Sorry for overlooking your initial post a few days ago. I don't have a model with an internal mic but I can paste in some tips that have been posted about

1.Activating the internal mic -- try reversing the tips to deactivate, and

2. Using an external mic which should deactivate the internal mic.

1. Turn on Mic (Try reversing to deactivate)

"Open the Dell Webcam Center, and look for Audio Source in the bottom right corner.  Click on Microphone/Line In and then go to More, and select Microphone Array (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC).  Once the Audio Source says Microphone Array (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC) then the microphone should be active." -- posted by Rollie, a Dell moderator

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"I'm using Windows XP on the same computer, but had the same problem. What I found was that you need to turn on and adjust the "digital microphone" properties. If you right-click on the volume control in the system tray and select open volume control, then options > properties > select recording radio button and make sure the digital mic is ticked. Click Ok and make sure the select box is ticked for digital mic once again. Increase the volume level as appropriate. Use the sound recorder in accessories to test the two mics located to the left and right of the built-in camera." -- from forum member cssguy

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"Open control panel and double click sound>click the recording tab at top>Microphone should be shown in next window and should have a green check on it.Double click on the micrphone and click the device usage tab at bottom,if it is disabled select enable and click apply." -- dgkpcon

To turn off speakers from mic array: "Control panel>Sound>right click on speakers,or speakers / headphones> properties tab>levels tab>turn off/on from here." -- dgkpcon

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"I checked my wife's 1720 with SP1 and it was working. I went in under Webcam Center, then selected TOOLS and then audio settings (I think it was).  the microphone selections were bluetooth or Microphone array....do you see a microphone array option.  If so, select that that is what ours is set at.  If not, then I don't know what else to say." -- eskymi

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How to access in Vista (from Teamspeak forum):

For mic control:
Start>Control Panel>Sounds>Recording>Right click>show disabled devices>double click or right click properties on the microphone>Level controls the volume that other people can hear you>Custom is for mic boost, used if level control can not get your voice high enough for others to hear you.


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Posted by forum member Anatnakhti

I have a Dell 1545 running with Vista 64 & Dell Webcam Central for the web cam. I've experienced a lot of problems with the web cam. The web cam wouldn't work & then the audio wouldn't work. I would record a video & there would be no sound. My built in mic wouldn't work in voice chatting either.

The problem is that Dell Webcam Central installs it's own microphone settings onto your laptop called something like Dell web cam Live!. (the exact name I'm not sure of because I've removed it from my system .. but if you follow these steps you'll find it. Look for something with Live! in the title under mic's) This isn't the built in microphone in my laptop & maybe not yours either.

You have to change the settings for your computer system & Dell Webcam Central. Go to start> control panel> sound> recording .. on mine there is an option for Microphone "High Definition Audio Device" ... that is the built in mic. You want that for your default & apply it. Then open Dell web cam central & go to the "Record Video's" option. In the middle of this is an orange button with a video camera icon. Next to this on the same button is a little arrow pointing down .. click that. Under microphone .. choose Microphone "High Definition Audio Device" just like the sound option in control panel. I've done this & it's completely fixed. I can record videos with sound & use my built in mic in voice/video chat


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2. Use External Mic

Posted by forum member 040794 (Inspiron 1720)

"If you are trying to use an external microphone with an aplication make sure to right click on the soud icon in the system tray click recording devices then put microphone/line in as your default."

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Posted by forum member davmcn (Inspiron 1525)

With Windows 7, I've figured out that you must have one of the two set as your default to make the Microphone work. When you go down to the little icon on the task bar at the bottom and you right click the sound icon , and go to Recording Devices, Do you see the option for the External Mic ? If so , i would suggest you put it as the default , and then try it with whichever software you are trying to use it with. Also , depending on the application that you are trying to use , it may not be set up properly to use the proper Microphone.

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Posted by forum member Jakpro, to turn off internal mic in a 1520:

Go to sound in the control panel and select the properties button for the microphone and then look at the bottom and select disable the device.


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Posted by forum member phil r 279  (2 other forum members confirmed this works for mic array on Inspiron 1420)
Hi, Here's how I fixed my microphone after disabling it to record internet radio..
Go to the
Control Panel choose "Hardware and Sound" then "Manage audio devices" in the Sound tab, then the "Recording" tab.
RIGHT CLICK on the dialog box and select "Show disconnected devices" and/or "Show disabled devices"
Left click on Microphone array to select it and click "Properties"
To the right of Device Usage, click the arrow pointing down and select "use this device(enable)"
Then choose Apply and OK. You will now see in the Sound/ Recording tab that its working.
Problem solved, all because of the right click facility.
To put a shortcut on your desktop for muting the microphone later, do this..
Go back to Control Panel and right click on the speaker icon or the 'Sound' word. Choose "Create Shortcut".


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Posted by tomf22 re Vostro 3500 running Windows 7 home premium 32 bit.

I found the fix by combining a few of the ones above.
I went to control Panal > hardware and sound > manage audio devices > recording (tab) > right click in recording and select show disabled devices > click on the (now shown) external mic and click enable > set external mic as defult and bingo, the mic is now working.

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Posted by forum member PPR
External Mic Deactivated in E1505/6400 with Vista


I have a problem that bothers me quite a lot. In the Control Panel Area "Audio" there is no more recording device (=microphone) showed since i deactivated it. I am now wondering wether I need to install a new driver for my external microphone or whatelse the problem might be. It seems that no mic is activated at all.Non of my external microphones gets displayed there / is working when I plug it in. I have a Inspirion 6400 and use Windows Vista.Thanks 4 help,

Thanks guys! But now I found out myself how to make the microphone appear again. I have to right-click in the space where it was displayed before and then press "activate" at the relevant mic shown.

"Go into the Control Panel Area "Audio" recording device. Right-click in the space where (the mic) was displayed before and then press "activate" at the relevant mic shown."