Microphone not working

Hello. Two things to remember with an external mic.

1. Your laptop can use the Windows native audio driver or the vendor's audio driver. The external mic will not work with the native driver so if you are using it install the vendor's driver. Go to the Inspiron 15z 5523 html page and scroll down to the Audio category. Download one of the IDT drivers for your operating system. The Win 8.1 64-bit driver is labelled "WB64A". The others are for Win 7 or 8.

2. The Inspiron 15z 5523 has a single headset port, also known as a combo jack. The kind of mic it accepts is the mic that is part of a smart phone headset. Look at section 6 of the Headphone Jack FAQ to see pictures of the kind of plug that works with a combo jack.

One of the problems is that when I use the autodetect feature on the driver page it tells me I have an Inspirion 15z 5523 but when I go into the computer's properties it tells me I have an Inspirion 5521.

That's a problem because the audio driver for the 15z 5523 will not work with the 15R 5521 model. When you start up the computer its model name should show on the Dell logo screen, but it is brief. Or maybe you can use the model finder information at the parts-people.com (Dell parts specialists).  Don't use "detect my laptop" but instead put the service tag number in the "enter service tag field". The page shows you where to find the service tag number.

Let me know if it is the 15R 5521 AND tell me the version of Windows you have on the laptop and I will link you to the correct audio driver.

Also see my answer to you in this thread.

Hi,

#1, I did that and it says the driver is incompatible with the computer hardware.  One of the problems is that when I use the autodetect feature on the driver page it tells me I have an Inspirion 15z 5523 but when I go into the computer's properties it tells me I have an Inspirion 5521.  This computer was donated to my animal rescue and at this point I can't even figure out what I have in order to get the right drivers. If you have any suggestions on how to find out exactly what I'm dealing with it would help. 

#2, I am going to buy a cable to see if that works.  

Thank you for your assistance.

The tag # is<ADMIN NOTE: Service tag removed per privacy policy>.  I went to buy a cable and radio shack said there was no such thing. I looked for it but couldn't find it.  They said to buy a jack so I did and that didn't work.  Tried to upload a picture of it but of course the picture won't upload because it's too big apparently.  When I plug jack in I get dialogue box that says "What device did you plug in?  Headphone, speaker out, headset, skullcandy headphone, dell speaker out, skullcandy headset." No choice for microphone.

There is not a selection for microphone because the single audio port on your laoptop is a headset port, so select headset.

If the mic won't work suggest you get a usb audio jack.

Your service tag number indicates that you have an Inspiron 15z 5523. I think it originally had Windows 8. You need to verify if it still has Windows 8.