Windows 7 and USB Headsets

**Addrake** · 12-03-09, 10:50 AM

After spending hours researching and weeks waiting for an answer to come up I figured I should throw this out to my TTP friends to see if you guys have an answer. After I installed Windows 7 my Logitech Clearchat Headset is flaky. By that I mean it will randomly fail to make any noise and when I try to test it through the sound properties it says "failed to play test tone" if I unplug it and replug it in it will sometimes work for a long while, sometimes only for 30 seconds or so. If I reboot it will work fine until I go to sleep mode, then it's flaky again when I start the machine back up. Through talking with other on the servers I think this is happening to a lot of people, does anyone have a fix? It's extraordinarily irritating.

**nihilanth311** · 12-03-09, 11:01 AM

If it only happens after it goes to sleep it may be a USB hub issue. I have seen issues where USB wireless cards cause blue-screens after waking up from standby, and it's in the usb power settings. In your Power Options > Advanced settings and see what you can change around under USB. For me I only get one option.

Also under device manager try checking out your USB Root Hubs (under usb controllers) and check each of their power tabs, uncheck the box "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" - although I can't remember how to figure out which one of the many hubs (I have 8) your headset is plugged into.

Or maybe find your headset in device manager and look for the same box in power management. If this is your problem you want to find whatever combination of settings prevents the computer from shutting down the headset when it goes to sleep. Sorry I can't be more specific.

**Addrake** · 12-03-09, 11:03 AM

Good idea, I will check that out. Thanks!

**vectus** · 12-06-09, 12:30 AM

I can't say that I ever had this issue, but then again I always disable sleep mode. There will be no power saving in my house!

**619summon** · 12-06-09, 12:03 PM

has this been fixxed? if so how?

and for the record i HAAATEEE usb head sets. good'ole 3.5mm for me

**Veovis** · 12-06-09, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by 619summon

has this been fixxed? if so how?

and for the record i HAAATEEE usb head sets. good'ole 3.5mm for me

I actually fell in love with USB headsets after going through 3 otherwise perfect sound cards that had mic input volumes that were way too low. They were all CMSS chipset based so I guess it makes sense they all performed the same. Still using the bGears enspirer which I like, but if I use a 3.5mm mic on it I am just too quiet no matter if I max out the input volumes.

With every USB mic I've tried (which is basically its own soundcard) I am so much louder... so I'm using a $30 Logitech USB mic now and very happy with it.

Addrake, this is the one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_oh_product

It is also a "clearchat." Using it in Win7 x64 with no probs that I am aware of (nobody has ever complained about VOIP dropoff). No drivers to install or anything, just plugged it in.

I do use sleep mode regularly on this PC and allow USB input (from mouse or KB) to wake it up. The headset is actually plugged right into the keyboard's USB output... but I think I may have used one of the actual mobo slots before too and it worked fine also.