Sound card - mic in problem

So I had Vista on my computer, and I bought a 1/4th" to 1/8th" adapter and could easily play guitar through my speakers with the cable after plugging in into my computer. So I restart windows after plugging it in and trying it out, and I get a bluescreen. So I restart again and get into Windows Vista, of which NO MIC works, whether it be my guitar or headset. So I was thinking that it was my amp or the adapter that was destroyed, I tested the amp out and that wasn't it. So I ended up reformatting back to windows XP (I needed to anyways) and I STILL have the same problem NEITHER my headset works or my amp. So I was thinking it was a blown soudn card, BUT I also tryed plugging the headset and amp into the onboard soudn card and changed it to my default device for recording and still nothing. I have turned on stereo mix and played around with that, I even went into both of the mic inputs (both onboard and my soudn card) and made sure that mute was unchecked, which was, +20db didn't do anything.

I've run out of options to try out. I know my headset and amp aren't blown, I know my card isn't blown, I know that the mics aren't muted...

also, when I un-mute microphone (in volume control) and turn up the volume on it, I hear a crackling until I mute it again, not sure if that helps at all or not.

 

Your adapter might be defective.

 

But my headset doesn't work either, with no adapter plugged in.

 

Then i'm sorry but it sounds like your headphones are now history.:cry
But you might want to buy this headset to replace your other one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106070&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Headsets+and+Accessories-_-Plantronics-_-26106070 I own these and they have excellent audio playback and the mike is has a clear sound (I found that out while playing t est drive unlimited and was talking to to another player and he told me i sounded clear).

 

my speakers work along wiht my headset microphone, I can play music with no problem. But it just doesn't record at all.