Microphone woes

[Qhoren]

So, I just started having a problem with my mic. Normally, my mic is essentially inert unless I key it by using the PTT key in TS/vent, open a recording program and hit record, or use the Speech Control in Windows. When I do that, it normally dutifully records what I want recorded and stops when I let off the key. Today, however, it's started constantly recording and playing all sounds through my speakers unless I actively mute it.

I can go in the Sound menu in the Control Panel and disable the mic, and it still does it. I can turn the levels to 0, and it still does it. I actually have to hit my mic mute button to get it to stop.

Anyone have any thoughts? I didn't install any new software, and am at a loss as to why the sound settings aren't at least silencing it, even though that would stop working when I actually want to use the mic.

[Veleuk]

Check to see if the key gets stuck and that it is still set to push to talk rather than voice activation.

[Qhoren]

It does it constantly. I can be sitting on the desktop with no programs open and the sound card disabled in the control panel. Also, the new issue is really the feedback. It never used to immediately broadcast everything over the speakers even with the PTT key pressed.

[Veleuk]

By speech control do you mean the narrator in Windows (windows key + u)? Just for the fun of it I flipped mine on and it will microphone play/record everything that I do.

[Qhoren]

Yes, only my speech control is fairly complete. I can run programs, scroll around, surf the web, whatever.

However, I only actually run speech control when I'm going to use it.

Also, the real problem isn't the recording, it's the constant feedback. I can't say anything because I hear my own voice broadcast full volume through the speakers milliseconds after I speak, which is extremely annoying even if your voice is as sexy as mine.

Edit: I'm having a crappy forum day, thanks for moving this to the ever so cleverly apt Technical Issues forum from the General one.