Skype not recognising microphone or vice versa??

[rogerthedodger]

Hi, I can't get my microphone to work with Skype on my HP DX2300 Desktop PC.  Windows XP PRO.

I have started using Skype, but so far only for texting. I have connected the microphone to the appropriate socket (microphone symbol on front of PC case). The Skype "Echo Sound Test Service" effectively tells me the microphone is not working or being recognised.

The microphone is working in that I can hear what I say into microphone coming out of PC speakers. However when I go to the Skype “Check your sound works” and click on check microphone the sound is no longer heard and there is nothing shown on the green bar (to indicate volume – if it worked).

On the windows “master volume” panel, front mic and mic volume are both not muted and volume set to max (have also tried half way).

From control panel, then “sounds and audio devices properties”, under sounds recording the default device is a Realtek HD audio input (selected from drop down menu with only that as an option).

From control panel, then “speech”, I can get to "speech properties" no problem. However there is only one tab ("Text to speech"), no "speech recognition tab". There is an "audio output" button, but no "audio input". If I could get this tab to appear somehow, would Skype then recognize it perhaps?

I have rebooted (more than once!) to check if that will wake it up somehow, but no!

Do I need another (??) microphone driver installed? Or is this a known Skype microphone recognition problem? (searching for this on internet couldn’t find anything). Not being very clever at computers I thought it best to seek advice first!

[c0rnel]

Well it looks like you checked pretty much every place related to the microphone controls but one thing is missing i believe.

Try plugging the microphone into the pink color port in the back of the computer instead of the front and see if that works instead. It should work either way but I recommend the rear port.

Let me know if that works.

[rogerthedodger]

Done as you suggested, makes no difference I'm afraid. The mic will still work through PC speakers, but is not recognised by Skype.

I cant find a way to email my question to Skype via their Blogs, otherwise I would do that. Also no similar proble in their blogs.

Cheers

Rogerthedodger01

[c0rnel]

Kind of hard to say exactly why the mic isnt working.

Have you tried a driver updater or another mic from like headphones?

I'm planning on getting a USB microphone myself. This will bypass the mic port.

Most likely this should do it. Also does the SKype mic device match the one in Control panel in windows? Does skype give u 1 mic device to choose from as input or multiple?

[rogerthedodger]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice.

The skype tools / options / audio settings / microphone only had one in drop down menu - Realtek HD audio input, same as on the windows settings. So that looks logical and OK.

HOWEVER I have played around again and I now have it working. I think I found yet another place where audio / mic settings are under control panel / sounds and audio devices / audio tab then sound recording. I say "I think" because I tried so many mute / unmute and volume settings I am not really sure which wasn't correct. It seems really ridiculous how many places can affect microphone performance!

Incidentally someone on a different forum also suggested trying a USB mic, but another person said don't use one of them as they are rubbish. I don't know, just passing on their comment.

Anyway thanks again all for your help

Cheers

Rogerthedodger