About Tom Guertin Expertise I can answer Desktop and Laptop hardware questions as well as software questions. I have worked as a programmer 9 years, test/QA 9 years, and system administration 7 years. Having a diverse background helps in diagnosing computer problems.
Experience Rocket Software Oct 14, 2002 – Present
Senior Systems Engineer: Responsible for all software and hardware installations, analysis, and support on all desktops and laptops. Support 200 remote employees along with 5 remote sites. Build servers, test, and build systems. Manage Active Directory, Exchange, Call Manager, and Unity accounts.
EMC Corporation Dec 31, 1999 – Nov 11, 2001
Senior Software QA Team Lead Engineer: Responsible for full software quality assurance of EMC's SymAPI and SymCLI software for Base and Control functionality.
Created full regression test suite in perl.
Peritus Software Services Sep 4, 1994 – Mar 30, 2001
Senior Software Engineer: Maintain outsourced code for CV, BULL, DG (UNIX), and Stratus (UNIX). Assist Y2K renovation team as project leader and COBOL renovator for Y2K compliance.
Team leader for as many as 21 engineers.
Supported DG AOS/VS II and AVIION (UNIX) communications products and AOS/VS II Databases. Maintained DG’s patch download website by modifying the XML web page, making each fix available.
Sys admin for both DG AOS/VS II and AVIION (UNIX) platforms.
BULL Worldwide Information Systems Inc. Aug 1988 – Sep 1994
Senior Software Engineer: Designed, Developed, Maintained, and Component Tested File System, Printer, and Device Utilities in an ISO 9000 environment using Assembly and C.
Maintained 21 utilities, fixing all problems within company wide goal.
Re-wrote 5 utilities in assembly with only 1 reported problem since 1989.
Maintained a Dump Analysis Utility, which enables users to follow system structures, dump group information, and analyze memory.
SQA component tested all DPS6 utilities.
KRAFT Inc., Dairy Group Oct 1986 - Aug 1988
Computer Programmer: Designed and developed a program that accounts for all maintenance parts, repairs, and moneys using DBASE III Plus.
Purchasing agent for all building and machine maintenance.
Education/Credentials EDUCATION: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Major: BS. Computer Systems Engineering
I have a microphone plugged into the pink port at the back of my PC that is running Win XP Home. I tried recoding sound but could not detect it when I played back the Windows sound recorder.
In Control Panel\Sounds and Audio Devices in the Audio and Voice sections, should I have “HD Audio rear input” selected as the Default device for sound recording? For sound playback I have “HD Audio rear output” selected.
In the Master Volume window under "Line In" should I have "Mute" ticked? In the Advanced Controls of Master Volume should I have "1 Disable Digital Output" ticked?
I tried the Sound Hardware Test Wizard and a message came up saying "Cannot complete the sound hardware test wizard. The wizard could not complete the test because your voice was not detected.
Your help is appreciated.
Regards Richard
ANSWER: Richard,
Should I have “HD Audio rear input” selected as the Default device for sound recording? >>> Yes
For sound playback I have “HD Audio rear output” selected. >>> That's ok if you have external speaker plugged in there.
In the Master Volume window under "Line In" should I have "Mute" ticked? >>> Definitely NOT. You want to let audio pass
In the Advanced Controls of Master Volume should I have "1 Disable Digital Output" ticked? >>> My guess is this may not matter. If it does, then remove it and see if it changes anything.
I hope this helps! Let me know...
Tom
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Tom
I managed to get my mic working to a point on the below settings. However, the volume is very soft when it is played back after the recording on Windows Sound Recorder. I had to put the volume right up to hear it and still it was fairly soft.
The settings I have selected are below. You may have received them on my last reply.
When I open “properties” under options in the Master Volume window, should "HD Audio rear output" be selected for the Mixer device when the properties window first opens? When "HD Audio rear output" is selected the only thing not ticked is "front Mic". However, Microphone was not ticked initially before I ticked it. When "HD Audio rear output" is selected there is a dot beside “Playback”. However, I cannot dot recording as it is grayed out.
However, in the drop down box when I select "HD Audio rear input" everything is ticked except "Stereo Mix". Thee is also a dot beside “Recording” and this time playback is grayed out. “Advanced controls” is also ticked under “options”.
Are the above settings correct?
Your help is appreciated,
Regards Richard.
Answer Richard,
The setting look good. I'm wondering why certain things are grayed out. Is the microphone plugged in when you are checking the settings? It may be needed to determine the type and the features that it has.
Volume: It sounds like you have a desktop. Sometimes there are hardware volume buttons. These buttons control the full range of your controls. If the hardware setting is at 50%, then the software settings can only control the 50%, not all 100%. You can check your manufacturese website for audio control details.
Front mic: I don't think it matters that this is not checked since you are not using it.
