i just got linux and my integrated mic isnt working

Have you tried switching it on? Probably you just need to enable the mic-boost function.

If you were any more vague, you wouldn't exist.
Perhaps we can help - if we have some information?
Try reading: http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question

Here are some pointers:
1. state your problem in the title
2. edit your profile to show your distribution and location
3. tell us your distribution - which "linux" is this?
4. how are you trying to use the microphone?
5. in what way is it "not working"? What are the symptoms?

But while I have your attention - open a terminal and enter "lspci".
You'll get a big list of text - look for the line that talks about your sound-card, copy it, and paste it to your reply.

Look for anything called "volume control" on your gui someplace or in a menu. Often you can rt-click the entry or get some sort of settings dialog up. Look through that.

Like Simon Bridge said you didn't give much of information.
You can try from terminal: alsamixer and change settings from there.
(Double ESC to exit)

i am running ubuntu 8.0.4
i am trying to use the mic for skype
i have enabled mic boost
i get a loud feedback sounding noise when i turn the sound high
i tryed typeing in ispci but the terminal displayed:bash: command not found
there is no switch to turn it on on my comp
i have all the settings related to mics turned up high

right click the volume icon. select mixer un-mute the microphone. and turn the volume up.

you may need to fiddle the sliders under capture in the volume controlThat is because you misspelled the command - it is

lspci

You can copy the command from my post and paste it into a terminal.
That's bad - and will give you nasty noises. The settings are too sensitive.

I managed work out mine using the souind recorder - it has a recording signal strength thingy which you cannot let get too high.

this is what the terminal came up with when i typed in lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8600M GT (rev a1)
02:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection (rev 61)
03:00.0 Mass storage controller: Silicon Image, Inc. Sil 3531 [SATALink/SATARaid] Serial ATA Controller (rev 01)
05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
06:04.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 05)
06:04.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 22)
06:04.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C843 MMC Host Controller (rev 12)
06:04.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev ff)

Applications > Sound and Video > Sound Recorder

Play with the microphone sliders in the volume control applet - particularly for capture, until the sound recorder records something. Your symptoms are consistent with having the mic sensitivity up too high on one or more input channels.

This is your sound card:
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)

So your sound device should be set to "intel".

Please understand - I am half a world away from you with only occasional text-contact to rely on and a life of my own to follow. All I can really do is point in likely directions - you have to go look, and you will need your wits about you if it is to do any good.