Can you help me with a PC Headset with a built in Mic?

Well first off I want to let everyone know that I'm kind of computer illiterate so don't get into some really confusing terms but yeah, I just bought a PC headset with a built in mic and for some reason the places where I am supposed to pluf the headset and mic in in the back wont work I plug the headset/mic in and no noise comes out of the headset and I can't talk into the mic. I then tried plugging them into the front and now the headset works but I still cant talk... I called the company a long time back with a different problem and they said the speaker outlet in the back is dead where I'm supposed to plug the headset. I now know that 1 of my headset outlets is dead (the one in the back) but I'm not sure why my mic outlets aren't working. I don't think they could be dead because I've never used them before. If anyone knows any possible causes of why my mic isn't working when I plug it in both outlets I'd be thankful...