Ok, now that i've vented, and had a schwans chocolate mint ice cream sandwich .... Here's something that may give a hint as to my problem. I'm not getting anything from my mike 9using arecord right now because the echo address says it's in use). However, if I increase the volume on AC97 my voice comes through, but feedback also starts and grows rapidly. Maybe this will give someboy an idea of what i need to change. thanks.