Microphone not working

[ziggyann]

Hi
I have an HP Pavillion DV 2500 with Conexant smart audio, running Home Premium 32bit.
Recently, the built-in microphone has stopped working and I am unable to make calls with Skype or to use the Sound recorder, all I hear when I playback is very strong background noise. I tried with headphones with the same result.
I tried all the solutions proposed by Skype, test call, mic check etc but ..no luck!
I went to Control Panel and Sounds, the microphone is shown as "working" and the driver is correctly installed and updated. I played around with the levels but it doesn't seem to change a thing.....I don't know what to do anymore! Can anyone help??

 

[Tarka Dal]

Uninstall Driver

Uninstall Driver then re-install driver.
Do this first!
Then let us know if the Green sound bars are lighting up...

 

[ziggyann]

I looked but I can't seem to find the right version of the driver for vista, mine is Conexant High Def Smartaudio HD2 4.36.7.61...I only find the earlier version which apparently is only ok for XP....any clues as to where I could find it?? Thanks!!

 

[Tarka Dal]

Try this one and let me know :~
Conexant High Definition Smartaudio HD2 - Driver Download - PC Pitstop Libraries

 

[ziggyann]

I tried that link last night but instead of the driver it takes me to something called "Driver Alert" download and then on to a paying package.....

 

[Tarka Dal]

Roll Back driver & hide update in windows update...

Ok I think I have a solution...
Click on Start menu
Right click computer
Click manage
Click continue

Click on Device manager
Click on Sound Video and Game controllers
Right cick on Conexant card
Click properties
Click on driver tab
Click on roll back driver
Click on Yes...

Then close everything down.

Then goes to windows update (This may require a restart to work)
then click on check for updates
It should give you the option view additional updates
click on that and you should now see the update for your sound card
Right click on this and click on Hide update. Then close the page and it should not bother you ever again...


Try that and let me know...

 

[ziggyann]

Sounds good except "roll back driver" option is grayed out.....I'm logged in as administrator so I should be able to enable the option, shouldn't I?
Thanks for your help by the way, you're the only one who's helping me!!!

 

[Tarka Dal]

OK uninstall driver and then go to windows update (This may require a restart to work)
then click on check for updates
It should give you the option view additional updates
click on that and you should now see the update for your sound card
Right click on this and click on Hide update.


Basically the problem is the driver that is new is no good you need to get the original driver to install from HP you'll find it in downloads drivers and make sure that the driver does not update...

Best of luck!

 

[ziggyann]

I'll try and look for the original driver on the HP website...I am not very keen on uninstalling what I have now because I tried it last night and was left with no driver at all, no sound from the speaker either! Had to use system restore to get it back. Actually I am not sure that this driver is an update because it came out at the beginning of 2008 and this laptop is not that old....earlier drivers seem to be for XP only, but I'll check the HP website...thanks!

 

[ziggyann]

ok I checked but really the version before (Conexant 4.36.7.61) seems to be only compatible with XP not Vista, so I'm stuck!!

 

[Tarka Dal]

ok I checked but really the version before (Conexant 4.36.7.61) seems to be only compatible with XP not Vista, so I'm stuck!!

Please look a little harder


Try this one :~
Conexant HD-Audio SmartAudio 221 Driver*

If not try this one:~
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3411156&os=2093&lang=en


As you can see it's a previous version...

 

[Tarka Dal]

Please put your specifications of your laptop in the user cp section look for edit specs...
This will help me find correct driver...

 

[ziggyann]

Ok, I went to the HP page and looked for drivers for the exact model of my laptop, there was an option, rollback to original driver, I did that and now it works! Much better with headphones than without but it works! Only now I seem to have a really old version (4.19.0.0), should I hide updates anyway ??

 

[Tarka Dal]

Ok, I went to the HP page and looked for drivers for the exact model of my laptop, there was an option, rollback to original driver, I did that and now it works! Much better with headphones than without but it works! Only now I seem to have a really old version (4.19.0.0), should I hide updates anyway ??

Yes the driver update will always cause you problems. Until there is another update for that specific driver keep it hidden. Glad to know you got it working!
Old drivers are ok if they work until......

 

[ziggyann]

Ok!! Thanks again for your help..!
Cheers