Depends what microphone you are using. I have the same problem. If i use my
webcam microphone i get the message, as you do, 'speech recgonition cannot
hear anything' A desktop mic does the same, but a headset mic works - well
at least for me.

having said that, make sure the coirrect mictophone is elected as default in
the sound options (recording) you might also try putting a check mark in the
'alternate microphone' option on the custom tab just to see if that helps.

I did bug this problem during the beta test of Vista, with particular
reference to my logitech webcam microphone. The bug report reply from
Microsoft was 'won't fix' so i don't bother with speech recognition now.
It's another useless addition to Vista!

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"ZRustin" <ZRustin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8B03F9F5-443D-456E-9490-E7B32FFCE427@microsoft.com...
>I have installed my mic, and it registers on the device selection screen,
>and
> in Sound Recorder, and in Ventrilo, but when I try to configure my Speech
> Recognition, it gets to the page where I am supposed to read the sentence
> aloud, and the bar doesn't move at all when I talk. Is this a problem with
> the speech recognition software, or what?