Q For some reason I have lost the ability to create .wav files using my microphone. I am using the Sound Recorder (AccessoriesûMultimedia), but nothing records at all.

A On most computers the microphone plugs directly into the sound card. In this case it is either a configuration problem or your hardware is at fault. Some computers have a plug for a microphone at the front or at some other more convenient location. In this situation there may be a cable running from the plug to the sound card. This cable may have come loose. Look for a thin 2- or 4-wire cable running from the microphone socket to the sound card. Some integrated design computers may have a socket at the front which connects directly to the motherboard without a wire.

To establish whether the software configuration is correct for recording, there are a number of things to check. Double-click the volume control icon on the taskbar to bring up the Volume Control dialogue box. This may or may not display a mixer control for the microphone. Go to the Options menu and choose Properties. In the section named Show the following volume controls make sure that Microphone is checked. Click OK. Now make sure that the microphone volume has not been minimised and the Mute checkbox is unchecked.

Caption: If you are having problems recording, check your volume levels (StartûProgramsûAccessoriesûMultimediaûVolume Control)

If the Microphone Volume Control has been set appropriately, run the Multimedia applet in the Control Panel. There is another volume control for recording in this control panel and it may have been set too low. Also check the Preferred device: setting to make sure that your sound card is selected.