Cant get microphone to work

[Vyain]

As the title says, my computer does not recognize when i plug a microphone in. I am using a pair of headphones with a microphone attached to it. I have tried 2 different sets so i know the actual mic works. Under control panel, Hardware and Sound, Manage Audio Devices, Recording tab, it says no audio devices are installed I have tried using 2 different ports and it still doesnt work. I recently installed to windows 7 from vista, could it be that some sort of audio driver didnt get installed or xfered over correctly? How would i figure this out? My microphone worked just fine when i had windows vista installed. NOTE that my sound works fine and the audio comes through my headset just fine, but i cant get the microphone to work. I am very happy with windows 7 so far, but with no mic, i get no cheap phone calls, no vent for gaming, and no custom sounds...

 

[Frostmourne]

1) Did you upgrade 7 or clean install?

2) What microphone model?

 

[Vyain]

upgraded from vista 32-bit to windows 7 ultimate 64-bit Ive tried a crappy RCA microphone and a HP Premium Sterio Headset, both are not detected

 

[Frostmourne]

upgraded from vista 32-bit to windows 7 ultimate 64-bit Ive tried a crappy RCA microphone and a HP Premium Sterio Headset, both are not detected

Clean install and reformat 7 again. The upgrade broke something.

 

[Vyain]

therein lies the problem. I bought a special upgrade only disk from my school that requires a pre-exhisting OS license in order to use it. So am i SOL or is there a longer solution i could try to find?

 

[Frostmourne]

therein lies the problem. I bought a special upgrade only disk from my school that requires a pre-exhisting OS license in order to use it. So am i SOL or is there a longer solution i could try to find?

If the disk is retail, try this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Vyain, welcome to Seven Forums!


Have a look at the tutorial at the link below.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Vyain]

Thanks for the help guys, 1 more quick question. I take it if i reinstal using a quick instal, its going to wipe my hard drive again? Just want to make sure so everything is backed up

 

[Frostmourne]

Thanks for the help guys, 1 more quick question. I take it if i reinstal using a quick instal, its going to wipe my hard drive again? Just want to make sure so everything is backed up

Yes, I wouldn't bother with a system image. Just back up your data. It will wipe everything.

 

[Vyain]

Thanks for the help. This will be a fix that takes a while, but i hope its all worth it in the end! This is really going to suck if i have the same problem in about 3 hours...

 

[Zepher]

upgraded from vista 32-bit to windows 7 ultimate 64-bit Ive tried a crappy RCA microphone and a HP Premium Sterio Headset, both are not detected

Clean install and reformat 7 again. The upgrade broke something.

Um, apparently he must have done a clean install since it won't do an in-place upgrade from 32bit to 64bit.

 

[Frostmourne]

Thanks for the help. This will be a fix that takes a while, but i hope its all worth it in the end! This is really going to suck if i have the same problem in about 3 hours...

Install should be less than 40min.

 

[Zepher]

it was probably a simple driver problem.

 

[Vyain]

still havnt reinstalled 7 yet, but i dont know of another solution... Ive tried downloading several sound drivers and my comp still wont even recognize that a mic is plugged in

 

[Zepher]

If you reinstall windows and still can't get the Mic to work, you may want to consider a USB based Headset.
I use these when I game or chat with people on the PC, Sennheiser | PC-135 Business Traveler Headsets with | PC 136

There are cheaper units as well as just the USB dongle itself and you plug in whatever headset and mic you want.
The PC135 has a removable dongle so you could just plug the headset and mic straight into your soundcard if you wanted to.

I bought my set back when I bought Battlefield 2 and have been pleased with it since and it works perfectly with Windows 7 64bit, didn't even need to load any drivers, Windows found it and installed it automatically.
When I want to use it I just plug it into the USB port on my G15 keyboard and all sound is routed through it, then unplug when I am done and the sound is routed back to the Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS card to my speakers.

 

[Vyain]

Its possible that a mic could work if it is used through a usb port on the tower, even if a mic doesnt work when it is connected through the mic/sound port? If so that would be such an easy fix... also, Sennheiser - Headset with Microphone - PC 36 USB is that what you were talking about?

 

[Vyain]

So i just went out and got a usb headphone set... and it works! Thanks for all your help!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Vyain, glad it was such an easy fix; thanks for posting back to let us know.

 

[Zepher]

Glad it works for you. The USB dongle has its own little soundcard in there, so that is how it works through the USB port.

 

[andyandrewjim]

windows 7 should see the device and install the drives for it automatically gets it for you. If it does not go to the start and see if the device is in there. If not may be the jack.