How to enable microphone input monitor?

[alosito]

When I connect a microphone, it only allows me to record, but I can't hear myself on the speakers when I speak into the microphone. I have tried to play arround with different settings, but it doesn't help. Please let me know what needs to be done. I plan to have a business meeting, and I want to connect my X61 to some large speakers, and I will need the microphone to make some announcements.

I am running XP.

[fongj]

Are you sure it should work at all? I would think that by design, the microphone audio will not be sent to the speakers/headphones-jack to prevent feedback. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_feedback)

Are you using any particular audio/recording software?