Cannot see the microphone

The graphics (Video) have nothing to do with normal PC audio.

Check the Control Panel/Hardware and Sound/Sound Panel  Click on Recording TAB and see if the microphone can be enabled there.   If the speakers are working the sound "card" would appear to be working.

Can you "record" with a microphone to the Windows "Sound Recorder" (found under Programs/Accessories).  If you can record the microphone with the sound recorder then that also proves the PC's sound card is OK and that would suggest the problem is with your video program or how it's configured.

When I click on Accessories Sound Recorder I get message "An audio recording device cannot be found."  When I click on the Recording tab I get message "No audio devices are installed." 

I tried the mic in my laptop and it works and I get the little recording window there but not on the Dell desktop.  Suggestions?

When I click on Accessories Sound Recorder I get message "An audio recording device cannot be found

That is not the place I directed you to.  Reread my original post.

However, if there is "no audio devices are installed" you would not have ANY sound.

To anwser your 2nd paragraph in your first post: I don't know what you mean by Conrol Panelk/Hardware. There is no Hardware tab in COntrol Panel only SOund. If I click on Sound, one of the Tabs is Recording. When I open that tab is displayed "No audio devices are installed" There are no icons for microphones showing. Its as if the computer sees no microphone but the speakers and headphones work OK.

The other tabs in SOund are Playback which has three seelctions apparantly for speaker. Digital Outpuit Device (HDMI), Speakers and Digital Outpuit Device (SPDIF). I can select any of the three but the meter strength only shows operating on the "Speakers" selection. But the sound works on any of the eselections. The third tab in Control Panel/SOund is Sounds which selects bit rates etc.

If I open Sound Recording program in Accesories I get the similar message "An audio recording device cannot be found."

Does this help you help me? Tks ALan

What Operating System do you have?  What I was referring to in the Control Panel is applicable to Vista and Win 7.  If you have XP it's different.

I'm running Vista Home Premium Version 6.0 Build 6002  Service Pack 2

Then check the Sound Panel (in the Control Panel) as I first suggested to see if the mike is selected as the Recording device.

The response to your questions was answered in my post above of 12:10.  There are no mikes selected.  No recording devices at all are shown.

Lets, go back to the beginning.  Part of the sound works as you can hear sounds but others, such as the mic do not and you get the message about no sound device. 

First thing to do, uninstall the Sound in the Device Manager, then restart the PC and when Windows starts, the sound will be detected and reinstalled.    To access the Device Manager, hold the Windows key down and press the Pause/Break key.  When the panel comes up you can access the Device Manager from that Panel.  In the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the entry for your sound device and then LEFT Click on "Uninstall".  Restart the PC. 

If this does not help, reinstall the Dell supplied sound drivers. 

That did it. It was missing the SIgna-tel driver that I downloaded from Dell.  Now when I go to Recording tab it shows both Microphone select or Line IN.  Those were missing before.  Since this is the first time I'm trying a mike, who knows how long those haven't been there. Other drivers are there but the Sign-tel one was missing.

Thanks again./

Alan

One more issue.  The soudn records very very low.  DOes it need a pre-amp.  I'm using a cheap combi earphone mike to the front jack on the computer.  ANy reecommendation on the type of mike I should use for narration voiceovers on home videos I'm doing?  AUdio plug or USB mike?  WIll video programs like ADobe PRemiere take USB inputs?

Al

There should be a volume control for the mic, have you checked that? When I doubleclick on the microphone for my sound card (a Soundblaster) one of the tabs in the panel that comes up is to adjust the level - you may or may not have this.  Some audio systems also have a db boost option for mic's.  A "computer" mic should give you the proper volume level. 

I can't say about application programs, I don't use a mic with my PC's video card.  I have a recording studio but I use a firewire connected professional interface for recording, not the PC sound card.