Microphone problem on ASUS X5DC

[Granny Annie]

I have an ASUS X5DC laptop with windows 7 Home Premium. I am having a problem with the built in microphone - e.g. when contacting my daughter on Skype she cannot hear me at all. It is not a problem with Skype as this works from my location with another unit. I have reset the mic settings on Skype and on the laptop. I have downloaded the mic drivers from the ASUS help site. I have deleted Skype and re-installed it. Still no Microphone working. Can you help please - any advice appreciated. Regards Granny Annie.

[KenB]

Hi Annie

 

I am sorry that you had problems registering - I assume that Randy explained in his email :)

 

Did your microphone ever work on this machine ?

 

Start > type in .... devmgmt.msc ..... ENTER

Click the > next to Audio Inputs / Outputs

Are there any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs ?

 

What is listed here for your microphone ?

[Granny Annie]

Hi Ken, thanks for your reply. Until recently there has not been a problem with the microphone, with everything working ok on Skype. I followed your instruction in Start. Nothing is listed for Audio Inputs/Outputs. The closest is Sound Video and Game Controls. When I click on this 'Realtek High Def Audio' appears. There is nothing listed about the microphone, sorry.

[Granny Annie]

Had a bit more looking around into the laptop. I realise now that Realtek High Def Audio is the name of the microphone. The Audio properties show this device is working properly.

[KenB]

Nothing is listed for Audio Inputs/Outputs.

My laptop is an Asus - and my mic is shown in Audio Inputs/Outputs

Are you sure yours is not listed there in Device Manager ?

 

Try this:

Right click on a blank part of the desktop > Personalise > Sounds > Recording > click on your microphone > Configure > Set up Microphone

If you are using an in-built microphone select "Other"

Click on Next

 

You should get an indication that your mic is working when you speak.

Do you ?

[Granny Annie]

Sorry for the delay - been away for a couple of days. I have done what you asked and yes, the microphone bars 'light up' when I speak so I assume that means the Realtek High Def Audio is working.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, did you see anything on Skype warning you that a certain part of your system may not work after December, Skype have been doing some upgrades and changing the way some things work with it. I know I saw these warnings, though it was about the headset I use on my desktop and have not yet checked the microphone on my laptop. It may be Skype or even Realtek need to get their act together regarding drivers, if that is the case.

I will look into this further though.

 

However there are two more checks we can try that should definitely prove your microphone is OK and all the connections.

 

Right click on the speaker icon on the bottom right of the bottom task bar and select "recording devices", in the box that opens click on the microphone, then the "Properties" button, another window opens, click on the "Listen" tab at the top, then put a tick in the box for "Listen to this device" and click "Apply" You should then hear yourself in the speakers, and it may also start to howl. If it does so, remove the tick and then click apply again to stop the howl. (It is only a test)

If it does howl or at least you can hear yourself in the speakers, the microphone is definitely working correctly.

You can leave the tick removed, and then close the windows.

 

The next check is within Skype, so open it if not already open, then click tools, then select "Options", in the options window click on "Audio settings."

 

You should see a drop down style menu saying "Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)" If no other microphone device is plugged in the dropdown should only show the realtek microphone, there should also be an indicator bar underneath it, make some sounds and the bar should move up to show it is receiving the sound.

 

If all of the above appears to be working, do you see the "Echo/sound testing service" at the top of your contacts list?

If so, click on it then click the call button, the nice young lady explains what to do after that.

 

Let us know what you find after that please.

 

(I need a friend on line now to check my laptop mic :D )

 

Nev.

[Granny Annie]

Thank you for this advice. I have followed all the above instructions. Everything is working. I had already doen the skype tests but did them again. I followed the nice young lady on Skype and could hear my voice played back too. What a conundrum - hope somebody can still help.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi,

it does now look to be that your laptop and microphone is OK.

You did say earlier that Skype works OK with a different unit, is that another computer, or something else such as a mobile device?

Does it use the same internet connection?

 

Edit to add,

The only other things I can suggest is that both your version and your Daughters Skype are checked that they are both the latest version.

Do you have any other contacts you can check and see if it works with them, and considering settings at your end look to be correct are they correct with your daughter?

Nev.

[Granny Annie]

Hi, the other units used for Skype are my husband's laptop and a smart phone. The smart phone has a fantastic reception with both sides receiving good picture and sound quality. My husband's laptop works as well as mine used to, with the sound quality pretty good and, being an older laptop, a separate camera (Logitec) plugged in. My daughter always downloads enhancements when prompted to do so, therefore her I-pad is up to date and she has no problems Skyping my other daughter. My laptop has the most up to date version of Skype as I recently deleted and re-loaded it from the Skype website as part of my own attempts to solve the problem.

The only other thing to mention is that, when I have the sound turned up to 100% on my laptop's speakers, I get a really loud feedback whistling noise. I don't know it this has anything to do with the mic problems. I am having to keep my speaker volume down at below 50% to stop the feedback.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi,

That feedback is maybe because there is still a tick in the box for "Listen to this device", remove the tick and that should stop the feedback, also remember to click the "Apply" button.

Also check the blue dot is in for "Continue running when on battery power"

As in this screen shot.

 

http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/14/68/69/96/microp10.jpg

 

If after that it still will not work, I can only suggest seeing if the Skype support can help as I am now as lost as you are, it should work, everything is there and working as it should do.

Skype support may have an answer though I suspect they will just take you through everything we already have done.

 

Other than that, the only other thing I can suggest to try, would be to obtain a Skype certified USB headset, which is what I use on my desktop. See if one of those will work.

 

Nev.