Red Light coming out of headphone jack and low volume output

Question

Level 1

82 points

Red Light coming out of headphone jack and low volume output

I just installed Windows XP on my 3.06 GHz MacBook Pro @ 7200 rpm using Boot Camp and after I installed the drivers included on the Mac OS X Install DVD, The max volume I received was only at about a 3 out of 10. Adjusting the volume doesn't do anything as it just stays on the same low volume output.

I also noticed a red light coming out of the headphone jack when there is nothing plugged in

What's weird though is that when I plug in headphones, the volume actually changes when I adjust it, but once it's unplugged it goes straight back to the red light and extremely low volume

Help?

17" 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro, 15" 3.06 GHz MacBook Pro Unibody 500 GB @ 7200 rpm, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 12, 2009 2:10 PM

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Answer 1

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 3:44 PM in response to BlueX

I googled this problem and it seems to have affected earlier macbook pro models and their fix was sticking something inside the jack that fixed it

I tried it with a toothpick and my headphones but it didn't fix anything

Is anyone else experiencing this?

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Answer 2

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 4:54 PM in response to BlueX

Re-installed Boot Camp completely and still nothing

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Answer 3

carl wolf

Level 6

14,625 points

Jul 12, 2009 5:00 PM in response to BlueX

"I also noticed a red light coming out of the headphone jack when there is nothing plugged in"

You can't see the red light when something is plugged into the jack, because there's something plugged into the jack, and that blocks the red light. The red light is the optical interface.

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Answer 4

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 5:04 PM in response to carl wolf

But this red light stays on without anything in the jack

This doesn't happen on Mac OS X, just on Windows through Boot Camp

Is there any way to turn it off and fix my volume issue?

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Answer 5

Dr Sly

Level 1

145 points

Jul 12, 2009 5:14 PM in response to BlueX

howdy, this happened to me before, once.

fixed it but rapidly plugging a headphones jack in and out a few times, kinda like the problem the original iPhone had with headphone vs earphone modes not triggering properly.

basically, some sensor malfunction whereby it still thinks that input/output X is available whilst it is input/output Y is the case.

if it stays like that, have it fixed or replaced!

good luck

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Answer 6

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 5:36 PM in response to Dr Sly

I tried this before but it still won't work

The speakers work but they're just at a completely low volume

I also tried jamming a toothpick inside to turn it off which didn't work as well

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Answer 7

Travis A.

Level 6

14,985 points

Jul 12, 2009 6:04 PM in response to BlueX

I also tried jamming a toothpick inside to turn it off which didn't work as well

The toothpick is not a good idea. I would advise against doing that anymore. You stand to damage the port in ways that are not covered by your warranty.

The only way to solve this is to plug and unplug a headphone plug into the port a few times. If that doesn't cure it, then the sensor itself is malfunctioning and will have to be replaced under warranty by Apple.

--Travis

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Answer 8

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 10:03 PM in response to Travis A.

So I should bring it into an Apple Store then?

This only happens on Windows and not Mac OS X Leopard

So I'm not sure what they're gonna tell me

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Answer 9

Travis A.

Level 6

14,985 points

Jul 12, 2009 10:09 PM in response to BlueX

You're saying that the light turns off and the speakers work normally in OS X? If so, that's the very first time I've ever heard of this problem being software related, and not hardware. In every prior instance it has been related to the physical switch inside the port being stuck. Unplugging and replugging usually does the trick.

--Travis

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Answer 10

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 10:38 PM in response to Travis A.

I've tried that multiple times and still nothing

I think that there might be something wrong with the boot camp drivers

The red light issue only pops up after I install the Boot Camp drivers onto Windows and then when I restart

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Answer 11

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 12, 2009 11:41 PM in response to BlueX

I'm gonna try installing another copy of Windows on here to see if it works...

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Answer 12

Jul 13, 2009 12:40 AM in response to BlueX

download the latest high def driver from realtek R2.28. (take care to choose the right one)

you need to reboot twice to get the sound and NO redlight ...

maybe you have to install it again and deinstall the "old" manually.

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Answer 13

Jul 13, 2009 2:03 AM in response to Travis A.

it's software related; with the right driver the sound becomes ok and no more redlight.

some older mbp's need the sigmatel-driver from apple's original dvd ...

driver has to be installed manually.

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Answer 14

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 13, 2009 11:45 AM in response to Sascha H-K

I have the newest 3.06 GHz 500GB @ 7200 rpm hard drive Unibody MacBook Pro that just came out and I installed the drivers using the disc that came with it

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Answer 15

BlueX Author

Level 1

82 points

Jul 13, 2009 2:59 PM in response to BlueX

I'm going to try installing Windows 7 on this and hope it works out soon...

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