How to disconnect internal speakers when using external speakers

Question

I have the dimension M90 and use a docking station. There is a line out / headphone jack on the docking station When I use this jack for the external speakers it works fine but the internal speakers are still playing. This is annoying when I only want sound from the good speakers.   If I plug the external speakers into the jack on the laptop the internal speakers are automatically disconnected. But I want to use the jack on the docking station.   How can I disconnect the internal speakers and still have sound for my external ones?   Thanks

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,   As it is the socket in the computer that will disconnect the internal speakers, the fix is simple. Buy a plug [ plug only, no lead ] the same as the audio out lead, and plug it in. It should be a 3.5mm stereo.                                                                              Regards Chris

SudeshN · Answer

Hi,   as AussieChris told there is no way u can disconnect the internal speakers,The only way to disconnect is use a dummy Headphone Jack into the notebook Audio Out jack. This will disconnect the internal speakers OFF.

Rollie_R · Answer

All,

Under Control Panel, System, Hardware Profiles, Properties, General, there is a checkbox that says "This is a portable computer". When you check that, you get 3 radio buttons underneath it. You should be able to get sound using either "The computer is docked" or "The docking state is unknown". Also make sure that the setting for using the APR speaker is checked as well. It is accessed by double-clicking the volume icon in the lower right-hand tray, click on the 'options' menu in the Master Volume window and click on 'Advanced Controls'. An 'advanced' button will appear near the bottom left corner, click on it. Near the bottom of the next window that opens is a check box stating 'Use Docking Speaker'.

That should fix the problem for you.

Edit: Those are old instructions for Windows 98. In XP, go to the System Properties, then the Hardware Tab, and the Hardware Profiles button. Should be the same after that.

Message Edited by DELL-Rollie on 05-14-2007 10:30 AM

Many thanks to your description! It's very detailed.

Peter_Pan_7 · Answer

Hi,

I do know it's a quite old post but I was facing sounds issues when my laptop was docked. So my feedback could help.

In my case, I never got a problem to have sound cut from laptop speakers anytime I plug a jack in the port replicator. I am running XP SP3 on a old Latitude D510 and Dell NSS version is A28. Maybe this could have been fixed since 2007 with an update of this Dell Notebook System Software. So I do not think this is hardware-controlled as this has been mentioned before.

Furthermore, when docked, Master Volume dialog box does not offer any option for 'Use Docking Speaker'. I only get two options in "Advanced settings" panel: "PC HP mute" and "Activate SPDIF". I don't know if all this is specific to Inspirion series or if control options have changed over time.

Cheers from France

Jim Coates · Answer

I don't know about the Dell Dock, but in the old Kensington dock you had to select 'usb audio' as the default audio device. If one failed to do that then audio would continue through the laptop's speakers while docked.

Chrissie.Allan · Answer

All,

Under Control Panel, System, Hardware Profiles, Properties, General, there is a checkbox that says "This is a portable computer". When you check that, you get 3 radio buttons underneath it. You should be able to get sound using either "The computer is docked" or "The docking state is unknown". Also make sure that the setting for using the APR speaker is checked as well. It is accessed by double-clicking the volume icon in the lower right-hand tray, click on the 'options' menu in the Master Volume window and click on 'Advanced Controls'. An 'advanced' button will appear near the bottom left corner, click on it. Near the bottom of the next window that opens is a check box stating 'Use Docking Speaker'.

That should fix the problem for you.

Edit: Those are old instructions for Windows 98. In XP, go to the System Properties, then the Hardware Tab, and the Hardware Profiles button. Should be the same after that.

Message Edited by DELL-Rollie on 05-14-2007 10:30 AM

Many thanks to your description! It's very detailed.

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How to disconnect internal speakers when using external speakers

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