Well I screwed Up (PC Help)

1540 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by ADJAquariums, May 16, 2014

ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · May 7, 2014

Well today while watching a movie on Netfilx, i got up to go get something to eat, and coming back i accidentally sit myself on the headphone jack that is plugged into my laptop. Well long story short i find out i broke off the jack in my computer... I've tried putting super glue on the broken part of the headphones and plugging it back in, hoping the glue would stick to the jack and pull it out... But that isnt working. I think i'm just getting it more stuck. What is my best bet? should i take it to a tech guy and have him fix it? or should i keep trying the superglue method. I've got LOTS of glue

Any ideas on what i can due? its a somewhat old laptop but it works and well, i like it a lot. Its an HP pavilion g4 is that helps at all.

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jmowbray

· #2 · May 7, 2014

I have never seen a broken head phone jack before. Are they hollow inside or solid?

ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 7, 2014

I'm referring to the part that enters the Computer, and its a solid piece of metal with a knob on top, i've tried getting at it but i cant

smoq

· #4 · May 7, 2014

If you have a hot glue gun, try that instead of cyanoacrylate. Some 3.5mm sockets can be accesed from the back so you could push the jack out. But that would mean taking laptop apart...

wdgiles

· #5 · May 7, 2014

get a plastic coffee stir stick (the straw kind with the hollow center) and shove it onto the broken plug until it surrounds the connector, rotate it and pull it out. It might just get enough grip to get it out just enough where you can use pliers or the sharp edge of a kitchen knife to grab it.

ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 7, 2014

Thanks for the advice, i'll try the Coffe stirr stick first, im going to go pick up some needle nose pliers to grab the little knob that is there. I would definatley take apart the computer if i could find the way to, im not bad with taking them apart and re-assembling them, its just a matter of figuring out how to get the hard plastic shell off the back of the laptop. Im almost tempted to try and break the case and repair it using all the super glue i just bought to try and get it out

deeda

· #7 · May 7, 2014

Have you tried using a magnet to extract the broken jack?

ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 7, 2014

I'm rather hesitant to use a magnet, Especially at this point when there is more than likely some glue holding it into place.

infinity8x3

· #9 · May 7, 2014

Smart to be hesitant.

Get to big a magnet, to close to that hard drive, and kiss it goodbye.

Silly putty is what I use for situations like this. But it may be to late for that if it is in fact super glued in now.

MamaJu

· #10 · May 7, 2014

My husband is the tech guy and says that you need to take the computer apart. If you stick anything in there you might run the chance of damaging the motherboard. He says that if you are lucky you only broke a joint where you can solder together??? otherwise you might need to get another motherboard... they only thing I could make out is you have to take the computer apart and not to stick anything into the hole to try to pry the broke piece out. Hope that helps.

OVT

· #11 · May 7, 2014

Your best bet is to buy an USB headset.

Phone jacks are soldered to the motherboard and the connections are not that strong. Unless you are really good with a soldering gun, leave the laptop alone.

If you have never taken that laptop apart leave it alone (the back and the side plastic panels are screwed to the frame from inside. With most laptops, you un-snap the facia above the keyboard, then extract the keyboard .. Takes an hour+ and around 170 screws one way with experience and the right tools).

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TekWarren

· #12 · May 7, 2014

I've taken many a laptop apart in my days, we maintain a fleet of several hundred where I work (also in IT here). Once you have done that many you can do it in your sleep and most now days don't have as many screws in them...I wish they did, mostly cheap plastic clips now.

Anyway...even if you take it apart no guarantee you could remove the broken post as the jack won't necessarily be open on the inside to where you could push it out. Your going to need some strong glue and something pretty solid to to pull it out as there is tension in the jack to hold the post in when you plug it in. You could try tweezers or something like that. I extracted a small piece of hard rubber crammed into a headphone jack earlier this week with tweezers...but a headphone post isn't something you can grab on to as easily.

The USB headphone suggestion was a good one, you may need to go into your audio settings and set the USB headphone as default as some OS's will detect the headphone jack plugged in and assume you want that as the audio output.

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ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 8, 2014

I'm going to bring it to one of the Tech guys at my school and see if they would even be willing to try and fix it, if that doesn't work i might just go the route of a USB Headset. Still amazing that that little plug broke off inside. I didn't think i was that heavy :confused1: I was careful not to push it in farther or really jostle it, so i don't think i did anything to the motherboard.

I'm definatly going to be looking into a USB headset now... Do they make any good one's? My extent of shopping for USB headsets are Radio Shack :hihi: I mostly want something for listening to music, i have a built in mic for skype and such.

I'm still amazed i can come here with all sorts of questions and receive answers

Of course computers aren't something that unreasonable im just glad that i can come here with all sorts problems and receive assistance. Thank you to everyone

gatorsmashed

· #14 · May 8, 2014

Being an audiophile myself I would suggest a couple different options other than going to a USB headset. While there are many USB headsets they generally are not up to par with standard jack headphones.

One option would be a simple USB to female 3.5mm headphone jack.

http://www.amazon.com/Duragadget%C2%AE-headphone-headphones-mobile-phones/dp/B002ISHRPI

To go even a step further I would truly recommend an amplifier. This would allow you to plug into the amplifier with a regular headphone jack then USB from the amp to the computer. Most higher end headphones will perform much better when driven with an amplifier, truly the best purchase I ever made for my Sennheiser 598s.

http://www.amazon.com/Syba-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier-SD-DAC63057/dp/B009WN7QT4/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1399534514&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+headphone+amplifier

Just my opinion. I've went trough A LOT of headphones in my years. Mostly cheaper ones at first then realized it is truly worth it to invest in a quality pair of headphones that will last a long time and sound SO MUCH better. Be wary of headphones promoted by celebrities and ones marketed as "Gaming" headsets. These endorsements alone drive up the price without the quality increasing proportionally.

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ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 8, 2014

gatorsmashed said:
To go even a step further I would truly recommend an amplifier. This would allow you to plug into the amplifier with a regular headphone jack then USB from the amp to the computer. Most higher end headphones will perform much better when driven with an amplifier, truly the best purchase I ever made for my Sennheiser 598s.

http://www.amazon.com/Syba-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier-SD-DAC63057/dp/B009WN7QT4/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1399534514&sr=1-5&keywords=usb+headphone+amplifier

Just my opinion. I've went trough A LOT of headphones in my years. Mostly cheaper ones at first then realized it is truly worth it to invest in a quality pair of headphones that will last a long time and sound SO MUCH better. Be wary of headphones promoted by celebrities and ones marketed as "Gaming" headsets. These endorsements alone drive up the price without the quality increasing proportionally.

You've got me VERY interested in this Amplifier. So your saying that i can hook it up to a USB connection on my laptop and then plug in regular headphones into the jack on the amp? I've got a Very nice pair of Bose That i would really like to continue to use on my computer, so this could be something worth really knowing more about

gatorsmashed

· #16 · May 8, 2014

ADJAquariums said:
You've got me VERY interested in this Amplifier. So your saying that i can hook it up to a USB connection on my laptop and then plug in regular headphones into the jack on the amp? I've got a Very nice pair of Bose That i would really like to continue to use on my computer, so this could be something worth really knowing more about

Yep, exactly. Most higher end headphones will really appreciate the extra power from an amplifier and truly be allowed to shine.

OVT

· #17 · May 9, 2014

Love it: community to the rescue.

And I also learnt something new as I did not know those amplifiers existed.

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ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 9, 2014

Well I'm very interested in the amplifier now, Thanks!

retrocity

· #19 · May 14, 2014

One thought, could you possibly get a small screw, and get it inside the broken off piece. Then pull the broken piece out once you have a little leverage?

ADJAquariums

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 16, 2014

I've purchased a relatively cheap USB headset while i wait to get the Amplifier, i just havent pulled the trigger on it yet.

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