Hi - I thought this would be an easy task, but just can’t seem to work it out. I have a laptop w/ windows xp. If I listen to anything at all on it, I do so through headphones.
How do I disable the PC speakers so that no sound comes through, whether headphones are plugged in or not, all the while keeping the headphone jack functioning as normal??
What kind of laptop?
On my HP I just plug in the jack and the speakers stop turn off…
Same on my Gateway.
You could just cut the plug off of an old pair of headphones, and plug that into the jack as a way of turning off the speakers.
Oh, I understand the question now. Sorry.
gotPasswords - It is a Toshiba Satellite, not sure of the exact model # but definitely older, probably about 2.5-3 years.
Mine too, but the point is I want the speakers off whether the headphone jack is in or out.
You don’t. The headphone jack physically switches the speaker outputs to the headphones. There aren’t separate speaker and headphone outputs to be able to turn one off and leave the other on. At best, you could make a hotkey to enable the sound when you wanted to listen to the headphones.
ETA: Of course, hitting the mute checkbox on the system tray volume control is pretty freaking easy, too.
I’m guessing that there is no external mute button, as there is on my laptop.
Let me see if I get what you’re asking here. You want the headphone jack to be fully functional at all times and in all conditions, and the external speakers to only function when you tell them to. Right?
I doubt that there is a software setting that will allow you to just disable the external speakers without also affecting the functionality of the headphone jack.
The closest thing I can think of to a solution will definitely work, but requires you to swith the plug out when you want to use it. As mentioned above, you can keep the headphones plugged in, or just use an adapter or old plug from an old set to effectively “mute” the external speakers. If you want to use the jack, either put on the headphones if you’re using those to mute the speakers, or remove the “silencer” adapter or plug, and then plug in the headphones.
See here.
Thanks for all the replies - I’ve seen the macguyver fix and already have a mute button, and none of those are exactly what I’m looking for.
What I’m trying to avoid are situations where youtube/music is playing full bore and then for whatever reason the headphone cord gets accidently pulled. Suddenly the audio is blaring through the speakers and everyone in the airplane/bus/room next door can hear. Mute or silencers don’t really cut it.
I’m not into cutting wires directly, so I guess i have to live with it. Thanks anyway!
Ah, accidental Porn audio.
I think that there is no solution. As far as what you are hoping for that is.
Next time, don’t beat around the bush!
You can easily say “I watch porn”.
How do I make it less likely that when my headphones come out, that loud porno noises won’t be heard by all?
Easy as that.
We won’t judge you, and you’re likely to get a better answer. There are far more disgusting people on here than you. They have good advice though.
Buy this guy a beer!
Obviously loud PBS/NPR news shows, as well as streaming Christian radio feeds will…
Dude. Come on.
You are NOT concerned with people hearing your latest Avril Lavigne download at full volume, you’re concerned with them hearing something…um…pornographic.
Dude, we’ve been there. We hid it, and you can as well.
Our hints may make your life better. Who knows?
Crack the case; cut wire to speaker.
Or find speaker from outside, poke many, many times with sharp object.
Have a Velcro patch on the bottom of the laptop and then loop the headphone wire under and fasten it on. That way a small jerk (caused with directing gospel music, I’m sure) won’t pull it out. (Presuming that it hasn’t been pulled out yet.)
Genius. 
No need for insults TP. 
As far as the OP goes, NEVER listen to porn on the external speakers. Not even when your roommie is away. Headphones are a blessing to the modern day porn watcher, people use to have to watch them in silence. Audible porn will almost always get you caught whacking it on tape. Any resourceful roommate can and will set a person up for an embarrassing moment. Don’t let it be you, and please don’t let it be you jerking it.
Keep an 1/8" plug (the kind that fits in your laptops headphone jack) in the jack at all times. Either there’s a dummy plug (per my previous reference) or there are headphones in the slot.
Hehe. See here for a better explanation.
Take a tube of silicon or chewing gum and fill in all the holes. You might get some sound leak through still, but it would be a start.
Hello. I’m Knead, and I watch porn.
Hey, that was pretty easy.