I/O Panel Replacement....?

goldfishwars · 04-03-2007, 08:08 PM

Hello

I own a Dell Dimension 5150. The tip of my headphones jack has somehow broken off and is embedded in the socket and I can't get it out. Now I can't listen to anything through my headphones (even with a replacement) or through my speakers as the computer still thinks the headphones are plugged in.

As you have probably guessed i'm not the most advanced computer user, but does anyone know a) how I can get a replacement I/O panel (if that's what it's called) - I can't seem to find anything just by googling and Dell technical support was next to useless or b) a workround solution. The panel also has a mic port and two USB's and the power switch.

I'd be incredibly gratfeul for any suggestions

wizle · 04-03-2007, 08:12 PM

A bit of super-glue on the end of a toothpick then stick it to the end of the broken piece and then pull it out thats the way I got mine out

**The_Other_One** · 04-03-2007, 08:57 PM

Yeah... I'm sure if you look around hard enough you could find a replacement, but it's probably not even worth it... I mean, why not just purchase a new sound card, if the only problem is the audio jacks? On-board audio is rarely very good anyway.

PohTayToez · 04-03-2007, 09:38 PM

It's not the I/O panel... that would be easy to replace... that's just the thin piece of metal that covers everything except the jacks in the motherboard. What you are talking about is actually a component of the motherboard itself, and to be replaced would mean replacing the entire motherboard.

First, like wizle said, I would try to remove it with glue or putty + toothpick, or something of that sort. If you absolutely can not, like T_O_O said, you could disable the onboard sound and buy a sound card.

b3rt_d4ni3l · 04-03-2007, 09:44 PM

be careful when you are using the super glue + toothpick method though... my friend broke his headphone jack and it was inside his iPod... he tried the super glue...
im not sure what happened but he ended up making it worse... sealed up the headphone port completely with super glue... i guess he kinda touched the sides and in the end sealed the hole completely... no iPod for him now...

so ya be careful... just thought of letting you know this...

goldfishwars · 04-03-2007, 09:54 PM

Thanks guys, i'll give the superglue and tootpick idea a go and be extra careful with it.

I'll look into getting a new soundcard if it doesn't work. Can anyone make any recommendations? I won't have an awful lot to spend so something in the budget range would suit.

I'm sorry to sound a bit retarded but how would I disable the on board sound? I bought my PC fully built so is there an easy way to tell if I don't have a proper sound card already installed without taking it apart?

b3rt_d4ni3l · 04-03-2007, 10:27 PM

try searching in newegg...
this is one is pretty cheap and a good improvement from onboard sound:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102002

for gaming, this one is not bad, received quite good reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

bamhm182 · 04-04-2007, 12:41 AM

I've got this old creative soundcard, I don't think I'm going to need it, if you want I could sell it to you for pretty cheap.

I'll let you know in a few days, if I decide to just RMA everything to newegg and get my money back(more than likely) you can have it, if I decide to keep my current broken build and just replace the broken mobo, than they're cheap on Newegg.

It's similar to b3rt's first suggestion, but it's older and has more ports on it. Works great, when my computer's working, I listen to music on it all the time, won't need it with my next build though.

goldfishwars · 04-04-2007, 06:28 PM

Ah neat, i'll probably go ahead and purchase a sound card. I actually don't have any PCI slots left, are USB sound cards any good?

04-03-2007, 08:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
goldfishwars New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4	I/O Panel Replacement....? Hello I own a Dell Dimension 5150. The tip of my headphones jack has somehow broken off and is embedded in the socket and I can't get it out. Now I can't listen to anything through my headphones (even with a replacement) or through my speakers as the computer still thinks the headphones are plugged in. As you have probably guessed i'm not the most advanced computer user, but does anyone know a) how I can get a replacement I/O panel (if that's what it's called) - I can't seem to find anything just by googling and Dell technical support was next to useless or b) a workround solution. The panel also has a mic port and two USB's and the power switch. I'd be incredibly gratfeul for any suggestions

04-03-2007, 08:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
wizle Gold Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Age: 67 Posts: 416	A bit of super-glue on the end of a toothpick then stick it to the end of the broken piece and then pull it out thats the way I got mine out __________________ Cooler Master Centurion Gigabyte DS3 rev3.3 E6400 G.Skill 2 Gigs Radeon X1300 Xclio 450W 19" Princeton CRT I am no longer responsible for my actions or deeds...I'm retired

04-03-2007, 08:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,364	Yeah... I'm sure if you look around hard enough you could find a replacement, but it's probably not even worth it... I mean, why not just purchase a new sound card, if the only problem is the audio jacks? On-board audio is rarely very good anyway. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

04-03-2007, 09:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
PohTayToez Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Age: 19 Posts: 2,541	It's not the I/O panel... that would be easy to replace... that's just the thin piece of metal that covers everything except the jacks in the motherboard. What you are talking about is actually a component of the motherboard itself, and to be replaced would mean replacing the entire motherboard. First, like wizle said, I would try to remove it with glue or putty + toothpick, or something of that sort. If you absolutely can not, like T_O_O said, you could disable the onboard sound and buy a sound card. __________________ Desktop / Laptop ASUS A8N-E / Compaq Presario v6420us AMD Athlon 3200+ @ 2.50Ghz / AMD Athlon X2 TK-53 @ 1.70Ghz MSI GeForce 7800GT / GeForce Go 6150 2 x 512MB DDR / 2 x 1GB DDR2 250GB SATA II / 80GB 5400RPM SATA 2 x DVD Burner / 8X DVD±R/RW

04-04-2007, 12:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
bamhm182 Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Colorado (USA) Age: 16 Posts: 620	I've got this old creative soundcard, I don't think I'm going to need it, if you want I could sell it to you for pretty cheap. I'll let you know in a few days, if I decide to just RMA everything to newegg and get my money back(more than likely) you can have it, if I decide to keep my current broken build and just replace the broken mobo, than they're cheap on Newegg. It's similar to b3rt's first suggestion, but it's older and has more ports on it. Works great, when my computer's working, I listen to music on it all the time, won't need it with my next build though. __________________ My Custom Build: AMD 5600+ 512 MB Sticks of RAM Biostar Motherboard MSI GeForce 8600GT 256MB Planned Upgrades: Blu-Ray Burner 250GB Seagate Barracuda 1TB Seagate Barracuda 24" LCD Monitor OCZ Titanium XTC 2GB (2 x 1GB) Last edited by bamhm182; 04-04-2007 at 12:43 AM.

04-03-2007, 09:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
b3rt_d4ni3l Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 946	be careful when you are using the super glue + toothpick method though... my friend broke his headphone jack and it was inside his iPod... he tried the super glue... im not sure what happened but he ended up making it worse... sealed up the headphone port completely with super glue... i guess he kinda touched the sides and in the end sealed the hole completely... no iPod for him now... so ya be careful... just thought of letting you know this...

04-03-2007, 09:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
goldfishwars New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks guys, i'll give the superglue and tootpick idea a go and be extra careful with it. I'll look into getting a new soundcard if it doesn't work. Can anyone make any recommendations? I won't have an awful lot to spend so something in the budget range would suit. I'm sorry to sound a bit retarded but how would I disable the on board sound? I bought my PC fully built so is there an easy way to tell if I don't have a proper sound card already installed without taking it apart?

04-03-2007, 10:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
b3rt_d4ni3l Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 946	try searching in newegg... this is one is pretty cheap and a good improvement from onboard sound: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102002 for gaming, this one is not bad, received quite good reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

04-04-2007, 06:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
goldfishwars New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4	Ah neat, i'll probably go ahead and purchase a sound card. I actually don't have any PCI slots left, are USB sound cards any good?

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