Disable sound completely (not mute)

How do I disable my sound completely? I don't mean mute, I mean make it so the computer ignores the sound card.
The reason I ask is because I have a MacBook from 2007 that has the common issue where the audio port (combined 3.5 mm jack and optical jack) sensor doesn't function properly. My audio will go in and out, the computer switches between analog and digital (optical) output, with red light shining out the jack.
All of the common fixes don't work... plugging in a jack, using a Q-tip or toothpick to reset the switch, etc. Lately it's gotten worse, the computer is constantly switching between the two, so I can't listen to music at all. Even more annoying, every time it switches, there is a slight system lag, so during typing or web browsing everything hangs for about half a second.
I just want to disable the audio completely until I get around to buying a USB audio device to use instead of the onboard sound.

If I was to work on your machine, I would have disassembled it and tried to fix that physically.
If we are not going physically, then you should know that Mac OS X speaks and interfaces with hardware via kernel extensions (.kext files) which you can consider it the drivers.
Removing kernel extensions doesn't permanently disable the hardware components and is not as secure as physical disable. For example to disable wireless on a Mac securely, I would physically remove the Airport card rather than stop or remove the Airport kernel extension.
Anyway, for your case you should navigate to /System/Library/Extensions and drag :
* AppleOnboardAudio.kext
* AppleUSBAudio.kext
* AudioDeviceTreeUpdater.kext
* IOAudioFamily.kext
* VirtualAudioDriver.kext
to the trash or any backup folder and you will need administrative access to be able to move or remove them, I wouldn't advise to remove the AppleUSBAudio.kext if you are going to use USB Audio interface and honestly I'm not sure if the USB Audio will work if the AppleUSBAudio.kext is in place only or it would neet other extensions except the AppleOnboardAudio.kext , my sense tells me it would require AppleUSBAudio.kext & IOAudioFamily.kext & AudioDeviceTreeUpdater.kext to function but also not sure if that will keep the onboard audio disables, all of that needs some trials and you could do that.
Further, you should provide some fake extensions, like an empty files with the same corresponding names and make sure you lock them (Right Click on them and choose Get Info then tick the Locked attribute)
Last thing is to remember to trash or remove them again with every system update you do and to remove the contents of the Caches directory every time you do that including the first time of course.
I hope this will help you.

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