I don't know Dell's plans but I doubt if it will have an 8.1 driver since it does not supply an 8 driver. Is it possible to install the 7 IDT driver using compatibility mode?
So you are using the native Windows audio driver. I'm surprised that the internal mic does not work with that driver -- I would think any problems would be related to the jack mic.
Open the Recording tab of the Sounds properties -- I don't know the path in 8 or 8.1, in 7 you would right click the audio icon in the taskbar then left click Recoding devices. On the Recording tab, right click on the blank area and select to "show disabled devices", then do it again to show disconnected devices. Maybe you will get an option that you did not have before.
Thanks, Jim. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling with compatibility to W7 running the IDT setup. Still doesn't work. Ironically, everything works fine when I booted the machine into Ubuntu via USB.
Looks like I have two options: going back to W7 or just forget about Windows and use Ubuntu and run a version of Windows in a VM. Just more time to spend that I don't have.
If Dell is not going to supply W8 or W8.1 audio driver for the E5420, that would be very disappointing. If support for the E5420, a relatively new machine (less than 2 years?), is abandoned by Dell, I am not sure I will continue to buy Dell anymore (I have had multiple Dell machines all these years).
As I understand the mic array is on the same board as the webcam, and thus you need to look for the webcam drivers, not audio. Webcam central has these drivers included.
You know i might have mistaken here, but here's what i have:
a) yes my laptop is Latitude E5420
b) I'm running win8, though i just talked with my colleague and he said that installing win7 drivers worked for him (he's on win8.1, same machine).
c) i have re-installed my audio drivers and might have forgotten to reboot my machine, so it might be that they did fix the issue, although i remember re-installing them multiple times with no results. Here are the audio drivers i used:
I was wondering if there was a difficulty in installing that monitor application because the E5420 is not included in its list of compatible models.
Dell Webcam Central was pre-loaded on my E5420 but I don't know where to go to download it if I ever needed to. I think it is in "My Dell Downloads" but I am having some problems getting into it to check.
I agree completely with the disappointing support for a professional model. My solution was to install Ubuntu and run a version of Windows in a VM. The irony is, Ubuntu recognizes all functions of the machine without any problems. My other solution, a recent one when we decided to make an upgrade order, was to buy from another brand.
Will anyone from DELL bother to reply, that when they're going to provide any support for Windows 8.1 Audio Drivers. I was using the driver of Windows 7 in Windows 8 and now that one also not working in 8.1. If dell can not afford to have a person to reply the queries, and provide solutions, then an humble suggestion is that they must close all this forum "Drama".
At least it'll save some of Dell's repute that has so far left.
Same problem with my E5420 Latitude. After struggling a lot, I've upgraded my BIOS from A01 to A14 (through the different versions proposed) and finally the built-in mic works !!! (the jack one already worked).
Hello. Try installing the IDT Win7 audio driver using compatibility mode and see if it helps.
1. Download and save the audio driver to your desktop or any convenient location on the hard drive. [There are two "formats" on the driver's page. Scroll down to the 2nd one, named "Hard Drive" format, and download that one, not the 1st one named "Windows Update Package".] 2. Double click on the new folder to extract (unzip) the driver files. 3. The extractor wizard will create a new folder for the driver files. It will be at "c:\dell\drivers\xxxxxx". Write down the exact location that the wizard creates. 4. If the driver begins to install automatically, halt (cancel) the installation. 5. Browse to the driver files on the hard drive (the location you wrote down). 6. Find the "setup.exe" file. 7. Right click on setup.exe to open the context menu. 8. Select the Properties. 9. Select the Compatibility tab. 10. Check the box "run this program in compatibility mode for"... Win7.
Jim Coates
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13.6K Posts
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December 10th, 2013 19:00
I don't know Dell's plans but I doubt if it will have an 8.1 driver since it does not supply an 8 driver. Is it possible to install the 7 IDT driver using compatibility mode?
toomuchjava
7 Posts
0
December 10th, 2013 22:00
Thanks Jim. You are right. There is no Win 8 driver. I thought they did because everything worked when I upgraded to Win 8.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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December 11th, 2013 04:00
So you are using the native Windows audio driver. I'm surprised that the internal mic does not work with that driver -- I would think any problems would be related to the jack mic.
Open the Recording tab of the Sounds properties -- I don't know the path in 8 or 8.1, in 7 you would right click the audio icon in the taskbar then left click Recoding devices. On the Recording tab, right click on the blank area and select to "show disabled devices", then do it again to show disconnected devices. Maybe you will get an option that you did not have before.
PS I also have an E5420 but with 7.
toomuchjava
7 Posts
0
December 14th, 2013 12:00
Thanks, Jim. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling with compatibility to W7 running the IDT setup. Still doesn't work. Ironically, everything works fine when I booted the machine into Ubuntu via USB.
Looks like I have two options: going back to W7 or just forget about Windows and use Ubuntu and run a version of Windows in a VM. Just more time to spend that I don't have.
If Dell is not going to supply W8 or W8.1 audio driver for the E5420, that would be very disappointing. If support for the E5420, a relatively new machine (less than 2 years?), is abandoned by Dell, I am not sure I will continue to buy Dell anymore (I have had multiple Dell machines all these years).
MZSpex
3 Posts
0
February 27th, 2014 01:00
Hi TOOMUCHJAVA,
I know this is an old thread, but this might come in handy for some people with the same problem:
Actually the fix is simple - install dell webcam central:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails?driverId=N2X8D
As I understand the mic array is on the same board as the webcam, and thus you need to look for the webcam drivers, not audio. Webcam central has these drivers included.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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February 27th, 2014 05:00
Hello. Just to be clear, you installed the application -- that you linked to -- in a Latitude E5420 with Windows 8.1?
The E5420 also has another mic that is not part of the camera. It is between the power button and the volume control buttons.
MZSpex
3 Posts
0
February 27th, 2014 08:00
You know i might have mistaken here, but here's what i have:
a) yes my laptop is Latitude E5420
b) I'm running win8, though i just talked with my colleague and he said that installing win7 drivers worked for him (he's on win8.1, same machine).
c) i have re-installed my audio drivers and might have forgotten to reboot my machine, so it might be that they did fix the issue, although i remember re-installing them multiple times with no results. Here are the audio drivers i used:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/latitude-e5420?driverId=T10V6&osCode=ww1&fileId=2939901298&languageCode=en&categoryId=AU
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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February 27th, 2014 20:00
Thanks for supplying those details.
I was wondering if there was a difficulty in installing that monitor application because the E5420 is not included in its list of compatible models.
Dell Webcam Central was pre-loaded on my E5420 but I don't know where to go to download it if I ever needed to. I think it is in "My Dell Downloads" but I am having some problems getting into it to check.
MZSpex
3 Posts
0
February 27th, 2014 22:00
Well, at least I did not have any issues installing it. As far as I remember Dell application usually check their compatibility with the system.
januariofl
1 Message
0
April 22nd, 2014 04:00
Hi!
I have the same problem...
It's a shame that a professional model don't have support for at least 4 years!
I have only seen that on a HP multimedia home laptop.
I'll not buy Dell anymore for sure, I never have such problems on any professional machine, even with 6+ years, they still support W8.1.
I've tryed all options but it doesn't work!
toomuchjava
7 Posts
0
May 3rd, 2014 23:00
I agree completely with the disappointing support for a professional model. My solution was to install Ubuntu and run a version of Windows in a VM. The irony is, Ubuntu recognizes all functions of the machine without any problems. My other solution, a recent one when we decided to make an upgrade order, was to buy from another brand.
imranQadri
1 Message
0
June 15th, 2014 09:00
Will anyone from DELL bother to reply, that when they're going to provide any support for Windows 8.1 Audio Drivers. I was using the driver of Windows 7 in Windows 8 and now that one also not working in 8.1. If dell can not afford to have a person to reply the queries, and provide solutions, then an humble suggestion is that they must close all this forum "Drama".
At least it'll save some of Dell's repute that has so far left.
AndyBogo
1 Message
0
July 7th, 2014 09:00
Hi folks.
Same problem with my E5420 Latitude. After struggling a lot, I've upgraded my BIOS from A01 to A14 (through the different versions proposed) and finally the built-in mic works !!! (the jack one already worked).
HIH,
Fabio
digitlimit
1 Message
0
August 26th, 2016 02:00
Still doesn't work after webcam installation
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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August 29th, 2016 07:00
Hello. Try installing the IDT Win7 audio driver using compatibility mode and see if it helps.
1. Download and save the audio driver to your desktop or any convenient location on the hard drive. [There are two "formats" on the driver's page. Scroll down to the 2nd one, named "Hard Drive" format, and download that one, not the 1st one named "Windows Update Package".]
2. Double click on the new folder to extract (unzip) the driver files.
3. The extractor wizard will create a new folder for the driver files. It will be at "c:\dell\drivers\xxxxxx". Write down the exact location that the wizard creates.
4. If the driver begins to install automatically, halt (cancel) the installation.
5. Browse to the driver files on the hard drive (the location you wrote down).
6. Find the "setup.exe" file.
7. Right click on setup.exe to open the context menu.
8. Select the Properties.
9. Select the Compatibility tab.
10. Check the box "run this program in compatibility mode for"... Win7.