Microphone Troubleshooting
Is it an input or output problem?

Voice is recording. Input is working

1. Does the green line in Sound Recorder waver when you are recording? If yes, your input is working. If the green line remains flat when recording, your input is not working.

Flat line -- Input problem:

1. Hardware: Check microphone jack on the sound card. Is it in the correct jack? Look for the letters Mic In or the microphone symbol. 

2. Software: See if the microphone is check-marked in the Recording Control settings.
To view Recording Control settings, open the volume-control feature by double-clicking on the horn in the bottom right corner (the system tray) of the Windows desktop (Windows XP uses a gray horn icon; Windows 98 uses a yellow horn icon)

System tray XP. Volume control = dbl-clk gray horn Set PLAY and RECORD setting in Properties Window

System tray Windows98. Volume control = dbl-clk yellow horn Set PLAY and RECORD settings in Properties Window

4. In the volume control window, open Properties and select Recording Controls.

Volume Control (Win98)

Select Options >Properties

Volume PLAYBACK Properties (Win98)

Volume Control is set on Playback by default.
In the Properties window, Select Recording,
select OK to see Recording Controls

Volume RECORDING Controls (Win98)
 
Make certain microphone is Selected

5. If you have no sound on your computer at all, but you do have a sound card installed, your troubleshooting needs are beyond the scope of this course. However, your first step at advanced troubleshooting would be to check your Device Manager to be certain the drivers for your sound card are properly identified.

     To reach device manager: Alt + Double-Click on My Computer icon on desktop; device manager can also be accessed through Start >Control Panel >System. If you see an exclamation next to your sound card, you may have a driver problem. Search the Internet or contact a technician for additional troubleshooting tips.

Problem-free Device Manager

If this computer had a driver problem,
there would be an exclamation next to
the Sound, video and game controllers icon

If you have sound elsewhere and only the microphone is not working, you do not need to examine the Device Manager

Output Problem -- sound is recording, but not playing

1. Hardware: Check speakers. Are they turned on and working? Are the properly plugged in?

2. Check volume controls PLAYBACK settings (rather than RECORDING settings) shown in the examples above. Make certain playback is not muted. Make certain volume levels are high enough

Playback Controls

If Mute is selected in Play Control, all sound is disabled.
Uncheck the Mute option in Play Control to enable

  
End