On an internally fitted cd rom,dvd,writer etc there is a headphone
socket on the front of the drive. The headphones only work, when
plugged into this socket, on one out of four systems i have tried. The
only difference i
can see is that one that worked was on Windows 98 and the others are
on ME. How do i get them to work on the ME systems?

Microsoft's Knowledge Base has an answer to this issue that I believe
you will find helpful.  While the drive's built-in audio jack is a
self-contained piece of hardware that does not rely on the operating
system for analog audio playback, trouble arises if you have an
application on your computer (such as Windows Media Player) that is
set to a "digital mode" that reads the music CD as if it is a data CD.
 When that happens, audio will not come from the jack, since there is
no analog audio to be heard.

To solve this problem:
"1. Start Windows Media Player.
2. Click Tools, click Options, and then click CD Audio.
3. Click to clear Use Digital Playback."

Note:  You may need to disable "Digital Audio Extraction" on your
properties for you cd/dvd/writer drive in the Device Manager, as well.
 This can be found in the "System" item in your Control Panel.

Here are the links to the two Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q277653
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q271647

This article from Infoworld covers the same topic:
"Problems in Windows with your CD-ROM? The fix may be as easy as
checking a box" by Brian Livingston
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/01/01/22/010122oplivingston.xml

This thread from the Computing.net covers other generalities about the
headphone jack on the drive.  (With the exception of the "digital
mode" issue noted above).  I have provided a summary:

The headphone jack on the CD/DVD-ROM drive is independent of the
operating system.  It is self-contained hardware.

The jack only provides audio when listening to an audio CD, not data
CDs or MP3 CDs.  As a test, try a CD you purchased at the store.

There is usually a volume knob that controls the level for the
headphone jack.  Make sure you have turned it to an audible level.

If you still can't hear anything, it may indicate a problem with the
drive.  However, this problem would occur regardless of operating
system.

Computing.net forum thread "Subject: Headphone Jack in CD-ROM" June
25, 2002.
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/29802.html


Also, if your default CD application is something other that Windows
Media Player, you may need to find it's setting for disabling digital
mode.

Please do not hesitate to ask for a clarification if I can provide
more assistance.

Thanks headphones work perfectly now, all done in second, been trying
to work it out for ages, fast answer as well, keep up the good work.