I bought a new desktop set up this week and am generally really pleased with it.

It's also had my first experience of Windows 7 which has been positive.

I found my headphones wouldn't work, at the time I had no speakers, I thought they were included in the package.

when I went back to buy speakers I pointed out the headphones problem and the manager said that when the speakers were plugged into the back of the box, the plugs for the headphones in the front would be activated.

He was half right, the sound comes through the 'phones but the mike still doesn't work.

Any ideas to save me another trip into town?

I've played with all the settings and the mike works ok on the old system.

Try checking the Microphone boost level.

Start>Control Panel.Sounds

Recording Tab>Microphone>Properties

Levels Tab

Also check to make sure the microphone is plugged into the correct jack. The general tab under microphone properties will indentify the color of the jack. Usually it's the red jack, but not all sound cards are the same.

Thanks, the system doesn't recognise the mike though, I'll go into town and ask the suppliers today.

Also, I've worked out the sound isn't coming through the phones, I could hear the main speakers.

The only think I can think of is the ports haven't been connected.

I may buy a cheap set of 'phones with a USB plug rather than have to take the box back.