Inspiron 7737 comes with Realtek audio. The volume on microphones is not properly set in the driver, with the result that using Skype and the like is not workable. The Realtek driver supplied on Realtek's site fixes this problem perfectly. So why am I posting?
The Dell-supplied Realtek driver includes the software that drives a pop-up dialogue. The dialogue allows you to specify what it is that has been plugged into the audio input socket. This is necessary because the audio socket in this case is a 4 pin single plug. Audio out is on by default but audio in (external microphone) is off by default. Unless you have the pop-up dialogue box working, it is not possible to use a external microphone.
I need to use an external microphone. The solution is simple. Find out from Dell how to have that pop-up box functioning (if it comes through an external program). Or, and this is what I suspect, the modification of the appropriate registry key probably does it.
So this is really a message for a Dell tech. Please provide a way to activate that dialogue box or a similar method, such as modifying registry keys, etc.