Microphones can be used to input voice commands or record dictations.
Windows 7 automatically recognizes and loads the necessary drivers for your microphone. This means the device is ready for use whenever you attach it to your computer. However, even if the device is properly installed, sometimes it is disabled or improperly configured. To make your microphone work, you need to make sure it is enabled and its input volume is not muted.
Instructions
1. Attach your microphone to your computer. Laptops may have an internal microphone, but desktops typically have external microphones, which plug into a small "mic" port on the back of your computer. High-end microphones usually require a USB port.
2. Right-click the speaker icon in the notification area of your Windows 7 taskbar and select "Recording devices."
3. Right-click your microphone in the list of recording devices, and click "Enable" if your microphone is currently listed as "Disabled." If it is listed as "Ready," it is already enabled.
4. Right-click your microphone from the list, and select "Properties."
5. Click the "Levels" tab in the microphone properties window.
6. Click the speaker icon, if you see a red circle with a slash in front of the icon. This means the microphone is muted. Clicking the icon removes the circle, which means it is unmuted.
7. Slide the slider bar to the right to increase microphone sensitivity. If the microphone's sensitivity is set all the way to the left, it may not pick up anything.
8. Click "OK" on the microphone properties window, and "OK" again on the Sound window to complete enabling your microphone.
Tags: your microphone, microphone properties, microphone properties window, microphone sensitivity, properties window, Right-click your, Right-click your microphone