Non existant microphone

[Keira2142]

OK the short version is: installed BF4 (from disc), installed skype, installed the latest Nvidia drivers which are 331.65 yesterday. This morning, I had no audio. No big deal, I figured I must have just done something silly in the case last night I'll fix it when I get home from work I thought. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The problem: Absolutely no audio at all. Not even with the test speaker option in HD audio manager. The HD audio manager seems certain I've got a microphone plugged into my front panel jack but I don't. When I plug in my headphones ot hte headphone jack on the front panel, it still says I've got a micrphone in but I don't but it also acknowledges the headphones. I've got my audio set up to play through hte stereo mix (through the front panel headphones) And through my logitech 5.1 speaker system which is running through hte back panel so I can get them both playing at the same time and just switch my speakers off when I need to. Now heres the really weird part: When I plug hte headphones into the mic jack that apparently has a mic in it, HD audio manage says theres nothing in the front panel, and hte orange (bass) plug on the rear panel isn't plugged in either. Pull the headphones out and suddenly the orange jack is back in business. And sometimes, the "microphone" drops in and out rapidly according to HD audio manager cos it keeps trying to refresh. HD Audio manager is also determined to tell me that my digitial (sp-dif) is active, but its not.

I've downloaded the latest drivers release and was certain that would fix it, no luck. I've tried a clean install of graphics and audio drivers, I've tried resetting my bios features in case I bumped something when I was messing around in the case last night, tried unistalling skype in case it was interferring with the microphone, tried fiddling with the front panel connectors between the mobo and case, tried unplugging and replugging the mobo end of the connector, tried plugging in a second headset to the microphone jack, tried disabling the microphone from windows, tried disabling the Nvidia HDMI sound options from windows, tried tons of other stuff that I can't remember.

System is home grown, here it is:

Mobo: AsRock Pro-4 z-87
WIn 7 ultimate x64
CPU: Intel i5 4670
GPUs: EVGA GTX770 SC + gigabyte GTX560Ti SC dedicated to physx and secondary monitor
RAM: G.skill Ripjaws, 8 gig, 9 CAS @ 1600.
Zalman z-11 case

Now I know I've not listed everything there but I think its everything thats relevant. I would point my finger at the dodgey case if my back panel speakers were working aswell. Starting to look like a faulty motherboard to me. I'm decent with a computer, but not a whiz.

Thanks in advance guys, apologies for the massive message and if I posted this in the wrong spot,

Stuart

 

[alyoshka]

Seems like a bad FP Header.....
Have you tried just plugging in the the headphones into the rear panel?
Also have you tried with everything (Audio Equipment) unplugged?
Sometimes there could be a short on the backside of the Mobo, thanx to plugging in and unplugging the FP header and it's usually placed at a real awkward corner of the mobo which usually doesn't have any support at the back..... just check once again.

 

[Keira2142]

I thought about hte dodgey FP header aswell, but the thing is that the digital output is showing up as active in the HD audio manager.

I'm gonna take a look at the FP header on both ends of hte connection now, shutting down. Thanks for the reply.

 

[alyoshka]

Also check the backside of the mobo.... a short there could be causing the rig to feel that something is plugged in.....

 

[Keira2142]

Ok this is all kinds of messed up. this was working fine 24 hours ago. Same errors and all the connections seemed fine, the ones I could see weren't torn or anything but its all sealed up to one cord. You're spot on about the header being at hte corner of the mother board with no support, theres no pressure on it at all so it shouldn't be contacting with the back of the case. very good thought though thanks again.

Edit: I did some fairly serious work in the case last night, its entirely possible I've nudged something.

 

[alyoshka]

Actually, when I meant there was no support at the back, I meant it was bad, because not all FP plugs get on smoothly and effortlessly, depending on the case manufacturer I still have to come across one where I didn't need to use force to push down the plug onto the header. meaning , that part usually bends a little from time to time every-time the thing is dismantled and put back on, which could lead to minute hairline cracks on the PCB right at that corner from where all the contacts pass over the board .... causing .... issues like the one you're facing right now....
As far as the dirt getting stuck at the back or something else is concerned.... that doesn't need any support.... wire's, hair, threads, etc etc are just drawn towards the board because of airflow, static, the solder ends jutting out...etc etc.... build up is normal and shorting is normal too.... a little loosening of the mobo and a can of compressed air does wonders....

 

[Keira2142]

Yeah it definitely does. Just be careful with the compressed air, sometimes it can have moisture in it. I decided to do a total rebuild of hte machien while I was in there. Found a few extra mobo spacers aswell and got some cables tidied up. still nothing. Next step from here is clean install in windows, then a BIOS flash if I can, then returning either the case or hte mother board for a replacement. Thanks for your help though mate, really appreciate it. I'll report back with the clean isntall results see if I can get anywhere with that.

Really not a programming expert at all, I'm flat out remembering hte three language classifications so I've got to ask: What are hte virus probabilities?

 

[alyoshka]

As good as none.....

 

[Keira2142]

Dropped in my old mobo and cpu, and it works fine. Faulty mother board. Shes packaged up ready for a warranty return which will be hard because it arrived with very slightly bent CPU prongs. Static bag seal was broken and hte protection tab was free styling in the bag, probably causing the damage. But I'll work it out one way or another.

Thanks again for your help