Hi, I cant get any sound, not even from ¡tunes.when I go to check the sound in system preferences, for some reason output volume is checked (the mute box) I can not uncheck it, it will not let me. It also says no sound output devices found.any suggestion?

Hi

If you look inside the headphone socket on the side of the MacBook, can you see a red light?

Bob

Hi

I thought the microswitch inside the socket might be stuck, but with no red light that's unlikely.

Can you run Applications/Utilities/Audio Midi Setup. You should see entries for Built in Mike, Built in Input, and Built in Output. Select Built in Output, set the source to Internal Speakers, Format 44100.0, 2ch-16 bit

Does that help?

Bob

Hi alissa

Your system seems to have forgotten about its audio devices. I'm not 100% sure this will fix it, but here goes:

Start Applications/Utilities/Terminal, then enter the following commands (press return after each one):

cd /Library/Preferences/Audio

sudo mv com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist DeviceSettings.xxxx

Password: (put your password here)

sudo mv com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist SystemSettings.xxxx

You should NOT get any error messages when you enter these commands - if you do then the commands haven't worked.

When you've entered the commands, immediately reboot.

Keep fingers crossed that the sound now works!

Bob

Hi Alissa

It's not immediately obvious, but in my previous postings, everything from the sudo to the xxxx is all on ONE line!

It won't work if you split each command into two.

Bob

Hi Alissa

Ok, I think I didn't spell out what to do in enough detail. The problem is that this stupid Apple forum scrunches up messages so data that should be on a single line gets split into two or more lines! Awful.

Anyway, here's what to do:

First, start Applications/Utilities/Terminal

Now highlight the following line, use cmd-C to copy and cmd-V to paste it into the terminal window. It should be a single line:

cd /Library/Preferences/Audio

Now press return - you shouldn't get any error messages

Now copy and paste the following line and press return, again it should all be on ONE line:

sudo mv com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist DeviceSettings.xxx

It will also ask for your password, type it in.

I don't expect you to get any error messages, but if you get an error message saying com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist not found that's ok. If you get ANY OTHER error message, cut it out of the Terminal window and report it back to me.

Finally, cut and paste the following line:

sudo mv com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist SystemSettings.xxx

Once again the same rules about error messages apply.

--

What these commands are doing is renaming two Apple preference files so that the system no longer recognises them. You can double check they've worked ok by pointer a Finder window at the folder Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/Audio

Now shutdown and restart the computer.

Cheers

Bob

Hi Alissa

Now reboot the computer.

When it's back up, type these commands into Terminal

cd /Library/Preferences/Audio

ls -al

(The last one is lower case LS space minus AL with no space between the minus and the AL)

Cut and paste the results to me, please

Bob

PS: No I don't think the HD has a problem, but you can check it's ok by running Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility, selecting your hard disk then running Repair Disk Permissions followed by Verify Disk. The repair permissions might flag up a few errors (but it will fix them anyway). The Verify Disk should not find any errors at al - let me know if it does.

Hi Alissa

Don't panic! Because we're doing this by email rather than face to face it's going to take longer. Keep the faith that all will be well!

--

I'd now like you to use the Finder to go to:

Your User Name / Library / Preferences

Now trash the file named com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist

Now run Applications/Utilities/Audio Midi Setup again

From the Window menu select Show Audio Window

See if you can now select Built in Output using Internal Speakers.

If that still doesn't succeed then (once again!) reboot the system and try Audio Midi Setup again.

Let me know how you get on

Bob

Hi Alissa

I was holding this suggestion in reserve in the hope you wouldn't need it. Alas, I can see no other option but to suggest you re-install OS X. You should have the necessary CDs already - they were supplied with the computer.

Before you start, make sure you have a backup copy of ALL your files. With any luck you'll never need to use the backup, but if you don't have it then Murphy's Law says that you'll lose all your files, a meteorite will crash through the roof, and the whole northern hemisphere will vanish in a cloud of dust.

You do NOT need to do a "Clean Install" or "Erase and Install" or "Archive and Install" or any of the other options you might find on the web. Also, you do NOT need to reformat or zero the disk (this will cause complete loss of data). Just put the installer disk into your computer and answer the questions. This should overwrite OS X with a correct version whilst leaving your applications and other files intact. The whole process shouldn't take more than 1 hour.

Good luck

Bob