I need a computer headset (microphone and earpiece) for when I begin using Skype. I can buy a fancy one directly from Skype for $40 + s&h but my supplier of used computer equipment will sell me a standard headset cheap. He has a whole box of them from when he operated a computer game arcade that went belly-up. However he isn't sure if any or all of them still work. He's willing to let me take the box home and test them, buying one that works and bringing the rest back to his shop.

I don't yet have Skype installed, nor do I have my broadband internet connected yet for that matter. Is there a way to test both microphone and earpiece without being online?

If it matters, these don't plug into a USB port. Rather they go directly to the microphone and sound card jacks. I'm pretty sure I can test the audio by putting in a music CD but what about the microphone?

Thanks,
Relztrah

You should be able to test the mic too, by just plugging it in...you may need to go into the Audio control and set the levels on the mic (probably take it off mute, too). Check under the "recording/input" side of things...

MSN Messenger & Netmeeting both include "Tools->Audio Tuning Wizard" that's really good for testing a headset and it can also auto-adjust the volume levels.

To test the speakers you click a button and it plays a test sound.

To test the mic you speak into it and should hear the sound of your own voice as picked up by the mic being played through the headset really load and clear.
If the program is configured so, it can auto-adjust the volume level by auto-moving the slider, or else you can adjust it by manually moving the displayed slider volume control using the mouse cursor.

make sure you check the audio properties and that the mic is turn up. then open start\programs\accessories\entertainmentsound recorder. or start\run\sndrec32.exe

Thanks for your help. Since I already have MSN Messenger installed I used the Sylvander method and it worked great! In fact my fomer-game-arcade-operator friend gave me a headset at no charge as a thank-you for my business.

Great! :D :cool: