Why is balance control greyed out for mike

[tjpearson]

I've searched and searched but can't find anything and knowbody answers
so I thought I'd try this forum.
My COMPAQ Presario manual clearly states the microphone socket i
capable of receiving stereo signal but no matter what I try it onl
records in mono when inputting a stereo source. The speaker and soun
options show the microphone balance adjust greyed out, this makes m
believe that the standard setting is mono, HOW DO I CHANGE THIS ?
Please help

 

[V Green]

I've searched and searched but can't find anything and knowbody answers,
so I thought I'd try this forum.
My COMPAQ Presario manual clearly states the microphone socket is
capable of receiving stereo signal but no matter what I try it only
records in mono when inputting a stereo source. The speaker and sound
options show the microphone balance adjust greyed out, this makes me
believe that the standard setting is mono, HOW DO I CHANGE THIS ?
Please help,

The manual is probably wrong.

I have never owned a consumer-grade soundcard
(have owned 10+) or had a laptop (have owned 8)
that did stereo-mic in. Only mono.

The mic input on my desktop also shows the balance
as disabled, this is on an ASUS PC-DL MB using
Analog Devices hardware.

You'll probably need to go shopping for different
(read: higher $$$$$) hardware if you truly need stereo mic-in.