fine with me... It's the microphone on the headset that isn't being recognized. It just defaults to the built-in microphone, which isn't really what I'm looking for. Sounds like a similar issue, though. I only wish I had an answer.

Reply

Answer 8

Nov 11, 2009 2:47 PM in response to atonaldenim

I have precisely the same problem, but on an early 2008 iMac 20". I installed Windows XP SP3 using Boot Camp 3.0 under Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6). The internal speakers work fine, but no audio out. The line-in lights up when I plug into the audio out, as atonaldenim described. I have since found no solution.

Strange, because I previously installed SP3 before upgrading to Snow Leopard and the audio out worked fine...

Would love any assistance here.

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 15, 2009 6:45 PM in response to myalternatelife

I am having the EXACT same problem on my Early 2008 iMac 20" in Windows 7. Latest RealTek drivers, they think it's line in when it's speaker out! Help!

Reply

Answer 10

Nov 16, 2009 11:46 AM in response to atonaldenim

Hi guys, I had the same problem and I fixes it today. I am working on a brand new Imac with Mac OS 10.6.1 and XP (SP3).
What I did? In System/Hardware/devices I disabled the ATI Functional driver for High Definition Audio.
It seems that there were more drives active (also the Cirrus Logic High Definition Audio).
After restart there was noise, loud and clear.
Succes with it.
Appeltjesvanpaul

Reply

Answer 11

Nov 22, 2009 1:02 PM in response to appeltjesvanpaul

Im not sure what you mean by "i went to /System/Hardware/devices" can you elaborate on that? is this in Windows? I'm running Vista atm

Reply

Answer 12

Pedro

Level 2

460 points

Nov 22, 2009 1:11 PM in response to unix.punkx

Do a search for Device Manager. There is a Device Manager in all versions of Windows. You can see and manage all your drivers there.

Reply

Answer 13

Nov 22, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Pedro

I saw in Device Manager im just not sure what exactly to disable?

Reply

Answer 14

Pedro

Level 2

460 points

Nov 22, 2009 1:27 PM in response to unix.punkx

I am unfamiliar with your Mac or Vista. However...

You may have a driver conflict. Enable only one at a time. Re-enable a driver after disabling others. You may need to restart between these actions. If you want, remove drivers that obviously do nothing but disabling is sufficient.

Try a USB headphone set. Windows finds a different kind of driver for USB items.

Reply

Answer 15

Jan 6, 2010 4:01 PM in response to DackAttac

DackAttac - you may have discovered this by now but your problem is that Macs don't come with microphone jacks. The line-in jack is different and doesn't provide power for a microphone, so when you plug in a headset microphone into the line-in jack it is either silent or very very quiet.

Unfortunately you either have to use a USB sound card, such as the Griffin iMic, that has a real microphone jack, or use a headset with a USB plug instead of stereo jacks.

But that issue is basically separate from the original thread.

Cheers,
Daniel

Reply