If you don't have an Intel-compatible motherboard, then that strongly
suggests that my last guess about the problem (drivers for my
motherboard not being fully Vista-ready) must be wrong. So, where does
that leave either of us with regard to finding a solution to this issue?
It sounds like it *has* to be a bug in Vista itself, but if so, why are
so few people experiencing it?

I had encountered (via Google) another owner of my mobo model with this
same microphone problem on a Creative Labs forum (he thought it might be
a sound card driver issue). It was from him that I learned that the
issue doesn't arise in XP--only Vista. Checking back, now, into that
forum (where I'm "whozat"), I see that 3 new people with the same issue
have posted just today. One has an Asus mobo. While possible blame is
being laid on Skype 3.0, one poster also has the issue with MSN's sound
recorder, and you had it with Windows Live Messenger, so it is not just
a problem with Skype. See:

[url]http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=Vista&message.id=4300[/url]

or TinyURL: [url]http://tinyurl.com/3579uz[/url]

What could be the common denominator among those of us who have this
low-volume microphone issue, I wonder? This is a little depressing if
the only solution to the problem is to stick with XP . . .

broccolibeef wrote:[color=blue]
> Thanks for sharing your experience! FYI, I do not have an intel compatible
> mobo. I have an Asus A8N-E mobo for AMD procs--939 Socket.
>
> I have since done the same thing as you have--I have installed XP on the
> machine that I use to Skype with my family!
>
> Thanks again for sharing the info! Hopefully, the bug will be sorted out in
> the future!
>
>
> "Daze N. Knights" wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I have gone around and around with this low-volume microphone problem
>> since I built my new system and added Vista 32-bit Ultimate RTM in early
>> January, and it is a huge frustration for me, because I, too, depend on
>> my Skype. The magically moving volume slider is the clincher that we are
>> dealing with the same issue, whatever it may be. I have discovered that,
>> although it is sometimes possible to get the microphone working at a
>> nearly-loud-enough level, the almost-satisfactory situation will not
>> survive a reboot. And I have also discovered that the problem relates
>> only to Vista--if I install XP instead on the same system, I have no
>> microphone issue at all. In the course of troubleshooting this issue, I
>> have gone through times of blaming Skype, the onboard audio drivers, the
>> drivers for a new SoundBlaster Audigy SE card, my microphones (both
>> regular and USB), my Intel DP965LT motherboard itself, and around and
>> around. Since the problem doesn't exist when running XP on my system, it
>> HAS to have something to do with Vista and/or driver interfaces
>> somewhere between Vista and my microphone. My latest guess was that
>> Intel's "Chipset Software Installation Utility" or Intel's "Management
>> Engine Interface Driver," both of which were last updated in early
>> November 2006, are not really fully Vista-ready yet. But I still don't
>> know, and would love an answer . . .
>>
>> broccolibeef wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> Thanks for the reply! What is FUNNY about Skype(the latest version) in the
>>> environment of Creative beta driver for Audigy 2 Value + Vista (32bit) is I
>>> could literally see the slider for the microphone volume move towards the low
>>> volume end when I do the Skype test call for the second time!!!!! The bug is
>>> TAHT graphical, in other words!
>>>
>>> However, when I do the Skype call for the FIRST time, I could hear my
>>> recorded voice in a normal way or fashion.
>>>
>>> Don't know why this is happening!?
>>>
>>> Have also posted to Skype's forums, too!
>>>
>>> Thanks again!
>>>
>>> "Mirko" wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have the same problem with a SB Live! 24 bit. It does not matter what
>>>> software I use. Even with the Windows Audio Recorder the volume is very low.
>>>> I too believe this is a driver problem, because everything is fine in my
>>>> dual-booted Windows XP on the same computer.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "broccolibeef" <broccolibeef@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im
>>>> Newsbeitrag news:502EAB76-1DDE-4B74-8BE4-CE35F918C36F@microsoft.com...
>>>>> The problem is NOT ONLY with the latest version of Skype! With the
>>>>> current
>>>>> beta driver from Creative for Audigy 2 Value card, I am also unable to
>>>>> make
>>>>> calls out via Windows Live Messenger! So I have good reason to believe
>>>>> that
>>>>> there is something wrong with the current beta driver(see above for the
>>>>> version #) from Creative!
>>>>>
>>>>> Would like to know if anyone else has had the problem of the current beta
>>>>> driver for Audigy 2 Value not working with the latest version of Skype and
>>>>> Windows Live Messenger!
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>> "MGbassace" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> There was an issue with earlier versions of skype and the audigy 2 cards,
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> did a google search and there was a setting that needed changing in one
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the skype install files that was something along the lines of
>>>>>> setmicvolume 0-100, Please dont qoute me on this config I am writing this
>>>>>> from memory as I too had exactly the problem but resolved after googling
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> issue.
>>>>>> MBG
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "broccolibeef" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wonder if anyone else has experienced this problem. Under Vista(RTM,
>>>>>>> Business, 32 bit) and the latest version of Skype(3.0.0.216), the mic
>>>>>>> volume
>>>>>>> is TOO low. I do the Skype test call; Skype tells me that it is UNABLE
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> pick up my voice! I checked the setting again and again, but found no
>>>>>>> error
>>>>>>> in the sound device setup!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am a VERY frequent Skype user and have NEVER experienced this
>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>> before under XP. On another computer of mine, a laptop, the latest
>>>>>>> version
>>>>>>> of Skype has performed flawlessly as well under Vista(RTM, 32 bit,
>>>>>>> Business).
>>>>>>> The laptop, a Fujitsu, has an integrated Realtek sound card. Realtek
>>>>>>> has
>>>>>>> the final or official driver for Vista RTM builds. However, I loaned
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> laptop to a fried, so I am stuck for now, tonight, at least, with this
>>>>>>> problem!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The sound card on my desktop is a Creative Audigy 2 Value card. It has
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> latest beta driver for 32 bit Vista(2.12.0001).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Don't know if anyone else has also experienced the problem I am
>>>>>>> describing
>>>>>>> here? The mic volume is TOO low in the environment of Vista + the
>>>>>>> latest
>>>>>>> version of Skype + latest beta driver for Audigy 2 Value!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any info is appreciated!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> TIA
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>[/color][/color][/color]