Unable to record on Windows 7

Hello! I am unable to record audio through the inbuilt microphone in my laptop on Audacity (Windows 7, 64-bit). I had no problems last December, only had to click record. But now, my microphone works but I don’t understand why I’m unable to record audio on the software.
I have even downloaded the RealTek audio driver. The default sound recorder records my voice very faintly–meaning my microphone IS working.
I’ve tried setting the input as MME, Windows DirectSound and Windows WASAPI on Audacity as I didn’t exactly know what is wrong, but it doesn’t work through anything. Can someone please help me in solving this issue?

Before posting this here, I’ve taken a good deal of time to comb through online forums and tutorials with not much luck. Can anyone please help me out on this? Many thanks!

Are you aware of how dreadful that quality can be?

Is this still your internal mic or another one?

Did you go to the web site of your computer manufacturer to do that? If you went to the Realtek site that was a mistake because they only supply generic audio drivers that won’t be properly matched to your hardware.

But it is not working properly.

You can boost the levels of the internal mic in Windows Sound ( Missing features - Audacity Support ).

What are you trying to record, exactly?

Please try choosing the mic you are talking about in the recording device section of Audacity’s Device Toolbar. What exactly happens when you do that? If there is an error message, what does it say? Do you record just a flat line?


Gale