Why won't my laptop accept the external microphone?

Dinah93

Hi all, hoping someone can help me. I have an acer aspire 5630 laptop with a built in microphone, and I used to use my plug in headset with earpiece and a mic and it seemed to override the built in mic, however recently when i plug in the headset the earpiece works, but the mic the computer uses is the one built in to the laptop which is far too quiet to actually use. I was hoping someone could advise me on how to get the headset working again, as being unable to use VOIP is driving me a bit mad. I have tried the headset in my partner's computer, and it works just fine, so it's a problem with the computer I think (not suprising, this is my second acer laptop, and i have a acer desktop, and they all have a somewhat tempermental side)

Thanks, D x

DaveAshton

Dunno if uninstalling (through control panel > device manager (I think) ) the integrated mic would help. Also, maybe you could have to install some drivers for the headset.

Could it also be possible you're plugging it into the wrong socket (assuming it's a pin connection, not USB)?

SE

totalsolutions

Have you reduced the LineIn/Mic control faders in recording properties?

Dinah93

Thanks for the replies guys.

It is a pin connection, but i've tried it in all 3 of the sockets on the front and noone of them seem to work, however they used to. I haven't uninstalled or installed anything, as as you may be able to tell, im not very tech smart!

Should I have adjusted the faders?! Everything is set to the maximum, or in the centre of L-R at the moment

techexpert

I think the pink socket (has a pink ring around it) is the mic one, the green one is headphones and the blue one is line out

msmicawber

Look at the sound settings in the Control Panel and make sure that nothing's muted and that you've got Line In or Mic selected. Depending on your driver, you may have settings for a front mic and back mic, which aren't necessarily relevant on your laptop. If you've got a choice of two, then select the other one and see if that resolves the problem.

If you still have no joy, I'd recommend reinstalling the sound card drivers (it's usually best if you reinstall the chipset drivers for the mainboard first).