How can I TEMPORARILY disable built-in microphone?

I like to record music from the web on my Touchsmart 310-1145UK (BTW this is 3 months old but HP don't recognise this model number so I can't contact customer support on-line!!!  It is a 20 inch screen all-in-one PC).
I use Audacity to record, this worked fine EXCEPT that it also recorded all the noise that the built-in microphone picked up.
I found a way of disabling it, but this turned out to be permanent and there was no way of getting it back apart from a system restore.
How can I stop the micrphone, or turn it down so it doesn't work, and then easily turn it back on again?

stratobuddy wrote:
I like to record music from the web on my Touchsmart 310-1145UK (BTW this is 3 months old but HP don't recognise this model number so I can't contact customer support on-line!!!  It is a 20 inch screen all-in-one PC).
I use Audacity to record, this worked fine EXCEPT that it also recorded all the noise that the built-in microphone picked up.
I found a way of disabling it, but this turned out to be permanent and there was no way of getting it back apart from a system restore.
How can I stop the micrphone, or turn it down so it doesn't work, and then easily turn it back on again?
Here is a link to your notebook's support portal.  That is indeed a recognized HP product name. I searched the HP server for the link.
In the systray, right-click on the volume icon. Select Recording devices.  Right-click on the microphone icone and select  Disable and select OK To enable the microphone, just go back into the very same Windows that you disabled it in. 
You can also access the sound Window by typing sound in the start search box. Select sound and then select the Recording tab.
Best regards,
erico
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

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