microphone not working in Windows Messenger

  • Thread starter Thread starter pbs
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pbs

My microphone works when tested on my pc (Dell Inspirion
2400 with integrated SoundMax card). I can hear myself
through the speakers but it does not work when using
Windows Messenger, chat partners can't hear me. Dell says
it is a software problem not hardware. I've reinstalled
WM but did not make a difference (XP does not offer the
option to uninstall Windows Messenger). Anyone have any
suggestions?
 
It is a misconfigured sound system. You should not hear yourself ever. Go
to the little sound Icon in the System Tray and double click, then select
Options/Properties and make sure the microphone is NOT checked in the
Playback mode, but IS checked in the Recording mode.

Joel
 
I'm not at that computer at the moment but i had checked
that as well. It wasn't originally set to Recording mode
but i did change it. Still had the same problem. Any
other thoughts?

Thanks for the quick reply, Joel.
 
What i mean is that i still had the same problem after
having changed that setting to Recording mode. Still
can't hear me in a chat.

pbs
 
Yes, i can hear them but they can't hear me. i tested a
known good mic as well as a headset-mic combo. None
could hear my voice. Any other thoughts?
 
Just a few simple things you might try. First, make sure the mic volume is
not muted or turned down in WM. Second, try selecting the 20 db boost in
the advanced tab for the mic in volume control. Third, make sure your
firewall is set to allow outgoing, as well as incoming, connections for WM
(see the many other posts for more info). Fourth, make sure the person you
are trying to talk to has the volume up on their speakers/headphones (I know
it sounds stupid, but I've had this problem too many times to count). And
now a few questions: Does your system have only one sound card? Is the mic
plugged into the mic jack, or the line in jack? I had a sound card that
used both interchangeably, but it only worked in WM if it was the mic jack.
Does the audio tuning wizard pick up your mic? Do you use a TV Tuner card?
If yes, what kind and does it connect to your sound card externally?
 
Greetings pbs,

Assuming you've gone through the Audio Tuning Wizard within Windows Messenger recently (click
the Tools menu in the main contact window and then choose Audio Tuning Wizard) and it appears
to work there, you and your contact might try turning off the QoS Packet Scheduler. To do
so, click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then Communications, and then Network
Connections. Right click your network/internet connection, then click Properties. Uncheck
the QoS Packet Scheduler, and try again.

If that doesn't help and if you or your contact are using a router (with UPnP support), you
may need to remove the current port forwardings. To do so, click Start, All Programs,
Accessories, Communications, Network Connections. Right-click the "Internet Gateway" (should
be under the Internet Gateway heading) and choose Properties. Choose the Settings button,
click each 'msmsgs' or 'msnmsgr' entry and then choose 'Delete' to each one. Then close
Messenger (right-click the Messenger icon, choose Exit), then restart Messenger.

Finally, for testing purposes, both you and your contact might try turning off the Windows XP
Internet Connection Firewall (although you shouldn't need to for Messenger voice/video
connectivity). To do so, click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then
Communications, and then Network Connections. Right click your network/internet connection,
then click Properties. Click the Advanced Tab, and verify that the Internet Connection
Firewall is unchecked. As well, if your contact is using some type of third-party firewall
(ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security, etc.) have them make sure that Messenger is set to
"Permit All", "Allow All" or "Medium" (ZoneAlarm).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
thanks for your reply. the computer in question is
actually at a friends house so i will go there later to
check out your suggestions.

thanks,
 
Sorry Jonathan, I completely missed your suggestions the
first time around. I'll check these settings the next
time i get over to my friends house. So far none of the
other suggestions have worked. There are 2 other PC's in
that same house which are also running XP and connecting
through a router to Comcast. Neither of them are having
this problem.

Thanks,
pbs

-----Original Message-----
Greetings pbs,

Assuming you've gone through the Audio Tuning Wizard
Click to expand...
within Windows Messenger recently (click
the Tools menu in the main contact window and then
Click to expand...
choose Audio Tuning Wizard) and it appears
to work there, you and your contact might try turning
Click to expand...
off the QoS Packet Scheduler. To do
so, click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories,
Click to expand...
then Communications, and then Network
Connections. Right click your network/internet
Click to expand...
connection, then click Properties. Uncheck
the QoS Packet Scheduler, and try again.

If that doesn't help and if you or your contact are
Click to expand...
using a router (with UPnP support), you
may need to remove the current port forwardings. To do so, click Start, All Programs,
Accessories, Communications, Network Connections. Right-
Click to expand...
click the "Internet Gateway" (should
be under the Internet Gateway heading) and choose
Click to expand...
Properties. Choose the Settings button,
click each 'msmsgs' or 'msnmsgr' entry and then
Click to expand...
choose 'Delete' to each one. Then close
Messenger (right-click the Messenger icon, choose Exit), then restart Messenger.

Finally, for testing purposes, both you and your contact
Click to expand...
might try turning off the Windows XP
Internet Connection Firewall (although you shouldn't
Click to expand...
need to for Messenger voice/video
connectivity). To do so, click Start, then All
Click to expand...
Programs, then Accessories, then
Communications, and then Network Connections. Right
Click to expand...
click your network/internet connection,
then click Properties. Click the Advanced Tab, and
Click to expand...
verify that the Internet Connection
Firewall is unchecked. As well, if your contact is
Click to expand...
using some type of third-party firewall
(ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security, etc.) have them
Click to expand...
make sure that Messenger is set to
 
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