I installed Dragon Naturally Speaking. The mike did not work on either set of motherboard apertures. I installed new sound card, no luck; BOUGHT new headset w/mike no luck, re-installed software. Still cannot get response when using mike. Checked and re-checked settings and tests in control panel. Is it possible there is a BIOS setting that prevents the mike from operating? BIOS is American MegaTrends 080012 11/15/05. Realtek is factory installed and Soundblaster is new sound card.

system is XP w/1 G RAMWhat version Dragon? Some earlier ones were not compatible beyond 98. Do you get install errors? Is it a legal CD?

Did you DISABLE any ONBOARD sound in the BIOS?I installed Dragon9 -purchased it from Nuance software. Have not touched BIOS--am looking for directions to explore BIOS as a possible answer to why the mike won't activate either in the test within 'Sounds and Audio DEVICES' or in the test within the Dragon program. OS is XP.Does the microphone work by iteself in Windows regardless of Dragon?How to get into your computer's BIOS

You've double checked to make sure you have the mic connected to the right jack, right? On my card, it's a pink colored jack.

The first time I connected a mic, I thought something was not WORKING. I heard no sound. I learned that I needed to open the software I installed with my sound card and check a box for "Enable Microphone Booster". Once I did that, I could hear the mic.