i wouldnt bother using sound recorder for anything, i recomend a prgram called sound forge, u can get the latest version from http://katz.ws .
what u using sound driver are u using through 98, cuase they might be a conflict through the versions.
i recomend staying with xp and keeping the recording low u can always turn it up.
and i dont think the mic matters much unless the wireing is dodgy in which case rewire it or get a new one.
dave, January 2005