Trying to use a microphone on my pc doesnt work, using programs such as ventrilo. When on the sound and audio devices set-up to figure out why, the sound indicatior is only raised and lowered by the sound of OTHER people talking over ventrilo/teamspeak. And when trying to use my own microphone, people just recieve an echo from their speakers. apparently my soundcard is doing this and I dont know how to resolve it. Any advice/help?

click start>control panel>sounds and audio devices

Go to the "Audio" tab
Under "recording" click "Volume" make sure "Microphone" is ticked and the volume is at least half

If you can't see "microphone" click options>properties and check the box by "microphone" also, make sure the correct sound card is selected in the drop-down menu

My 'audio' part doesnt show any options tab and it wont allow me to change anything to microphone. it just says "no device found"

Ok, what is the make and model of your computer and/or soundcard?

It appears to be a driver issue

Erm that i'm unsure of, I know it's a Dell Compaq/intel 4. I dont understand tho, when I first got this pc I could use my microphone perfectly fine then one day just decided to try to play sound instead of through my mic through the soundcard (this is what my mates have told me) judging from the indicatior only being effected by the sound of people speaking over the internet and NOT by my own voice.

Please run the D-A-L hardware scan and copy the information here

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 3065
Description x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz

Current Clock Speed 3065
Description x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label BANK0
Capacity 536870912

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 447MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model SAMSUNG HD160JJ/P
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 160039272960 (~149 GB)
Number of Partitions 2

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB CF Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB MS Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB SD Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Generic USB SM Reader USB Device
Media Type
Number of Partitions


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Fax
Port Name SHRFAX:
Default True
Driver Name Microsoft Shared Fax Driver


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer ECS
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product Asterope3
Serial Number
Version 1.0


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name BIOS Date: 09/05/2006 Ver: 08.00.12
Release Date 20060905000000.000000+000
Version HP-CPC - 9000605


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 900
Screen Width 1440


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description Labtec Keyboard


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name Microsoft PS/2 Mouse


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer Realtek
Description Realtek High Definition Audio
Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_103C2A3D& REV_1000\4&336E4DCA&0&0301


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 268435456
Description ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6614
Driver Date 04/04/2006 21:58:44
Video Mode Description 1440 x 900 x 4294967296 colors

ok, thanks

Please download and install this driver

Will this help my mic work properly again? howcome it worked originally and now I need to install this? any suggestions?

This sadly didnt resolve anything, it still seems to pick up sounds internally from the pc, not through the microphone :S