Dragon Medical supports USB input devices (microphone and headset). Detection of these devices by Dragon Medical is contingent upon a Microsoft Windows operating system successfully detecting the same USB device, first. Depending on several factors including the actual USB device, computer hardware, operating system, and user's workflow; failure to detect USB devices can occur. The detection process for USB devices by Windows operating systems is called enumeration and involves multiple steps through the operating system software stack, USB hub driver, and PnP Manager.

Each time a USB device is plugged into a USB port, enumeration must occur, even for devices previously enumerated on that computer. This means, for example, that when a PowerMic II microphone that was successfully used on one (1) USB port is unplugged and then plugged into another USB port, re-enumeration must take place. This is a function of the Windows operating system, and not Dragon Medical. Further, under certain circumstances when switching USB ports, re-enumeration can fail, resulting in Dragon Medical being unable to either recognize, or use all of the function of, the PowerMic II.

There are several troubleshooting steps below when USB device enumeration fails.

1. Start troubleshooting by capturing the exact wording of any error messages, if presented.
2. Close and re-launch the effected application(s) and try to reproduce the issue using the same steps.
3. Next, try rebooting the computer with the device connected.
4. If the USB device is connected to a USB hub or a laptop docking station, instead unplug and connect the USB device directly to a USB port on the desktop computer or laptop.
5. If the problem continues, test the audio record function of the USB device with a third-party application like Windows Sound Recorder. Click the red record button on the Windows Sound Recorder interface to record, as the record button on the USB device will not be active. If the audio record channel is not working on the computer, the issue is not with Dragon Medical and should be addressed by the customer's computer support staff (IT/IS department).
6. Check the Audio Device Properties of the Sound Settings on the computer to ensure that the USB device is properly detected and configured as the default device for recording.
7. If available, replace the USB device with the same device to further determine if this is a device issue.
8. Update the USB device firmware, if applicable.
9. There could be a power consumption issue with the USB device. Normally, the internal USB Root Hub provides 500 mA of current per port. However, be wary of USB ports on the front of some computer platforms that provide lower power. Instead, try connecting to USB ports at rear of the computer. As well, some USB devices may consume more power when initially connected. Both the power consumption information and power management settings are located in each USB Root Hub's properties under the computer's Device Manager applet. It is strongly recommended to disable the computer's ability to turn off the USB device to save power (even on battery-operated laptops). This setting is located under: Device Manager>Root Hub properties>Power Management tab. Also, try testing with an active (powered) USB hub to ensure adequate power is available.
10. If the problem continues, reboot the computer and try again.
11. If the problem continues, perform a software repair of the target application (for example Dragon Medical) through Windows Add or Remove Programs. Otherwise, uninstall and reinstall the software application.
12. Eliminate all present and non-present USB device drivers using the Nuance iSupport article below. USB device drivers will accumulate unless manually uninstalled and can introduce conflicts to USB function. First obtain permission from the customer to disconnect all connected USB devices.
    
    Note: Re-installation of some USB devices may require special software drivers and manual installation.
    
    After the computer is restarted, the operating system will reinstall the USB Subsystem. This process may take a few minutes. Do NOT connect any USB device until the operating system has completely reinstalled the USB subsystem. Connect only the USB device in question. At this point, the operating system should install the software drivers for the USB device automatically. If however, appropriate drivers cannot be found, install the drivers from the original driver media or from a driver download.

If the problem persists, contact Dragon Medical Technical Support for assistance.