Microphone's not working right

[digmypick]

I hope you smart folks here can help me (or direct me to where I need to go for answers) cuz I'm STUMPED!

I recently had to reinstall my Windows 2000 Pro on my old Dell Dimension 4100 (don't know if these details matter) and upgraded my video and audio drivers via the Dell site. After about 3 weeks, I have nearly everything back to where it was except one major thing: the microphone jacks on the back of the box are not as responsive as they were before. I know it's not the mics themselves- I have two, both worked great before, neither were bothered since. Yet they don't produce the same level of volume now.

The upgrades are Dell's most recent versions of the drivers that came with my computer. I uninstalled the upgraded audio driver and reinstalled the previous version (the one I believe came with my computer), but no luck. I don't know what I could've done to cause this problem and what to do to correct it. As I say, the jacks weren't touched, nor were the mics.

BTW, I have integrated audio from SoundMax, not a seperate sound card- if that helps.

Sorry if it's a bit long, but your help would be IMMENSELY APPRECIATED! (I'm a musician and use the mic for demos, etc.) Thanks in advance.

Don

 

[Lanfo]

Try this:

Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>Sounds and Multimedia

Click on the "Audio" tab and go down to "Sound Recording" and click "Volume", now once you have this screen up you will have to click on "Options" (if you don't see the volume control for your Mics).

After you open the "Options" panel click the little button to the left of "Recording" and that should bring up a list at the bottom called "Show the following Volume Controls", click the entries in that list that are associated with your mics.

Now close that and go back to volume controls, you should now see a volume control for your Mics in the list. Now go to "Options" again and check the "Advanced Controls" setting.

Now there should be an "Advanced" button under your Mic volume controls, click on that and there should be a "Boost Mic 20db setting".

Sometimes Soundcard manufacturers will put a similar feature in their driver control settings, you might want to check there to.

Win2K Sp4, IE6 (all hotfixes)
Asus A7N8X-E Dlx.BIOS-1014
AXP 3200 Barton@400mhz
2x512mb 3200ddr Corsair RAM
XFX GF 6600GT AGP drv66.93/DX9.0c
SB Audigy2 ZX
SATA-74gb WD Raptor
IDE-60gbWD CaviarSE/DVD16x/CDRW52x/
Allied 500w PSU

 

[digmypick]

Lanfo,

I hope you get this- THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Such a small adjustment that I overlooked. This was the answer! You have made me a very happy man- thanks again!!