Why doesn't my new computer register my headphones?

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MetalMessiah

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Oct 9, 2013
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My new computer (Dell Inspirion 3847) seems to register my headphones and speakers as one device. My computer has two sets of audio in/out ports, on in front and one in back. When I have only my speakers in, the "Audio Devices" menu says "Speakers". I plug in my headset as well, and it still just says "Speakers", but the headphones still cancel out the speakers like they normally would. Then I unplugged the actual speakers and the list still said "Speakers". This poses a problem for me because I like to have a Skype call going through my headphones and music or game sounds coming through my speakers.
Are there any solutions to this? If I need to be more detailed let me know.

Side note: The mic on my headset comes up in the "Recording Devices" menu, if that makes a difference.
 
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David Sigmund

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Jan 1, 2014
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So let me see if I understand correctly. You want to use your headphones and your speakers at the same time but send different sounds to each of them? Also if you had headphones in how would you hear your speakers?
 
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David Sigmund

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Ok if your problem is that both your speakers and headphones are listed as the same device try this. Right click the sound icon on your taskbar and click sounds, then find "Speakers", right click it and click show disabled devices. Your headphones have to be plugged in for it to show up. Then right click the headphones and enable them. That should work, I just tried to see if I can do it.

If doesn't work let me know.
 
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MetalMessiah

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Yes, that is correct. I don't know how they work at the same time, but I know that they do because I've done it before on my old WIndows 7. I think I can default Skype to go through the headphones and everything else through the speakers, but my headphones don't show up separately from the headphones. Therein lies the problem.

 
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MetalMessiah

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Unfortunately, it didn't work. Like before, I even unplugged the actual speakers while leaving the headphones in and it still said "Speakers"

 
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David Sigmund

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Sorry I should have said that both your headphones and speakers have to be plugged in at the same time. Also make sure your audio driver is installed. I just looked up your computer on dell and it also uses realtek so this should so my previous way should work. Here is a link to the driver from dell. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-3847-desktop/diagnose

If you still can't get it to work I guess I can post pictures so that we both know exactly what we're talking about.
 
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MetalMessiah

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Okay, maybe you won't have to upload pictures if these help.

This is the front of my computer. It is my headset (mic+headphones, both of which work.)



This is the back. Only the speakers.



This is what shows up when I plug in the headphones.



I select "Headphones", and the sounds starts coming from the headphones, so I know they work. This is the list after I plug them in.



As you suggested, I did this.



This is what was on the list afterwards. Still the same.



Also, I did download the driver that you sent the link for.

 
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David Sigmund

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It should look something like this
09v3.png


Then click the button in the right hand corner that should say device advance settings and check the 2nd option under playback device.
203i.png


If you don't check that box then you won't be able to split your speakers and headphones
 
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MetalMessiah

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Okay, now it's showing Speakers/Headphones. I have the audio manager installed, but mine looks more like this.



It says "Dell Audio", but whenever I was on the list of all system tray icons, it was called Realtek HD Audio Manager.

 
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MetalMessiah

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Okay, I couldn't find anything. Speaker tab



Advanced --> settings tab



Advanced --> Jack information



I tried to download the second link, seeing if not having that was the problem.



But I got an error


 
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David Sigmund

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OK so I looked on my Dad's dell and he also has realtek however its the dell version. It seems like Dell for some reason is limiting what you can do for some reason, which is dumb. I look and see if there is a way to install the realtek HD audio manager or if there is another way around this.
 
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MetalMessiah

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Alrighty. And thanks for all this. When I asked this question I didn't expect it to be so much trouble.

 
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