The error when the microphone does not work on Windows 8 occurs quite often. And the solution to this problem is very simple. We just need to enter the sound card settings and configure the internal microphone. All this does not require special knowledge and time, so absolutely everyone can solve the problem.
How to install a driver in Windows 8: Video
Driver installation
To begin with, we will need to check for the presence of drivers or check the functionality of the installed software.
In the vast majority of cases, all errors associated with recording equipment are due to the lack of drivers or their incorrect operation.
So let's check if it's installed software.
First, pay attention to the system tray (part of the desktop in the lower right corner). Click on the small triangle and find the speaker icon (not to be confused with the volume control icon) or notes.
If there is such an icon, then the drivers are installed. If you can't find it, then open the hardware manager.
To do this, simultaneously press the +[R] keys. In the window that appears, write mmc devmgmt.msc and click OK.
This will launch Device Manager. Here you need to find the "Sound, game and video controllers" folder. Open it. There should be an entry here Realtek Audio or IDT High Definition Audio (or anything else related to audio).
If there is such an entry, then open it double click left mouse button. In the window that opens, find the line "Device Status". If there are errors in the operation of the audio card, then here you will see its code and description.
If there is no such entry at all, then you need to install drivers. You can always find and download the necessary software on the official website of your laptop manufacturer, indicating its model and modification. So, we figured out the drivers. Remember that you need to install drivers manually. Now you can proceed to setting up the recording equipment.
Realtek ac97 audio driver for Windows 8: Video
Microphone setup
To do this, we need to enter the parameters of the sound card. In the system tray, again, find the icon in the form of a note or speaker. Open it by double clicking right click mice. In the menu that opens, go to the "Record" section.
Here you can set the recording volume, recording level amplification and other parameters. Set the desired options and save the settings.
The fact is that, as a rule, errors when the Windows 8 microphone does not work do not occur due to the settings of the sound card, but due to the settings of the programs in which you use the sound recording device.
That is, the program simply does not know what equipment to use, setting the wrong device by default.
If, for example, in Skype, the interlocutor still does not hear you, then you need to specify which equipment should be used. To do this, go to the Skype settings. Open the "Basic" section and go to the "Sound Settings" category.
In the line "Microphone" you need to select "Built-in microphone system". After that click "Save". This completes the setup.
General algorithm
It is simply impossible to describe how to adjust the sound in each program. However, several general steps can be distinguished: in any application, you need to open its settings and go to the section related to setting sounds. Such rubrics can be called differently, but in any case, the word “Sound” will be present in the title. This is your guideline.
How to set up a microphone in Windows 8: Video
Play games, listen to music, talk on Skype without disturbing others - all this is possible with the help of headphones with a microphone. The gadget greatly simplifies the life of a PC or laptop user.
Jacks and types of connecting headphones with a microphone
At the beginning of the article, I would like to clarify a little the situation with the connectors and jacks of headphones and a computer.
So, if you bought modern headphones with a built-in microphone, then most likely they will have a combo jack that will look like this: 
Please note that this jack has three dark contact strips, two of them for headphones, right and left channels, and one for the microphone. This means that if your computer or laptop has a special combo jack, then you just need to plug in a headset, and everything will work. But, unfortunately, in cases with stationary computers, this is not always the case. In most cases, the computer has 2 jacks, one for headphones only (usually green) and one for microphone only (usually Pink colour).
It looks like a regular headphone jack without a microphone (only two contact strips): 
How to connect headphones with a combo jack to a desktop computer that does not have a combo jack? You will need a special adapter cable: 
In the case of a laptop, you are likely to have more luck, in modern models built-in combo jacks (pay attention to the icon - headphones with a microphone), which look something like this: 
For desktop computers, it is convenient to connect the headset to the front panel, in my case it looks like this: 
It is difficult to make a mistake when connecting, all sockets have a corresponding icon. If your computer does not have such sockets on the front panel, it does not matter, they definitely are on the back. Unless, of course, your computer has a sound card.
We connect and configure headphones to a PC running Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1
When connecting, there should not be any difficulties. Everything is extremely simple - the "procedure" will take no more than 2 minutes.
There are two connectors on the headphones: one for the "ears" themselves (usually green), the other for the microphone (usually pink). Of course, there are models without a microphone (there is one connector), but basically all modern headphones come with a microphone. After all, voice communication over the Internet is becoming more popular than telephone communication.
You can connect the device using the front or rear panel, depending on where there are free inputs.
- Plug in the ear jack. Usually it is either green, or there is a headphone icon next to it;
- Plug in the microphone jack. Usually it is pink, or there is a microphone icon next to it;
- If you have a combo jack on your headphones and a matching jack on your computer, just plug it in and you don't have to do anything else;
- Turn on your favorite song or movie - check the sound. If there is sound, everything is fine. If not, then right-click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the monitor. Then select "Playback Devices":
- There will be several (or one) devices in the list, make sure that the “Speakers” device is selected and there is a green checkmark next to it:
- If not, select this device, right-click on it and select the "set as default" menu:
- Now select the speakers, and click on the "configure" button, which is just below, then select the "stereo" sound channels, you can click on the "test" button, you should hear the sound from the channel that is displayed on the screen, and click "next »:
- Check the box in the "wide range speakers" settings in the "left and right front" position and click "next" and then "finish":
- The speakers on the right have a scale, turn on the music, if the scale does not fill up and there is no sound when playing music, then something is not working right:
- If the scale fills up, but there is no sound, check the volume level. You can do this by left-clicking on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the monitor:
If the volume is set, there is a filling of the scale, but there is no sound, then either you put the headphones in the wrong jack, or your headphones are faulty, check them on another device that definitely works;
We connect and configure the microphone to a PC running Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1
- To check the microphone, connect it, click on the speaker icon, which is located in the lower right corner, right-click and select "recording devices" there:
- Select your microphone and make it your default device. Most likely, it will already be them, but it won’t hurt to check:
- A menu will appear where your microphone should be displayed. Check if you clap your hands next to him if there is a scale filling:
- If not, then right-click on the device, select "properties":
- Then the "levels" tab, set the value to position 80, check again:
If after that the scale does not fill, then you most likely connected the microphone to the wrong connector, or your microphone does not work. If it is filled, then select this device "use by default" and use it.
Headphones work properly and please the owner. For the most effective use and device settings and all sound in general, use the programs that come with your sound card, these are usually Realtek applications, but not always, so be careful.
Main features of the Realtek application:
- volume control;
- setting the sound quality, microphone;
- configuring the front and rear panel connectors.
And many other nice additions.
We connect headphones to a laptop on Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1
Laptops have only one headphone jack, and most likely it will be combined. If not, it doesn't matter, because. almost all laptops have a built-in microphone.
The algorithm for connecting headphones to a laptop is exactly the same as to a computer, follow the instructions that are given just above:
- Connect the device;
- Checking the sound
- Use.
Drivers for headphones and microphones are usually not needed.
Headphones with a microphone are connected, the only thing left is to adjust the headphones to your needs.
- Adjust the microphone volume. Right-click on the speaker icon, select "recording devices", then right-click on the microphone, select "properties", then go to the "levels" tab. There is no need to set all values to the maximum. You do not want your interlocutor to hear only wheezing? Photos of the process are presented just above;
- Adjust the volume level in your ears to a comfortable level so that you can clearly hear the music or the other person. However, keep in mind that it is best to adjust the volume according to the sound of the music on your computer. Quite often it happens that the interlocutor has incorrectly adjusted the sensitivity level of the microphone, and it will sound either quiet or loud, then, if circumstances permit, you need to tell your interlocutor about this. He must correctly set up the microphone, because. if you adjust to it, you may forget that you changed the volume level, and then, when you turn on music or a movie, you may be afraid of a very loud sound, or worry that the sound is very hard to hear.
Connected. Set up. Now enjoy crystal clear sound.
When connecting a separate microphone or using the built-in microphone, some problems may occur. Sometimes this is some kind of small system failure that can be fixed with the help of manipulations in the settings. However, it also happens that a special board and / or port responsible for the operation of the microphone, headphones and / or speaker is burned / damaged on the laptop. In this case, problems can be not only with the microphone.
To begin with, it is recommended to make sure that you are inserting everything into the ports correctly. The fact is that some headsets have a double cable, where one end is responsible for the operation of the microphone, and the other for the operation of the headphones. In order for such a headset to function normally, the laptop must have two ports, one for headphones, the other for a microphone. Each port has its own designation, as well as cables.
In the case of a regular microphone or headsets, where only one wire is needed, the laptop design should provide two separate ports, but there should be a designation next to the port that it is for both a microphone and headphones.
Method 1: Troubleshoot driver issues
If you do everything right, but the microphone still does not work, or malfunctions, then the problem may also lie in incorrectly installed, outdated or missing drivers.
Usually, Windows 8 itself searches for and installs drivers for new devices from the network, but not always. Additionally, a microphone / headset may come with a disk, flash drive or a document where it is written where you can download the driver and how to install it.
If none of this is available, then you can try installing the missing drivers using special utilities. One of these is Driver Pack Solution. It scans the system and then installs the missing drivers. Does not require installation.
Work with it like this:
Method 2: Turn on the microphone in the settings
You may not have your microphone turned on. system settings, so the system can't see it and can't use it. Fix the issue:
Method 3: Enable the microphone in other applications
Sometimes the microphone may work properly on the system, but not work in any application. To fix this, you first need to complete all the steps from the previous methods, and then configure the microphone in the application itself. Consider this process using two of the most popular programs as an example.
bandicam
This program is designed to record video from the monitor screen. With its help, it is convenient to record the process of working in any program or game. Usually, problems with the operation of the microphone, if everything is fine in the previous methods, should not arise. If they occur, then use this instruction to eliminate them:
This is also a very popular program that requires you to connect a microphone, as you can make audio and video calls with it. The microphone here is very easy to set up:
Using this instruction, you will be able to connect a microphone to a computer on Windows 8 without any problems.
The built-in microphone in a laptop is certainly very convenient, but it is unlikely to be suitable for creating high-quality recordings.
If you want to record a video lesson or dub any video, then definitely you need to buy an external high-quality microphone, you can even use two in one (with headphones).
But let's not deviate from the topic.
So, the built-in microphone in your laptop has stopped working (it doesn’t matter in Asus, Acer or another) and you need to turn it on.
Consider the example of Windows 7 and 8, the tenth version has not yet been installed, it is too early to install it (as of August 2015).
Algorithm of our actions:
- We are looking for a problem and activate the device;
- We make the necessary settings;
- Let's check how it works.
Automatic problem solving mode
In operating rooms Windows systems 7 and 8 provides for the possibility of automatic mode eliminate various problems including those with built-in microphones.
And although most often this way turns out to be useless, yet it is from him that you need to start solving the problem, since you must always go from simple to complex.
What do we have to do:
- 1. Go to the OS control panel and go to the "Troubleshooting" section.
- 2. In the next section, click on "troubleshoot audio recording".
- 3. Next, this window will appear, click "Next".
- 4. If a message appears that the troubleshooter did not find the problem, as shown below, then see the "Drivers" section.
- 5. Otherwise, two ways to solve the problem will be offered, click the first one.
All corrections will be carried out automatically, at the final stage you will be asked to accept all changes.
Wait until the process of applying all the fixes is completed and try whether the microphone works or not (read how to check below).
If not, then go to manual mode.
Manual problem solving mode
Everything is very simple. Click on the sound icon on the right in the tray with the right mouse button.
A window like this will appear.
Go to the Recording Devices section.
Activate the microphone with a single click on it with the left mouse button and click on the "Properties" button (bottom right).
The following window will appear.
Make sure you have the settings set as shown above.
Press the OK buttons one after the other.
In theory, everything should work, if not, then go to the next section.
Drivers
If the built-in microphone worked on your laptop until recently and suddenly stopped, and the above methods did not help, then remember what software was installed in the near future.
Try to do a system rollback, and if that doesn't help, then reinstall the drivers. As a rule, you will have to reinstall the chipset and sound drivers.
Take latest versions drivers can be found on the official website of the laptop manufacturer.
Sometimes for this you will have to enter the serial number of the product, it is located on the back of the laptop.
Checking the operation of the built-in microphone in a laptop
It is not difficult to do this. Click the start button - all programs - standard (at the very bottom).
Go to the "Sound recording" section.
A window like this will appear.
You need to press record and speak any speech. Stop recording and save the sound file.
This file can be listened to by any player, for example, VLC.
But, as a rule, in 99.9% of cases, the above methods solve the problem. Good luck.
