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USB Headset microphone problem

Anonymous
2019-06-10T17:48:33+00:00

Okay here is my problem, 

I've been using a USB gaming headset for years. I had a Soundblaster Tactics Rage headset,

then suddenly last year windows decide that it detects the microphone but it refuses to use it.

Long story short, I recently got a new headset and it is having the same problem. If I blow or

talk on the mic, I can hear it over the headset's speakers but it won't show up on on the windows

microphone tab that the mic is not picking up anything up.

The drivers were up to date for both headsets but they are both having the same problem. I don't

know if some kind of windows update caused a problem but I rather not have to refresh windows

and reinstall everything. I have old copies of 3dmax 2008 and adobe cs3 running on my computer and 

I'm afraid I won't be able to reactivate them since both companies went cloud and dont support these

older programs anymore.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-06-11T06:31:21+00:00

    Press Windows key + X

    Click Device Manager

    Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers at the bottom

    Right click each entry then click uninstall

    Exit then restart

    Windows 10 will then redetect them.

    Check if they then work.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-06-10T17:56:48+00:00

    Hi Thomas

    My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

    Option 1 - Headphone is not disabled and is set as default

    Type Sound in Windows Start Seach box

    Click Sound

    Under Playback tab, right click on an empty space and select, Show disconnected devices and Show disabled devices

    Select Headphone and click on Properties and make sure that the Headphone is enabled.

    You may also check if the Headphone that you are using is set as default.

    Option 2 - Run audio troubleshooting

    Wndows+X

    Click Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot

    Go down and select Playing Audio

    Click Run the troubleshooter

    Restart once it finishes

    Option 3: Update audio driver

    Windows Key+X (Or right click on Start)

    Click Device Manager

    Expand Sound, video and game controllers

    Right click on your audio adpater

    Click Update Driver Software

    Click Browse my computer for driver software

    Click Let my pick from a list of device drivers on my computer

    Choose the driver

    Click Next to update

    If this does not work, select Search automatically for the updated driver in place of Browse my computer for driver software

    Restart your computer

    Option 4: Update driver from manufacturer's website

    Go to the website of the audio driver's manufacturer or computer's manufacturer

    See if some driver is released for your model and OS

    If yes, download that

    In previous option, you click Update Driver Software, in place of this, click Uninstall

    Install the downloaded driver

    Restart your computer

    Option 5 - Rollback the Driver

    Windows Key+X

    Click Device Manager

    Expand Sound, video and game controllers

    Right click on your audio adpater

    Click Properties

    Go to Driver tab

    If there is rollback option, click it

    Open Start, type: change sound card

    Hit Enter

    Select Communications tab

    Choose Do nothing

    If there is an 'Enhancements' tab, click on it then check the box to 'Disable all enhancements'.

    Press Windows key + R

    Type: services.msc

    Hit Enter

    Scroll down to Windows Audio

    Double click it then change Startup type to ‘Automatic’

    Click Start

    Click Apply then oK.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2019-06-10T18:32:31+00:00

    Thanks for trying to help,

    I ran most of that gambit with the automated helper before getting here.

    the end result is typically a pop up that says "The wizard could not start" 

    when I try to configure it to work with speech or it that it is not working 

    or turned off when I use google voice.

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