Thanks, Lil_Lisa27, for trying to help but unfortunately none of these steps worked. I can only hear sounds through the earbuds. I have the volume up to 100% and still no sound (except through the earbuds). I did notice, however, that even though I have the volume up to 100%, the "green" bar of the mixer only shows minor increases ~ ie., the green color does not go up to the top of the bar, even though the "slide notch" is way up to the top saying that the volume is up to the top.
I just cannot figure this is out. I must have a hit something wrong somewhere, somehow. As the sound has always worked with and without earbuds just fine but it is almost like the laptop thinks that the earbuds are still inserted even when they are not. This laptop has the Beats audio, do you think that might be the issue?
Any other advice?