Static from speaker on startup

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Level 1

5 points

Static from speaker on startup

I have an iBook that I recently replaced the hard drive in. Everything works fine now except I have static coming out of the speakers on startup, and anything that requires the speakers to activate, especially the right one. The sound is fine when using headphones. The one thing I have noticed is when the computer is idle and I plug in the power cord the static from the speakers starts up and the volume control does not have any effect. Before I take this apart to see if there is a ground or a wire out of place does anybody have any ideas?

iBook G4 800 MHZ Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 28, 2006 6:03 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 28, 2006 6:33 PM in response to macmaine

Hi, and welcome to Apple Discussions.

You could try resetting the PRAM, which stores the speaker volume setting.

My guess would be that you are on the right track with the idea that something is amiss with the wiring, though.

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Answer 2

--JB--

Level 5

4,087 points

Apr 28, 2006 8:09 PM in response to macmaine

Hi Macmaine,

Welcome to Apple Discussions

I don't suggest opening it up, it may be the "60hz hum". Is it coming from the speakers or the charger because the charge does make a rather unusual sound sometimes. You may also want to look at Knowledge Base Document #86655 on Solutions for noise in the audio signal.

Jon

Mac Mini 1.42Ghz, iPod (All) , Airport (Graphite & Express), G4 1.33Ghz iBook , G4 iMac 1Ghz, G3 500Mhz, iBook iMac 233Mhz, eMate, Power Mac 5400 LC, PowerBook 540c, Macintosh 128K, Apple //e, Apple //, and some more... Mac OS X (10.4.5) Moto Razr, iLife '06, SmartDisk 160Gb, Apple BT Mouse, Sight..

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Answer 3

macmaine Author

Level 1

5 points

May 14, 2006 2:50 PM in response to macmaine

I have an iBook that I recently replaced the hard
drive in. Everything works fine now except I have
static coming out of the speakers on startup, and
anything that requires the speakers to activate,
especially the right one. The sound is fine when
using headphones. The one thing I have noticed is
when the computer is idle and I plug in the power
cord the static from the speakers starts up and the
volume control does not have any effect. Before I
take this apart to see if there is a ground or a wire
out of place does anybody have any
ideas?

iBook G4 800 MHZ
Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Greetings
I ended up taking the iBook apart and discovered that while lowering the top case and connecting the three plug-ins the speaker wire moved slightly and the insulation on the wire got pinched and exposed the copper wire. This must have picked up static from the internals and caused the problem. I teased the two wires to the right speaker apart and wrapped them. I then put a small piece of Kapton tape to hold the wire in place when lowering the top case. Everything is now working great and my son is happy. Thanks for the ideas.
Roger

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