Cannot record, get blue flat line

I am using Audacity 1.3 Beta and it use to work fine until I factory restored my computer. I redownloaded the Audacity program and it didn’t work. My computer mic says its enabled and working, but when I bring it into Audacity I get two blue flat lines.

I am using the Windows Vista Home Edition

The current version of Audacity is 2.0.2 and it is available here: http://audacityteam.org/download/

Try turning up the microphone volume: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/mixer_toolbar.html

I downloaded the newest version.
I did what you suggested and still nothing.

What options do you have in the Device Toolbar ?

MME or Windows Direct

Speakers (HD Audio) or microsoft sound mapper

Microphone (HD audio) or microsoft sound mapper

2 (stereo) or 1 (mono)

Go into the Windows Sounds Control Panel and check that your microphone is enabled and the recording level turned up: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer_Toolbar_Issues#vistacp

When I look at it, all I have is 1 green bar showing. I think my recording card or something isn’t enabled, but I don’t know how to access it.

I got my stereo mix to show up and is enabled, but I am still having the issue of a flat line.

What exactly did you do when you “factory restored” the computer?

Did you reinstall the drivers of the sound device? This is normally necessary if you reinstall Windows - see here http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Updating_Sound_Device_Drivers .


Gale

My sound driver is installed, enabled, and up to date.
Just when I plug in my mic nothing moves.
Something isn’t picking up my sound, but yet my sound card is “working fine”.

It’s really hard for us to see over your shoulder, much as we would like to help.

I would try a process of elimination. Try a different mic. Try the same mic recording with Windows Sound Recorder (click the Windows globe and type “sound recorder” (without quotes) in the search box).

In the Windows Control Panel, look in “Sound” and in any separate control panel the sound device has for a mic mute.


Gale