MBP audio no longer plays from my speakers...Optical light stays on

I was getting frustrated with the toothpicks and all the plugging in-and-out of audio jacks, for nothing seemed to work.

I did get the toothpick to work, finally - Thank you! - when I went and depressed each contact one by one. The one that didn't look suspect, when lightly depressed, had me listening to Eva Cassidy in a split second of empyrean.

Thanks everyone here! I have been delivered from...

the
Red Light Of Death!

I started seeing the led of doom last week, but turned it off via the toothpick trick. So for fun, i opened up the MBP, which since it's out of Applecare either way any actual repairs were coming out of my pocket.

In the case of my MBP, bought the week they were physically available, what i found was a slightly worn contact that tells the machine if the optical output is being used.

Maybe a bit much for a lot of people, but my permanent fix (so far 8 days) was to gently lift the contact. everything is now back to the way it was.

And while I think the combo analog/optical output is over engineering at it's finest, this was the biggest issue I have had. Not to shabby for a first gen of an entire new product line.

It still is more reliable than any other computer I have owned with maybe the only exception being my NeXT Station color back when ol' Steve was building them.

But it's almost sad that with all the technology in the MBP a wooden stick is adequate to make a repair. Ah, the future.

I also had trouble with my internal speakers after playing music to my friend's stereo.

-When computer turns on, I can hear the computer start
-After the computer is on, speakers won't work
-Red light was on when playing iTunes, QuickTime Player, etc.
-Headphones work when plugged in
(The computer thinks that headphones / or other external jacks are in, even though nothing connected)

I went to the nearest Apple Retail Store for an appointment, and this is what I observed:
Step 1: Turn off computer, then turn it back on.
Step 2: After you hear the computer turn on, immediately press (option command+RP)
Step 3: After pressing all the keys, you will hear the computer start up twice, LET GO.
Result: The computer started, then speakers worked properly.

Note: If that doesn't work press (control command+RP)

What I learned from this:
-Buy an AirPort for you stereo
-Make a Playlist for your iPod to connect to the stereo so that you can forget about it
-Never connect my MacBook to someone else's speakers
-Must have: 3 year AppleCare
-Call the AppleCare 1-800 number, so that you don't have to drive 50 miles to the nearest AppleStore
-Be NICE to the Apple Store employee (Even though they are arrogant and snoody, it's not your fault their life *****!)

Hope this helps! Good luck!

This happened to me too. Here's how I fixed it. I found out that it's because of a dodgy stereo jack that I used. I read that someone tried to poke it with a metal object. I thought that was too risky. So, I got my iPod earphones, inserted it in and out of the output. By the way, I also clicked the volume icon on the menu bar just to let me know if I have fixed it (the volume slider was grayed out but will turn blue when the problem is fixed.)

Daniel, you said you opened up your macbook and were able to lift the contact from there? I've had mine open trying to do this in the past and was unable to find the contact. If I were able to send you a photo of mine, would you be able to point out the contact area that I can lift?

gracias!

-Lloyd

Mine, the switch is at 3 o'clock. Its inside a bit more than the front switch... a soft pressure on it with a hair pin works wonderful...

Same problem, none of the solutions worked. Thankfully I am still covered under Apple Care. The phone support tech from Apple seemed to be very familiar with this problem. He said that it was a small spring that sometimes get stuck or even broken. I'm shipping mine in to have it repaired.

the toothpick method didnt work for me.... but using my headphones i rapidly inserted and removed in succession 10-15 times and the light went away. i agree with someone else in the post... i think its a dirt interference issue.

Had the same problem today for the first time. I am using this MacBook for over 1.5 years now.

Putting a headphone in and out rapidly solved the problem. Thanks for all the suggestions here!

Alrighty, I'm also getting this **** red light, I've put a toothpick into the macbook pro and managed to turn it off, but even when it is off, I still get this:
http://www.grabup.com/uploads/21426ace7e10ed8afd8284fac0c86b7d.png
Anyone got any suggestions?

Nevermind, I got the speakers working by putting my headphones in and out a lot and poking a toothpick (gently) in the port and the red light went out.

I tried a match and paper clip, but no luck.

RDDR's trick of rapidly inserting and removing a headphone jack worked perfectly, though.

Thanks for the tip!

I have tried going to the utilties and messing with the output and still my internet audio is not working... itunes works fine but nothing on the internet?
I was watching some youtube stuff on my TV thru my macbook pro and then all of a sudden- no audio... anyone?

Add me to the list. Mine's gone cactus too.
Hello AppleCare.

I got a bit concerned about this myself. Tried restarting a few times, did nothing. Then I took a paperclip and poked it around the earphone jack, all around the inside to no avail. But after I started to get mad and figure hey, if something breaks, I'm already gonna have to bring it into the apple store and be without my computer for at least 5 days (that's the worst part about it since I need it to do work and schoolwork) so I got a bit more aggressive and poked it in farther, I think I was nearer the bottom of the hole wand back pretty far when the light finally flickered off and the sound returned. Good. better not happen again. freakin' annoying.