E1505 maximum microphone volume is waaaay to low

OK, so I bought a new Inspiron 6400/E1505 laptop. Everything was OK out of the box, except for all the software junk DELL preinstalled. Next step > wipe out everything, repartition and reformat, installed Windows Media Center (DELL's CD), downloaded all the drivers, installed necesarry programs.

But DELL strikes back. When I tried talking using Skype I get virtually no sound from my microphone (QuickSet detects it thow). I tested the mic on my girlfriend's computer, everything is ok with my micropfone, there must be something wrong with the drivers (I assumed).

Things I've tried:
1. Installed Audigy drivers
2. Installed another set of SigmaTel drivers
3. Edit the registry for the Line in monitor hack (What U hear "thingy")

Nothing works. I get some sound out of my MIC if I literraly put it on my lips when I am talking, but the sound volume is very very low. 1 inch between my MIC and my lips and the sound is gone, except for some static noise.

 

This may happen because the microphone volume, or sensitivity perhaps, is not set correctly in the sound card drivers. Go into your sound card's interface, and set it from there.

Also, if you have not done so already, do the same thing for Windows. That is to say, doube click on the speaker icon in the system tra, and push the bar for the microphone to the top. Hope this helps.

 

What sound card interface, I all get is this (see picture).

Already done and redone with every set of drivers.


EDIT > HERE is another guy with the same problem but on an Inspiron 1000. No solution is posted there

 

Have you tried these drivers. They may work:

http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...=1&vercnt=1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=169315

 

I feel so stupid, but I found out the source of my problems. It is my cat . On closer inspection of the microphone wires I noticed a little chewed/chipped area and since my cat has a new favorite sleeping spot (laptop keyboard, probably because it is warm) the rest can be easy deducted. I repaired the microphone and everything is OK. Thank you all for helping me, it is up to you to decide a punishment for the cat .

P.S. I’ve been trying to solve this for 2 days, it never occurred to me my cat is a PC destroyer.

 

if it was the microphone how did it work fine on the other laptop u tested it on?

 

The exterior wire was chipped (for the negative charge), but if you bend it, the little metal conductors inside touch each other, it all depends on its position on my desk. When I tested the Mic it was enough to position the cable differently for at least one small conductor to touch. The fix was easy, cut it, reconnect the ends, insulate with power tape.

P.S. How do you make a cat NOT to sit on a warm laptop keyboard? When I am working he just wants to sit on it, I put him away but he comes back; he is either very stupid or very stubborn….