Fuggin' speakers >.< *Help Needed*

Well, not too long ago the speakers on my computer fucked up, so I just said "Oh well" and didn't bother with getting some new ones, but today I found some headphones, and I know for a fact that the headphones work, and I plugged them into the speaker plug thing on the back that's right under the mouse and keyboard things and attempted to play my music, but I heard nothing. So then I went into the control panel and checked the system volume, it's all the way up, and I'm really not sure what esle it might be. My grandpa said it might be the soundcard...and I'm computer stupid so I don't even know what that means...any help would be appreciated.

 

Your grandpa is teh 1337

And he's probably right, too. Headphones should work just like regular speakers, as far as I know. A cheap sound card costs $10 or so.

 

We've got a spare computer that just kind of sits there and doesn't get used, is there any way I could take the soundcard out of that and put it in this one?

 

Depends on how old it is. Assuming that your current computer is fairly new, you'd want a PCI card.

 

Nah, the one I've got now is REAAALLY old...I don't even know what kind it is, the little sticker thing that's on there peeled off, and I'm not sure why but my grandpa took the side off...it's kinda weird because I can see inside the comp...The other comp we got from a garage sale, and I used to listen to music on it alot, but then the power button on it fucked up...not sure how, but it did...Oh well, I'll probably just end up buying a new soundcard or somethin'

 

Well, if it's "REAAALLY" old, in all-caps, it might not even have PCI slots.

 

I dunno guys. It sounds like the MALE 1/8 connector on the speakers. $1.99 at ANY "Radio Shack".
That's the FIRST thing I would check. (Continuity)

 

Then how do you explain the headphones not working?

I just thought of a test you could do. Take your old speakers, and connect them to a CD player or anything else where you can connect headphones. If they work, you know it's the soundcard's fault.

 

Thanks both you guys...I really don't know what the thing is that MattInVegas is talking about...but yeah....and what's a PCI slot? What would it have isntead of that? OH well, I guess I'll try what you suggested with the speakers, and if it turns out that they work and it's just the soundcard...then I guess I'll just go buy a new one or something.

 

This is a picture of a modern motherboard with four visible PCI slots. One of them is occupied by a network card.



This is a PCI soundcard.

 

Wait...my speaker thingy is right under the thing where you plug in the mouse and keyboard...*sigh* Sorry if I don't follow you too well, but I'm kind of slow when it comes to stuff like this...

 

Well, the location really doesn't matter since all computers are designed differently. What matters is what the slot the card plugs into looks like.

 

you may be using on-board sound instead of a sound card. The port that the speakers plug into, is it connected onto the motherboard itself (the first pic syntax provided) or does it connect into a card like the second pic syntax provided, which is itself inserted into a slot on the motherboard.

 

It looks sort of like the picture that Syntax posted.

 

Thats a PCI card. Like Syntax said. Sounds like it's FRIED. Almost a Dime a dozen these days.

 

Alright, do they sell them at radioshack or something? or could I just go up to wal-mart and get one? Thanks for the help by the way...

 

Walmart is possible. If there is a "Bestbuy" store in your area, that would be your best place. Radio Shack doesn't sell things like this. Also, check out your local second hand stores. Sometimes they get parts like that.

 

Alright, thanks.