Enabling built-in microphone under WinXP

[pavjulian]

I recently upgraded the OS on my T23 from Win2K Pro to WinXP Pro. Everything went smoothly except for one small issue; the OS failed to recognize the built-in microphone. The Cirrus audio drivers recognize sound through an external mic (though it sounds like cr**) - but can't see the built-in mic. I made various attempts to research the IBM web site for solutions (drivers, patches, bios updates, OS settings etc.) to no avail. Any suggestions for a possible fix would be much appreciated.

[AssPenny]

You need to find the proper drivers, try the W2k ones, they may still work. Usually XP takes care of it tho.

[pavjulian]

I did install the audio drivers - tried both the Win2K and the WinXP drivers (downloaded from IBM support) with no results. As mentioned earlier, the XP OS audio panel doesn't see the internal microphone but will recognize an external mic. - sounds very poor (note: works only with 'mic boost enabled). Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

[pavjulian]

Anybody else out there have any ideas/suggestions?

Thx.

[namezero]

The internal microphone of my T23 is working.

Just to make sure that we're on the same page:

You know which one is the internal microphone, right? The small holes just right below the "left arrow" key on your keyboard.


I don't know what did the trick, but the first time I've tried it, it worked.

I installed all driver updates / patches from Windows and IBM, even including BIOS and embedded controller.

Please, help yourself and double check if you disabled the hardware by accident, or you missed some drivers update.

If you're really sure that you did all updates, then
1. double click the volume icon in your System tray
2. Options --> Properties
3. select adjust volume for "Recording", then hit OK
4. Make sure the check box under Microphone is checked.
5. Make sure the slide bar for microphone is all the way up.
6. Close all opened windows.

To test the microphone, you might try Windows Sound Recorder.
1. click Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Entertainment --> Sound Recorder
2. Try record something and play it back.

[pavjulian]

NameZero.

Thanks for the suggestions. I had previously checked and double-checked the audio properties (incl. Microphone 'boost' feature) with no luck. I've installed and re-installed both Win2k and WinXP audio drivers - no results. Then upgraded to XP SP2 with the hope the OS would possibly recognize (microphone) hardware. With all the PC's that I've built and repaired in the past, I have to admit that this problem has me quite stumped. I'm honestly beginning to suspect perhaps the problem is internal to the motherboard. IBM email tech support was not helpful at all (surprise. surprise.).

Under Device Manaer my laptop shows only the Crystal WDM Audio Codec (version 6.13.10.410). You mentioned that your mic works under winXP. Could I bother you to confirm in your Device Manager whether you have any additional audio/input devices listed (e.g. Cirrus Logic or Crystal Audio)?

Thx.

[pavjulian]

One more thing; under Access Thinkpad ( System Details -> Advanced ->Port Connector Information -> Microphone Jack ) The "internal designator" is listed as "not available".

[pavjulian]

Update 2004-12-17. IBM tech support suggested that I might have a hardware problem. I'm not 100% convinced this is true since the external mic input seems to work (albeit not perfectly). Anyone else out there experiencing the same problem or perhaps have a built-in mic that works? I personally think this is a simple matter of adding a key in the Windows registry.

[Flightvector]

You said you checked the sound properties, I take it that means you went to properties and clicked on the recording radio button and made sure the microphone was selected and recording volume was set to a sufficient level? Its just because this is an often overlooked part of the volume control dialog (there are separate volume levers for microphone input and output levels). If it works you should hear something likened to wind noise when you blow into it.

Otherwise it probably is a driver issue since microphones have a generally low probability of breaking compared to more complex components, and if it was hardware, that is not implausible; the mic jack may work, but if the actual recording element is not working, you won't hear anything. But truthfully, I agree that support doesn't always have a good idea of what they are dealing with before they blurt out "hardware" in cases like these. I'm also not so sure about the adding of a registry key, since even then, what you describe is still likened to be that of a driver issue.

[pavjulian]

I did go through sound propertires as you mention - with no results. My rationale for a registry key setting is as a result of some research of other users who experienced similar problems with the built-in microphone of their Dell laptops. In these cases, changes to the registry remedied the problem.

I also noticed that the "advanced system details" in my "Access Thinkpad" application shows the 'internal designator' of the microphone jack as 'not available'. This suggests a setting that may be required to tell Windows XP that the internal mic exists.

[pavjulian]

Well just as I suspected - it was a hardware problem (or the lack thereof)!

For those of you who may be interested: I installed my hard disk into a second T23 laptop and the XP drivers recognized the built-in microphone in the second laptop without a problem. On a hunch, I decided to crack open the case of my original T23 and lo and behold there was no microphone physically installed in the unit (!!!). There were signs that the laptop had been serviced once before (unit was a refurb). I figure whoever did open the unit ripped out the mic cable or either forgot to re-install the microphone prior to closing up the unit. Either way - quite the frustration!

_pav