No sound after using headphones

I went without a speaker for more than a year believing that it must be mechanical, since I'd used an Apple connector with its longer jack on my Dell computer and when I removed the cord my speakers no longer functioned.  I tried muting and un-muting the audio many times; I tried plugging and unplugging the offending cord many times; I tried using other headphones and audio cables; then I resigned myself to only using headphones.  

The answer for me was as simple as clicking the speaker icon on the tool bar.  Clicking the "advanced" button.  Which opened the "Advanced Controls for Volume" menu.  Then un-checking the box that said, "1 PC Spk Mute" under "Other Controls."  I wouldn't have tried this except for the first answer in this forum lead me to believe that it could be software.  Thank you.

So YES, some computers DO have a software control that turns the speakers off while allowing the headphones to still function.  

Hi,

Unplug the headphones - Right Click the little speaker on lower right next to clock -
PlayBack Devices - right click inside the blank/white box - check both boxes Show
Disabled and Show Disconnected - highlight the Speaker - Properties - Device
Usage - Use this Device - check the other tabs as needed.

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.