I was happily listening to a few tunes on Utube last night (Tom Jones-don't laugh) when I clicked to listen to another one the sound gave out in between moving from one song to another and is not working now. As I need Dragon to dictate for my university studies, I am so grateful that I can still dictate but I also need to know how to get the sound back again. This has happened once before but a long time ago and I cannot remember how it resolved. If anybody can help me I would be very appreciative but I also need to have that listed step-by-step and in very simple terms as I am at absolute beginner level technically. I have already tried taking out the plug and putting it into a different USB but then it would not dictate or receive sound so I have put it back into the original USB port where it least I can still dictate. Thank you.

Ann,

Unfortunately, you're handicapping us because you have not filled out your KnowBrainer profile. We do not know what version of Windows you're using, what version of Dragon you're using, and what microphone/soundcard you're using. You make reference to USB, but you don't state specifically what microphones/USB SoundPod combination you're using. All of that information is critical when helping you deal with technical support questions. Without it, we're shooting in the dark.

All that being said, there are two things that you need to keep in mind: (a) do not remove your USB SoundPod and reinsert it in another USB port. This only confuses both Windows and Dragon, and (b) depending upon the version of Windows that you're using and the USB SoundPod that you're using, you need to make sure that the Playback device is either set to playback through your microphone headphones for your computer speakers. If you're using a hardwired microphone/USB SoundPod combination, or if you're using a standard microphone with a separate USB SoundPod and you're wanting to listen to playback through your computer speakers, then you need to adjust your Playback device to the proper default either for your USB SoundPod or your computer speakers.

Your USB SoundPod should always be inserted in the same USB port every time. Changing ports has exactly the effect that you discovered. In short, it's a no-no. One of the other things that happens is that when you do that Windows changes the default settings for your Recording device and Playback device. So, the bottom line is when you have a problem like this, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and, "If it doesn't work, plug it in". In other words, always check your settings for either "Sounds and Audio Devices Properties" (Windows XP SP3) or Sounds, Windows Vista/Windows 7. You can access these by right clicking on the speaker icon in the system tray (systray) by the clock and either select "Adjust Audio Properties" (Windows XP SP3) or selecting either the Recording device or Playback device, which will take you to the Sounds dialog either way if using Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Nevertheless, as you can see without providing the information that we need to work with in your KnowBrainer profile, you make it difficult for us to pin down the problem.

Chuck

Getting technical support rule #1: When asking questions or describing problems, express yourself as if you were attempting to describe the Mona Lisa to a blind person.

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Thank you for replying, I know all about handicapped, it is why I have to use Dragon. I did not intentionally handicap the replies by leaving out information and I have now inserted the only information which I could find on the receipts where I had purchased the headset. I understand absolutely nothing about computers unfortunately. I think we have a misunderstanding in that I was already listening to the songs through my normal headset in exactly the same way that I normally do and I had not touched anything. I only removed the USB and tried a different port after the sound cut out. Removing it did not cause the sound cut out, it had a ready cut itself out for some unknown reason. I do not have external speakers on my computer and the only way that I can listen to sound is through my headset which I use to dictate as I am doing now. Does this additional information shed any light on my problem?

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It sounds like your sound system may have changed from your USB microphone speakers to internal speakers but you can double check this by right clicking on the little speaker icon in your taskbar (note that it may be hidden under the little triangle), select Playback devices, left mouse click your USB sound card, click the Set Default button followed by clicking the OK button, to return your sound output to it's previous setting.

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Since you are sort of unsure about your equipment, this might be the best thing to try.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-sound/my-usb-headphones-disable-my-computers-sound/07228142-8091-478f-b8ba-1f7763e0573c  

hopefully this will help.