No sound on the headphones

This laptop has never been able to play sound by the headphones.  HPHCX 18   12CTO.  There is a faint static on them, they don't cut sound on the speakers when plugged.  At control pannel:  I see they are enabled and set as default (Speakers are also default).  I see sound level on the speakers but not on the headphones.  As a note, the next to jacks USB port does not work.  Operating system is W7 Ultimate SP-1