red light emitting from headphone out (spdif /digital out)

Kind of an unconventional fix, but try inserting a paperclip (unfolded) into the headphone jack with the computer off. If you circle the paper clip around the outer edge of the jack, you will feel a switch.

Toggle the switch with the paper clip, and the light will go off.

I don't know what this switch is for, or how I know the answer to this problem, or even how the switch got turned off, but I do know that it will fix the problem.

Good luck!

Andreyas,

the "red light..." is the optical audio output. It should only be emitting the red light when a digital (TOSLINK) cable is present.

The Mac is supposed to auto-detect what is plugged in to the audio output. In other words, if there's nothing connected the internal speakers should play (unless they're muted); if there's a standard mini plug/headphone jack connected the system preferences will say that and turn off the speakers; if a optical cable is attached the system should switch to that output.

The switch that Cessna_172 mentions is part of the auto-detection process. It would seem that yours is sticky. I assume your speakers aren't working because the "switch" is still detecting an optical connection. I'd be careful about sticking a paperclip in there, though.

I'd seek out an authorized service center.

Andreyas...

The red light is the data signal that is transmitted if you plug in an Optical Audio device such as surround sound speakers. I had the same problem for a short while with my 17' MBP. Sound was working fine from my built in speakers but I plugged in some earphones to listen to something that I did not want the rest of the office to hear and after pulling the hearphones out, the optical signal (red light) was being transmitted. The switch Cessna is referring to is the switch that is triggered inside the port that tells OSX that earphones/optical audio device is plugged in and to shut down power to the built in speakers. When the device is un-plugged from that port, the switch should get triggered again and power up the built in speakers and disable the optical light signal. Perhaps there is the slightest defect on the earphones you are plugging in that are preventing it from triggering the switch when the earphones are un-plugged.

Try a different sent of earphones to maybe trigger the switch if you are uncomfortable with the paper clip solution.

Yaniv

MacBook Pro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Always a pleasure to be of help.



MacBook Pro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Ah, ha! The old paperclip trick again. Very interesting. Not sure why Apple doesn't include one with the restore DVDs.

PowerBook

Worked by just twiddling a 3.5mm jack just inside the socket itself. Thank YOU!