Hi, I've got about 5 different mics and none of them seem to work properly on my computer, I try to use sound recorder and msn with them and they are really quiet, I basically can't use it on MSN because I get the error message "Your Voice Clip was not sent because no sound was detected in the recording." And if I want to use sound recorder I have to almost scream to get any sound. As far as I know all the volume settings are turned up to the highest.
Also when I try and do a hardware test I get that "an error occurred during directplay voice setup. the error code is 0x80004005"
I don't know anything about computers... Oh and this is my computer if you want to see it - http://www.packardbell.co.nz/products/product_configs.asp?CID=9&MID=20&SpecID=445

Thankshelpneedednow...... Has your mic , or headset ever worked properly ?
You mentioned msn........ can you sign into msn messenger and the click tools and then select audio and video set up ...... before you go any further please check to see if you have your mic and speakers plugged in the correct places ........ Oh yes and BTW ..... do you have the proper drivers for your sound card . Now then , back to audio and video setup . So the setup page appears ...follow the instructions re anything thats open ..... click next , now in the speaker setup what is highlited in the box ? ....... If you are using a headset , do you have that CHECKED ... ? Now click on play sound ......... do you hear the sound ok and are you able to use the slider to adjust the volume ?
Now on to the mic setup .......what is in the highlited box for select the mic?
Do you see any green in the sound level indicator ? When you speak normaly into the mic does the level increase ?

If you can answer these questions we can proceed

dl65
"Has your mic , or headset ever worked properly ?"
I don't know, this is the first TIME I have tried them, I have five different new ones with all the same result.

"can you sign into msn messenger and the click tools and then select audio and video set up ...... before you go any further please check to see if you have your mic and speakers plugged in the correct places"
I have done that and I am quite sure the mic/speakers are plugged in correctly.

"do you have the proper drivers for your sound card"
I am not sure, the computer is not very old, I assumed they would be the proper ones when I bought it.

now in the speaker setup what is highlited in the box ?
Realtek HD Audio rear output

Now click on play sound ......... do you hear the sound ok and are you able to use the slider to adjust the volume ?
Yes

Now on to the mic setup .......what is in the highlited box for select the mic?
Realtek HD Audio rear input

Do you see any green in the sound level indicator ? When you speak normaly into the mic does the level increase ?
I can see the green, the level increases but only slightly, to get it to go into yellow basically I have to yellBring up the volume control (usually Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->Entertainment-->Volume control). Click Options-->Properties. Under "Adjust volume for", select "Recording". Click OK. ENSURE the Microphone channel is SELECTED, and slide the volume slider all the way up. That should make a huge DIFFERENCE. Adjust the slider to suit your needs.Quote

Bring up the volume control (usually Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->Entertainment-->Volume control). Click Options-->Properties. Under "Adjust volume for", select "Recording". Click OK. Ensure the Microphone channel is selected, and slide the volume slider all the way up. That should make a huge difference. Adjust the slider to suit your needs.