I'm trying to get my mic to work again in Chat Rooms..?

For about a week now..I go into any chat room. I can hear everything and everyone who's talking. My ears work fine.. When I press the TALK button down, I get nothing. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Messenger. I've hit the VOICE button on the top of the screen, many times...NOTHING. I've been through my preferences to see if I can find the problem... a million times. One other thing--when I do a private PM with someone, and then hit the CALL Button, or the Conference button, my MIC works in Both Cases, without any problem. I'm just wondering if for some reason there are different "drivers" to run the mic when you're just in a room, with everyone else? Or?? Does anyone have any suggestions?? I've pinged the mic. I've also done the "recording" thing you can do with Windows. I'm running Windows 98 (Yeh..it's old, but works just fine), and I've not had any problem with Chat for 2 years. Thanks. Pedie

try this ,open messenger go to preferences then calling and audio open that,first make sure where it says microphone that your microphone is the one that is being used on there next open the call setup assistant then click next then you read what it says into your microphone then click next ,make sure your speaker volume is up and loud enough to hear the music playing then click finished then click apply then ok.