Win XP Microphone problem

I recently upgraded from Win 2k to Win XP using an Win XP upgrade CD. All seems to have upgraded correctly apart from 1 thing - my microphone no longer is capable of recording sounds.

When I try to use Start - programs - accessories - entertainment - sound recorder, to test the microphone, and try the red button to record, I get a message :" Another application is recording audio. Stop recording with this other application and then try to record with sound recorder again. "

Have you any suggestions what this means? I can't think of any other recording device in use.

How can I solve this problem?

 

Thanks Arie.

Under Audio and Sound Recording tabs, both show Playback and Recording entries as Modem #0 Line Playback and Modem #0 Line Record respectively.

Not sure what this means.

However, under Voice tab, when I click on test hardware -> wizard, I get a message to say "Your sound hardware cannot play sounds! "

Can you explain and help further?

 

Yep. That was the first thing I thought of doing. I have downloaded and installed the drivers and still have no microphone working.

In fact, I do not have as much "sound" as I thought either.

I can play a music CD but only by using Real Player or via Start-programs-accessories-entertainment-CD player. The music will NOT play using Windows Media Player. Also, BBC iplayer plays the video but does not produce sound.
How do I get the sound card to show up as a selected option within sound and audio devices in Control Panel (see earlier post)?

 

Device Manager shows :

Audio Codecs
C-Media PCI audio device
Legacy audio drivers
Legacy video capture drivers
Media control devices
Unimodem Half-duplex audio device
Video codecs

 

Thanks Arie.

I have now done as you suggested. On reboot, the PC reported that it had found new (audio) hardware and I updated the drivers for ALL 8 pieces of sound & audio hardware within device manager.

No change, I'm afraid. Windows detects and identifies the sound card correctly but does not put it into the correct place as default device for sound recording. It does not even offer it as an option from the drop down menu.

Any other suggestions?

 

Sorry. I should have told you that I had done that too.

And I should have mentioned that Device Manager told me that all devices in sound and audio were working properly. I beg to differ!

 

Perhaps the mic cable has a short in it try a different microphone.

 

Microphone works fine in another PC.

 

After all these trials and tribulations I find from other experts that a windows "upgrade" rather than a clean install is very often prone to have something break. Upgrades are therefore NOT recommended even though they are sold as if there are no real problems. I have therefore given up and done a clean install of XP.

All working fine now.