That is probably your best bet. You could try a Repair Install first. That would retain your programs and data etc. A good guide to all install options here:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/index.html

formated the whole thing and ive still got the problem i cant belive it

???

going to open up comp and see if anything is loose

It seems strange that it works but for only 30 seconds.

If this is the computer:

http://sys.us.shuttle.com/ModelsG2.aspx

It has an Intel 865 Chipset. There is an audio (inc. mic.) driver here:

Chipset Audio Driver Information

http://support.intel.com/support/chi.../CS-009244.htm

Others here:

Intel® 865 Chipset Family

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-009241.htm

Thanks im looking/trying now

but ive came up with something very strange the mic does not work but i own a iriver with a record line in and a line out
so i put all the stuff where it needed to go and tried it in vaine

and it worked proper

maybe some kind of power thing i dont know

its mad ???