Connecting a microphone to a PC for gaming

[headintheclouds]

Can any of you techies help?
We've bought a headset with microphone so that ds can talk whilst playing on the PC and communicate with his friends whilst gaming..problem is I just cannot connect it.Ive been through all the help on the PC, on google & youtube tutorials..it's definitely compatible with the laptop and there were no instructions with the set..And Yes I've pushed the line into the correct portal ( not USB ,but a 4 pole jack portal)
I'm now stumped and my DS is sooo disappointed..saved up his pocket money and we just can't do it! Any advice great fully received.

Connecting a headset with microphone is really very simple. You plug it in. That's it. If you have done that and it isn't working there are three possibilities:

• the connector on the laptop is designed for headphones only and doesn't accept a microphone
• the headset is faulty
• the software isn't picking up the microphone for some reason, e.g. it is looking only at the laptop's internal microphone (if it has one) and ignoring the one you've plugged in

Do you have another PC or laptop you can use to test the headset?

Have you tried recording something with Sound Recorder (Start, Progams, Accessories, Sound Recorder)?