I have been using a heaset for some time on Windows XP without issue. Every time I plug in the headset combo of both earpiece and microphone a box would pop up and ask if it was OK to accept the new device. I must have accidently clicked the “Don’t show me this again” check box. The internal microphone on my Dell D420 laptop is working fine but when I plug in a headset I am unable to use the microphone from the headset.
After awhile of searching I figured out what this was. I did actually turn off the pop up and by doing so the Sigmatel audio device would not allow it to work. So first you need to turn the pop up back on which is located in the Control Panel and named Sigmatel Audio. Double click on Sigmatel Audio in the Control Panel to have the Sigmatel Audio Control Panel open. As you can see in the below image the Sigmatel Audi Control Panel only has one configuration option which is to not allow or allow by checking or not checking “Allow Reconfiguration Pop Ups”.
SigmaTel Audio Control Panel: Allow Reconfiguration Pop-Ups
Assuming this was also your issue simply unplug and then plug back in your headsets microphone. This should trigger the “Reconfiguration Pop-up” to take place where you can configure the microphone of the headset. The “Reconfiguration Pop-Up” looks like the below image.
Audio System Event: Microphone
Select the Microphone and click OK. This should allow the headset microphone to start working again.
Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone (Electronics)
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AFUNTA 7.1 Channel USB External Sound Card Audio Mic Adapter USB Bus-powered Mode Highly Flexible Audio Interface Plug in and Play Kit Compatible with All Major Operating System Withou Driver for Windows 98se/me/2000/xp/2003/vista/win 7/linux/macos (Personal Computers)
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Perfect! Just what I was looking for. Thank you!
Hello Craig,
Glad to hear it. Thanks for leaving the feedback.
Thanks.
alex
Done all of these steps.
Microphone still does not work. Hardware test failed to pick up anything.
Any ideas?
Hello Laurie,
Does it show a conflict in Device Manager? Show any audio devices in Device Manager? With the info provided there are not many other suggestions I can provide but if you have more details such as type of PC, what kind of Microphone, error messages, if it has ever been working, etc. it is possible we could make more suggestions.
Thanks.
alex
I have had same issue on my Dell Latitude D630 and I have uninstalled SigmaTel drivers and applications then download dell driver from support.dell.com, rebooted computer and now it works.
Regards
Hello mantunovic,
Awesome. Thanks for the info… I actually have upgraded laptops since my intial issue however my wife has my old laptop. If she ever needs to use the mic I am going to attempt to resolve it by using the information you provide above.
Thanks!
alex
Hy guys,
I have kind of the same problem. I did all you said, and the “Allow reconfiguration pop up” thing is checked. I also downloaded the last drivers from dell. (i have a dell inspiron 1501), And still the Reconfiguration pop up doesn´t appear, when i plug in a microphone, but the Sigma Tel window with the checked “Allow reconfiguration pop up” appears. i don´t understand why. Perhaps somebody could help.
Thanks.
Hello Rares,
What version oon Windows are you running? Based on some others peoples comments to me regarding this I might try reinstalling the Sigma Tel drivers to see if that resolves the issue.
Thanks.
alex
Hi Have a acer aspire note book and am trying to make an external mic play through live, as a basic PA through a pair of speakers but can not get the micro to play through any ideas?
Thanks
Hello Barry,
What do you mean by “live”? Is this Microsoft Live where you are attempting to talk to someone via the microphone on Instant Message? Does the microphone work for other things on the computer? Are you getting the pop up mentioned in the article?
Thanks.
alex
On XP
Sorry i was not clear, i want to plug a mic into the 3.5 connection have a 3.5 stereo cable coming out of the head phone socket to an amp & speakers and use the system as a very basic PA system for meetings.
Barry
Hello Barry,
Thats OK. This can definitely be done. The issue will be one of two things that I could see.
1. The speakers may not be registering as a new device as noted in the article.
2. The application you want to use the speakers may still use the internal speaker versus the external you are attaching.
I don’t have XP in front of me but if you click on Control Panel and something like Sound from the Control Panel icons then you should be able to see the status of the external jack or really the headphone jack.
Hope that helps some…
Thanks.
alex
Hi alex, thanks for the suggestion, audio plays fine from the speakers, its just getting the external mic to come through.When i bring up the sound and audio device properties go to voice then down to test hardware the sound test works fine with the external mic sound coming out of the speakers. Once the tset is complete and i go back to normal use, the problem appears again, i’m sure its a setting, but just can’t find it. The thing is its easy on Vista and i never thought i would say that.
Barry
Hello Barry,
No problem…
What is the setting in Vista? It might help me help locate it in XP. I am sure its possible.
Thanks.
alex
Hi Alex, right click volume symbol in task bar , select play back devices , high light speakers, select levels, then the microphone volume is show as one of the volume controls.
Barry
Hello Barry,
I don’t know if you have got this figured out yet but if you do I would love to hear the resolution. Anyhow I finally got around to powering on my Windows XP laptop and testing this out. The way to control the volume in Windows XP, the same way you explain in Windows Vista, is by following the directions below.
Modify External Mic Volume Level In Windows XP:
What application are you using to play the microphone directly through the laptop speakers?
Look forward to seeing if the above helped or what was done to resolve the issue for you. Anyway hope the above did help or that you have already found a solution.
Thanks.
alex
thanks a lot, your note really helped me
Hello bala,
No problem at all. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave feedback.
Thanks.
alex
THANK YOU! I’ve spent hours online trying to find out how to fix this problem and in the end it was just so simple. Thank you thank you thank you!
Hello Amy,
No problem at all. We are always glad to know when articles we have written help others! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback.
Thanks.
alex
Two years later your article is still saving lives. Thanks!
Hello Rob,
Heh! Thanks for posting feedback!
Thanks.
alex
Hi! I’m having the same problem, except my laptop doesn’t seem to use SigmaTel. I have a Windows 7 ASUS. Help please :(