Sorry if this topic has already beem discussed. It just seems that I have not been able to find a straight awnser about it.

So I have recently purchased the Microsoft "Lifechat LX-3000" microphone. The sound in my headset works fine but it seems that the microphone either makes a screeching sound , or sometimes it does not work at all. From my understanding there is nothing physically wrong with this microphone but it is the drivers that come with it. My computer is pretty new and it runs on windows vista. From the research I have gathered it seems that the software/drivers that automatically install when plugged in or the cd is put in are designed for windows XP. I looked on the microsoft website and was able to find the driver download for windows vista. I downloaded the software and thought that everything was okay and it was for about 1 day. Then the same problems started happeing to me all over again. It seems that whenever I plug in my microphone to the computer USB port it just automatically installs the XP drivers even though I already have the vista ones installed. I have gone into my system//adv setting// and changed it to NEVER install drivers but it still does. (Not sure if that is even referring to the right thing). Has anyone eles with this product ran into similar problems who would beable to work this out? Thank you for you time

***QUICK NOTES***

Microphone was working prefectly fine for the first month with the default XP software before it went haywire.

This is my second purchase of the microphone. The first one had this exact same problem. So I know that it is not the microphone its self but its drivers and such.

I have constantly been working on this problem and all help is appreciated.

Hello,

According to your problem description, I suppose that the issue should be caused by the hardware itself or the conflicts between device driver and some third-party software.

First test your Lifechat Lx-3000 Microphone on another Vista computer to check whether the same issue exists.

Remove and reinstall Lifechat device

1. Go to Start-> Control Panel (Classic View) -> System icon, and click Device Manager on the left.

2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers

3. See if the first or second entry is "Lifechat Lx-3000 Microphone ".

4. Right-click on Lifechat Lx-3000 Microphone and select Uninstall.

5. Unplug and plug the Lifechat Lx-3000 Microphone onto the computer.

6. In the Device Manager, click the Scan for hardware changes button on the toolbar and let it scan your computer.

7. When the system finds the new device, it will request to install the right driver.

Note: If the wizard prompts for some driver Setup file, please download and install the latest driver for Lifechat Lx-3000 Microphone (3.57M)

LifeChat 1.3 32-bit and 64-bit for Windows Vista

In addition, please test this issue in Windows Clean Boot mode. A Clean Boot will allow us to isolate any device drivers or programs that are loading at startup that may be causing a conflict with other device drivers or programs that are installed in your computer.

Start Windows in Clean Boot mode

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure.

1) Click Start.

2) Copy and paste "msconfig" (without the quotation marks) in the Start Search box, and click Enter.

3) Switch to Services tab and then Check Hide All Microsoft Services.

4) Click Disable All.

5) Switch to the Startup tab and then Click Disable All.

6) Click OK.

7) Click Restart to restart the computer and test the issue.

If the problem does not occur, it indicates that the problem is related to one application or service we have disabled. You can use the MSCONFIG tool again to re-enable the disabled item one by one to find out the culprit.

However, if the issue still persists, it is recommended that you post the issue in Microsoft Hardware Products Discussions Group. They mainly focus on Microsoft Hardware Products question and problem.

Discussions in Microsoft Hardware Products

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.mshardware.product

The reason why we recommend posting appropriately is that you will get the most qualified pool of respondents, and other partners who read the newsgroups regularly can either share their knowledge or learn from your interaction with us.

Thank you for your understanding!

I have a similar problem.

My headphones were working initially, and now they are not.

I can hear myself in the mic, but I can't get sound to come through the headphones.

I tried the above instructions for remove and install Lifechat device, however found no

Livechat Lx-3000 Microphone in the Universal Serial Bus controllers...

I would like to download the drivers and start again.

Could you please direct me to the download for that to happen?

Thank you so much.

Fran

oops, I forgot to say my platform is XP...

I just got mine today and although it shows the microphone is working, I cannot hear anything through the headphones.

Also my speakers have a regular plug in for headphones, so when I plug these headphones in, I still hear noise through my speakers unless I plug in another pair of headphones to the speakers. i have tried with this and without as well as going into the sounds and audio profile.

I have also recently purchased the Microsoft LifeChat LX3000, and it is not working. I did hear sound through it once, and was actually able to watch an entire movie. When I plug it in, I can hear a small click as though it is engaged, but the sound is coming out of my computer speakers, not the headset. I am using Vista OS.
I have followed the instructions for the drivers, and it does not change anything. i have also gone to the suggested website for help from those who know this product. However, from what I can see there are MANY people who have problems, and no one seems to be responding to them.

I've purchase two of these headsets and a friend also bought one, and all 3 of those headsets ended up having the same problem after a few months. The mic just stops working, if you place the cable in a very precise way the mic can come back but its scratchy and is lost with the slightest of movements. I suspect the little volume control box on the cable can easily disconnect the mic cable and then good luck finding how to reconnect it.

Just one headset I would understand, but 3 leads me to believe this model has a major problem.

Using MSCONFIG worked for me. I've not figured out yet who's the culprit, but I'm no longer blocked. Thank you.

ok i had the same problem and this is how i fixed it. all programs that you wish to use the mic or headphones with have to be not open first. Then go to sound and set both playback and recording to default to the microsoft lifechat headset, then open your program of choice ie winamp or messenger. if you have these programs open already it wont work

I had the exact same problem as anthony brien in 2 diferent headsets. But i could solve it.
Get a knife and start cutting the wire aproxx. 7 cm from the headphone and cut it like 10 cm. Its enough.
Be careful to only cut the outer layer, and not the 2 wires that are inside. With acess to the 2 wires, you can easily find a position where your microphone will work.
Im a dedicated raider in wow, and i need movement and mic working at all times, and mine has been working since i did it.

I am having the same problem. I have vista and I play WoW. My Head set was working fine for 3 months then all of a sudden no one could hear me talk. I will try your suggestions and keep you posted on how it works out. :-)

• Proposed as answer by Non-TechGirl Tuesday, May 04, 2010 11:42 PM

My LifeChat LX-3000 headset was working fine until I moved to Windows 7. After reading the advice on this chat board, the only advice that worked was to change the default settings for sound to the headset. You have to have the headset plugged in to do this.

If you are running Windows 7 - go to the control panel to the 'Sound' icon. On the tab called 'Playback' click on 'Headset Earphone' in the pop-up screen. Then go to the bottom of the pop-up screen and click on 'select default' and it should start working immediately.  

Once you unplug your headset the sound will auto default back to your PC speakers so you don't have to change it back. When you plug in the headset the next time it will still recognize it as the default unless you change the settings again manually thorugh the control panel.

To change the settings for recording or to speak through the mic, go to the same place and select the 'Recording' tab and set 'Headset Microphone' as your default.

Hope this helps as this was driving me crazy until I figured it out!!! Yay!!!!!

• Proposed as answer by Non-TechGirl Wednesday, May 05, 2010 12:01 AM

Hi Guys,

Andy, if I am using Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit), what is the driver (Lifechat Lx-3000) I need to download? And where is it?

Thanks in advance,

-Eduardo D.

• Proposed as answer by Eduardo Dall' Accua Wednesday, May 05, 2010 11:51 PM

I am using the same headphones with Win7 home premium and they work fine with Dragon Naturally Speaking and Skype, the prior i is a dictation program......You cannot listen to music and you cannot use them with a PS3...probably because MS makes the Xbox 360.....

MWCwildchildat54

 

You will never hear anything through the headphones unless gaming on an Xbox360 or using skype

 

I have a similar problem.

My headphones were working initially, and now they are not.

I can hear myself in the mic, but I can't get sound to come through the headphones.

I tried the above instructions for remove and install Lifechat device, however found no

Livechat Lx-3000 Microphone in the Universal Serial Bus controllers...

I would like to download the drivers and start again.

Could you please direct me to the download for that to happen?

Thank you so much.

 

Fran

 

I just fixed my issue. 

 

1. Control Panel

2. Sounds and Audio Devices

3. Switch to "Audio" Tab

4. Change the "Sound Playback default device" to Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000

5. Change the "Sound Recording default device" to Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000(optional if you're using a program such as vent)

"You cannot listen to music and you cannot use them with a PS3...probably because MS makes the Xbox 360"

nah you can use them on ps3. i bought mine a few days ago and tried it. works perfectly and the clarity is mint considering the price :)

 

Mine were fine yesterday, but now they are really quite. T-T can't hear my music. My OS is XP Oh, i just plugged it out, removed it from the system and plugged them back in. VOILA

This Works!!!!

 

did u have 2 install a driver 2 get it working on ps3 cuz dont work on mine ? thank u 

Same problem for me - mic stopped working after only 3 months.  After fiddling with settings quite a bit, I finally tried on a fresh computer.  Microphone is dead as a doornail :(  I notice someone else fixed the problem by cutting and re-splicing the wires!  Come on microsoft, what kind of product is this?

I had the exact same issue.

For me to fix i I found that it was plugged into the same USB hub as my phone that was charging. his was making the electrical current fluctuate and kill the sound. To fix you just have to unplug the charging device/device that's puling too much power.