Using a black PowerMic II with Windows Vista

Before you can use a black PowerMic II with Dragon NaturallySpeaking Medical Edition on Windows Vista, you may have to download and install a firmware update for the PowerMic II.

Note: All black PowerMic IIs work with earlier versions of Microsoft Windows.

How to tell if you need the firmware update for Vista

To determine if you need to download and install the firmware update, check the PowerMic II serial number on the back of the microphone using the following guidelines:

• PowerMic II serial numbers starting with the letter "A" are Vista compliant.
• PowerMic II serial numbers starting with the letter "E" are not Vista compliant.
  Note: Some PowerMic II microphones with serial numbers starting with “E” have been updated by Nuance to be Vista compliant. These updated PowerMic IIs have a separate "F.W. Ver 2.02" label attached above the original serial number. The "F.W. Ver 2.02" label indicates that the microphone is Vista compliant.

If you do not know the serial number of your PowerMic II, you can tell if you need to download and install the update in the one of the following ways:

• Plug in your PowerMic II into your Windows Vista system. Even if Vista reports that the drivers have been successfully installed, open the Control Panel>Sound and check to see if the PowerMic II is listed as a recording device in the Recording tab of the Sound dialog box. If it is not listed, you need to install the update.
• If you see the PowerMic II listed in the the Recording tab of the Sound dialog box, start Dragon NaturallySpeaking and see if you can create a user with the PowerMic II as a Dictation Source. If you do not see the PowerMic II listed as a dictation source or you select PowerMic II as a dictation source and Dragon reports "The Audio Settings Wizard cannot find the sound system", then you need to install the update.
• Download and install the firmware update listed below and check the current firmware version of your PowerMic II. Firmware version 2.01 and higher support Windows Vista.

Downloading and installing the firmware update

Before downloading and installing the update, make sure that:

• You have at least 1MB of free disk space
• You are logged in as an Administrator
• Unplug your PowerMic II
• All applications are closed

Downloading and installing the update:

1. Click PM2_Update_1.0.0.10.zip to download the update. Save PM2_Update_1.0.0.10.zip to your local computer.
2. After downloading, double-click PM2_Update_1.0.0.10.zip. If Vista asks you if you want to run this file, click "Run".
3. If User Account Control (UAC) is turned on, click "Continue" when Vista asks "A program needs your permission to continue."
4. When the Installation Wizard starts, click "Next" to continue.
5. Select the destination folder. By default, the firmware update installs to:
   C:\Program Files\PowerMicII\Firmware Update Tool\
6. Once the installation is complete, the Installation Wizard prompts you to restart your computer. Click "Restart now"
7. When Vista re-starts, click "Continue" when Vista asks "A program needs your permission to continue." This displays the "Device Firmware Update (DFU) for Dictaphone PowerMic II" dialog box.

Upgrading the firmware on a PowerMic II

If you do not see the the "Device Firmware Update (DFU) for Dictaphone PowerMic II" dialog box after restarting Vista, you can run the update tool by selecting Start>All Programs>PowerMicII>PowerMicII Firmware Update Tool.

To upgrade the firmware:

1. Plug in the PowerMic II. The PowerMic2 should display in the Firmware Update Tool dialog box.
   
2. Select PowerMic2 as show below:.
   
   Note: This displays the current firmware version. If your PowerMic II does not have a scanner, only (Audio+Keypad) displays.
3. Press the Update! button. The Firmware Update Tool displays a message asking you to close all applications that could use the PowerMic II. Click "Yes" to continue.
4. Once the update is complete, the Update Tool displays a status window showing both the old and new firmware version for each device you selected. Click "Close" to continue.
   
5. Close the Firmware Update Tool dialog box.

The PowerMic II is now ready to use on Windows Vista.