microphone working (sound coming out from speakers) but not for applications

[sowdust]

Hello everyone,

I have a panasonic toughbook cf-52 and Xubuntu 12.04 installed on it.
I'm quite sure this laptop doesn't have an internal microphone; but it does have two front jack connectors for headphone/speakers and mic.
If I plug in the mic and manage its volume from PulseAudio Volume Control I can clearly hear my voice coming out of the speakers.
However, in the volume control, in the tab "input devices", the bar at the bottom that indicates the volume is always empty (as if it were silent).
Of course skype - main reason for which I need the mic working - does not record my voice.
I have tried every solution I could find on the web but I did not find anyone in my situation (microphone working but not for the software).
Anyone has an idea on why this might be happening?

Thanks in advance

[sowdust]

bump?