PC - Sound doesn't play out of left speaker

[Coolio]

So, on my computer, no sounds out of the left side of my speakers or headphones play. My speakers (and multiple pairs of headphones) work fine. I've tried the TV and another computer with headphones, and they work fine. My sound drivers are Realtek AC97 + K-Lite Codec package.

So, if you need more info, just ask and I will tell you. Does anyone have a solution?

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[brickybob]

Sound card might be loose.

[Coolio]

Sound card might be loose.

How can I check to make sure? I don't want to mess anything up.

[Fredulus]

i don't think you have an actual sound CARD (i just googled realtek ac-97 and it looked that way), you just have an integrated chip. in that case i'm not really sure, i guess it's just failing. you could just buy a cheap sound card and plug it in, provided you have a pci slot free, and that should fix the problem. however there might be a better solution since i dont know much about audio stuff.

edit: installing a new card would be really easy to do. just wait for someone that knows more about this to tell you if its really necessary :P theres quite a few people on this forum that could explain how to do it, or just google some guides.

[Gamefandan]

Make sure that your cell phone or anything else similar is away from your speakers.

[Coolio]

Oh, and I don't know if it matters, but if I plug in my speakers or headphones or whatever in halfway, they work completely, but if I put them in all the way, then the left side doesn't work.

i don't think you have an actual sound CARD (i just googled realtek ac-97 and it looked that way), you just have an integrated chip. in that case i'm not really sure, i guess it's just failing. you could just buy a cheap sound card and plug it in, provided you have a pci slot free, and that should fix the problem. however there might be a better solution since i dont know much about audio stuff.

(Integrated? Gee, basically everything in my computer is integrated. D:)

It was working about till 2 summers ago, when I came home and it was moved. So, I don't know if it got knocked loose or something.

Make sure that your cell phone or anything else similar is away from your speakers.

There isn't anything.

[Fredulus]

hmm it sounds like there's something wrong with the port and not the actual chip or anything. i still don't know how to solve it though.

OH! i just realized this happened with my old ipod touch, too. only the right (i think) speaker/headphone would work. if i adjusted the cord/plug just right it would work, but it got progressively harder to fix.

[Coolio]

if i adjusted the cord/plug just right it would work, but it got progressively harder to fix.

It's not the cord, it's the hardware or something else.

[Fredulus]

It's not the cord, it's the hardware or something else.

yes i know. it wasnt the cord that was the problem then either, but moving it around would sometimes get both speakers to work. i assume because it moved the jack around in the plug a little and contacted just right or something. they both worked fine when plugged into other things.

[Coolio]

yes i know. it wasnt the cord that was the problem then either, but moving it around would sometimes get both speakers to work. i assume because it moved the jack around in the plug a little and contacted just right or something. they both worked fine when plugged into other things.

So, should I try moving the jack around?

[Miga]

I'm wanting to say it's a hardware issue, most likely with the jack. If you plug/unplug things from it often enough, it can start to wear down. That, or the part that sends audio to the left side got desoldered somehow.

[Fredulus]

its really just a short term fix. im no audio expert so i cant really help you diagnose what the problem is, hopefully someone else can.

however, in case you're interested, here's some sound cards on newegg, ordered by least expensive: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=57&Tpk=sound%20card&Order=PRICE