Macbook Pro no sound from built in speakers

Macbook Pro

Problem: No sound was coming from the internal speakers.


Solution:
1. Tried resetting the PRAM (Holding Cmd, Optn, P, R at startup), no change.
2. Tried resetting SMC (Removing the battery and power, hold on button for 5 sec, replace power and battery), no change.
3. Plugged in headphones. Sound came through the headphones but when I removed them, still no sound. However there was a red light on in the headphone socket. Apparently this is the optical out socket also and the light on meant that the optical links was active.

Finally I used a toothpick and ran it around in side the socket (with the computer off) restarted and had sound, and no red light.

iTunes clear/ghost stars removal

Problem: Ghost/clear star ratings on songs.

These star ratings are album ratings.

Solution: From grid view (other views may work but I have tested this one) right click on the
categories bar and add a column for album rating.

I then sorted my music by album. Next to the album art is a star rating (these are the cause of the ghost stars). I then clicked the left most start to give it a 1 star rating. Then I clicked and dragged that star which removed all stars from the album.

Beware! Mario will most likely unfriend you.