Mac users, i need help.

[patrick t. cakes]

anyone ever experience a red light coming out of their speaker input?

when the speakers or headphones are unplugged the volume doesnt work and the red light appearers.

plugged in the speakers work fine. what gives?

[Deep13]

1. That's a common problem.

The usual work-around is to plug in the speakers. If that doesn't work, check to make sure you didn't forget to plug in your speakers. That ought to solve the problem.

I had a similar problem with a printer that I neglected to take out of the box and install.

[patrick t. cakes]

6. thanks, ive tried but nothin doin

[BlueIris]

2. We have an excellent Mac Users forum here. They have helped me many a night.

Just sayin'.

[Call Me Wesley]

4. Uhm, I think

it's better the OP doesn't post that there ... Read the OP again. ;)

[BlueIris]

5. Oh. Sorry, my brain is fried.

...egh.

[patrick t. cakes]

7. thanks, link?

[Call Me Wesley]

3. Get a PC.

Problem fixed.

[Chan790]

8. No way, man...

we don't want them either.

p.t.cakes, the reason the light comes on is because you have no sound output device plugged-in...it's a warning light. The reason there is no sound coming from the speakers is because they're not plugged-in.

[Call Me Wesley]

9. Sounds reasonable.

There's usually no sound if no sound-device is plugged in. I know, it's like 'whaaat?' But it's the way the cookie crumbles ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt9j80Jkc_A

[targetpractice]

13. It's not a warning light... It's the optical audio (TOSLink) signal.

New Macs have audio/input jacks that are both analog and digital optical.

For some reason, the OP's Mac thinks an optical cable is plugged in and has shut the sound to the internal speakers (that's why the volume doesn't work when speakers are not plugged in).

It's possible that audio port is damaged or stuck... there is a tiny latch inside that switch TOSLink signal (the red light) on.

[Call Me Wesley]

15. Maybe I'm really reading the OP wrong.

If he speaks about the internal speakers not working, this makes sense, and I apologize.

[patrick t. cakes]

16. thanks ill try this out

[targetpractice]

10. The red light is the optical audio signal

New Macs have audio ports that are both analog and optical digital (toslink).

It seems like your Mac thinks speakers are plugged in.

Got to System Preferences... Sound and make sure the built-in audio is highlighted.

If not, it could be a hardware issue...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3255575

[Brother Buzz]

11. Just slap a chunk of electrical tape over it and 'Wah la" problem solved

I do it all the time on my auto dashboard when pesky warning lights keep turning on.

[deucemagnet]

12. Have you tried turning it off then turning it on again?

[Call Me Wesley]

14. Heh heh!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9112692&mesg_id=9113008