If you upgraded to Windows XP, you need Windows XP specific drivers - the drivers for older Windows operating systems are not compatible. 

Did you "upgrade" with a Window XP upgrade CD over top of an older Operating System or did you do a "clean" install (reformat the hard drive and install from there?).  The "upgrade" brings more questions, like did you do everything noted in the Windows XP "Upgrade Advisor" - the first thing that runs on the Windows XP upgrade CD.

I upgraded from ME and I followed instructions precisely. As I said, I reinstalled Sound Blaster, but the mike won't work. It shows that I don't even have one. Believe me, it's plugged where it was before the upgrade.

Check the Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices.  Make sure your sound card is selected, in the Voice Tab, as the microphone recording device.

I did that right after I reinstalled. The "Hardware Test" can't see a microphone on the system, but it is there. I even downloaded and installed an update to Sound Blaster, so everything is up to date. The mike is good and the sound card is good. I'm just missing something obvious...I guess. 

Back to the "upgrade".  Upgrading, over an existing Operating System can have many problems and most of the "experts" on the forum suggest that a "clean" install is the only way to go.  However, I have done upgrades - on a old PC of mine from ME to XP and I've done it on several customer's PC's and everything worked OK, BUT, I did "clean up" the PC's before the upgrade including uninstalling any Windows XP incompatible drivers and software (such as the SoundBlaster drivers) and did everything that the Upgrade Advisor flagged before proceeding with the Upgrades.  I've also been on a service call for a customer that did an upgrade and didn't do all the necessisary cleanup and ignored the Upgrade Advisor - on that PC the only way to straighten it out was to do a "clean" install. I suspect that ultimately that is what you will have to do.

I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Oh well. Thanks for your help. I

appreciate the advice. Bob

I am having the exact same problem. I bought this computer with Windows XP already installed, but the microphone won't work.

It works perfectly fine on my other computer, which also has Windows XP, but isn't a Dell, but won't work on mine. Also, I don't see why a microphone jack would be in the back but a headphone one in the front?


Ok, thanks.