Headphones work, windows doesn't detect them

[Trial_by_combat]

I recently got a headset with multiple audio jacks and I'm using an adapter. The sound works and I can hear everything however when I try to record something it records very quietly.

I know there's a possibility to increase the mic boost in the recording devices tab (when you right-click the microphone in the bottom-right part of your screen) but it only shows me the Realtek high definition audio and doesn't detect my headphones as a recording\playback device so I can't make my mic louder.
(Windows 8)

Help?

 

[C12Friedman]

What headset and adapter are we working with here? If the microphone is removable, ensure it is fully inserted into it's jack on the headset.

 

[Trial_by_combat]

What headset and adapter are we working with here? If the microphone is removable, ensure it is fully inserted into it's jack on the headset.

Headset: SpeedLink medusa 5.1 true surround
Adapter: SpeedLink sl-8600 TRAX headset adapter

And the microphone isn't removable...

 

[mauxie]

when you open the sound menu, right click on the open area in the gui
and make sure that "show disabled devices" is checked.