Microphone not working on my computer

1. 87

   mistyhorizon2003posted 15 years ago

   I am having a problem with the microphone on my computer, and am wondering if anyone can help. The problem I am having is that my microphone is not picking up any sound, and I have now tried it in both the front and the rear microphone input jacks on the computer, plus I have tried changing to a completely different microphone.
   
   My computer runs on XP Home Edition and has both SP1 and SP2 upgrades installed. I have checked all the obvious solutions like going into the sound settings, device manager etc, but still can't get it to register my voice, even on the sound recorder.
   
   Has anyone any other suggestions I can try, as I am supposed to be using Skype this Sunday, but will not be able to do so unless I can get this working. The Help pages provided with XP are no help at all, and I am increasingly frustrated having spent over 2 hours now trying to find the cause of the problem.
   
   Any help would be greatly appreciated.
   
   Thank you.

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2. 62

   Mishaposted 15 years ago

   Cindy,
   
   Providing the mic itself is operating, there is a screen buried somewhere in audio properties/device settings that has a checkbox "boost the mic" or something like that. I always have trouble finding it, though - so try this one :
   
   http://agnradmin.umd.edu/iet/IETService … 0Page1.cfm

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   1. 87

      mistyhorizon2003posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for trying Misha, but when I got to step 3 there was no "Advanced Options" on the drop down menu, so I am stuck again and can't get any further.

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   2. 87

      mistyhorizon2003posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Actually Misha, to correct what I said before, the 'Advanced Options' option is there, but it is greyed out so I can't click on it.

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3. 62

   Mishaposted 15 years ago

   Umm, you got me hooked on this. I too had it grayed out on my machine!
   
   So I went and did some more or less serious research. From the window you have "advanced options" grayed out, you choose properties. You see a long list in the bottom of the window that pops up. Scroll down to the bottom, and you will see "Mic Volume" checkbox. Check it and press OK. Now you will see "Advanced" button
   
   Don't ask me why MrSofty is doing that - even being MCSE, I could not figure this out

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   1. 87

      mistyhorizon2003posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Again Misha,
      
      Well after a lot of clicking here there and everywhere after following your advice, I got to the boost microphone box and checked it. I can now record if I speak very loudly into the microphone, thank you for this. I now have a new problem though. When I went to try this on my Skype test call, I realise that although Skype can now hear me, the test voice I am getting from Skype is really garbled and everything it says appears to be said twice, almost like an echo. This is true for the Skype computer voice too, so I am assuming I now have a problem receiving voices via the net. Any ideas of this one old buddy

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4. 62

   Mishaposted 15 years ago

   In my personal experience Skype is not the best option around. I had much better luck with Yahoo and MSN. YMMV of course
   
   Anyway, I looked through Skype settings and options and did not find anything related to echo cancellation - so looks like you can't do anything about it, at least I don't know how... Try to keep the volume as low as you can, both on mic and speakers, or better get headphones - it may take care of the problem. This is all I can think of right now..

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   1. 87

      mistyhorizon2003posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Misha, but it is far worse than that, and all the speech sounds as if it is coming from under water. I am going to email Skype and see what they suggest. It isn't really up to me whether I use Skype or not, as the lady who does my Quit smoking course uses it, so I need to make it work for this reason.

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