Vista - My new microphone won't work

My laptop with vista home premium 64 bit has an integrated microphone...but it is very bad. I received my new headset with a microphone attached today and would like to be able to use the new microphone. I disabled the integrated microphone and my computer apparently recognizes the new one...but it doesn't work...and I can't talk in online games or in voice-over-ip progams such as ventrilo. I downloaded the latest audio drivers from the asus support site and that did not seem to help. Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

My specs:

G50V-A1
T9400 2.53Ghz 1066 FSB 6MB
Intel PM45 Chipset
4GB DDR2 800Mhz Ram (2Gx2)
15.4” WSXGA+ 1680x1050 glossy screen
nVidia GeForce 9700M GT 512MB GDDR3
500 GB 5400 rpm SATA ( 250 GB X2)
DVDRW Super Multi
Intel WiFi Link 5100 a/g/n
2.0 Mega Pixel Integrated Webcam
6 Cell Battery
Windows Vista Home Premium x64
Bluetooth 2.0