General Microphone Troubleshooting   Step 1:  Overview The in-built microphone in your laptop records audio input into your laptop by recording your voice. Sometimes your laptop microphone is unable to work properly due to various problems. This tutorial lists the steps required to troubleshoot your laptop microphone.   Step 2:  Check Microphone To determine if the microphone in your Windows XP laptop is working properly, click Start | All Programs | Accessories | Entertainment | Sound Recorder. The Sound Recorder dialog box will open. The 'Record' button should be red. Click this button to start recording your voice. If the green line oscillates, then you are recording. Click 'Stop' and then 'Play'. If your voice is played back, the Microphone is functioning correctly.   Step 3:  Verify the Configuration While troubleshooting your laptop microphone, verify the configuration by clicking Start | All Programs | Accessories | Entertainment | Volume Control. Check the volume settings in the Volume Control window and adjust them by moving the sliding knobs. Click Options | Properties. In the Properties window, check that 'Microphone' is selected.   Step 4:  Check the Batteries Be sure that your laptop microphone is in working condition. It may require a battery to function properly. Confirm that the batteries are new and properly installed.   Step 5:  Use an External Microphone Try a test recording using an external microphone. If it that works, contact the vendor to replace the in-built microphone. If the external microphone also is unable to record, it indications a sound card problem.