Internal microphone stopped working

[markf999]

The internal microphone on my VAIO VGN-AW41XH notebook has stopped working. I have been using an external mic for a couple of days and after removing it the internal one no longer works.

I have restarted my computer and also tried using a different user account: no joy.

I have run the Windows 7 audio troubleshooter; and downloaded and run the Microsoft Fixit audio trouble shooter: no joy with either.

The contol panel shows one Realtek High Definition Audio microphone as the default recording device (I have checked that 'Show disabled devices' is enabled). When I plug in the external mic and speak, the volume bars show it is picking up the sound; when I remove the mic (and presumably switch to the internal mic) no sound is detected.

I have tried other stuff via the Sound section of the Control Panel as follows:

- In Microphone Properties/Listen: when I check 'Listen to this device' I hear white noise. When I plug in the external mic I hear the sounds picked up by the mic.

- In Microphone Properties/Levels: Microphone is set to 70 and Microphone Boost is +20dB.

- In Microphone Properties/Advanced: I have unchecked "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" but that makes no difference.

I'm now stumped. Can anyone help?

[markf999 · Accepted solution]

Problem now solved. I checked through the Windows troubleshooters again and found that the "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter" at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/no-sound-in-windows fixed the problem. Dunno what happened; but all's well that ends well.

[flogger12345]

Great to hear that. One option is also to do a system restore where your microphone was working that specific date.