Hello Scottish_Lass,
Welcome to the HP Forums! I hope you enjoy your stay!
I understand the USB headset is not working properly on your computer. I apologize for the lateness, but I will do my best to assist you! To start troubleshooting, please ensure you have tried all of the steps in this HP document: Troubleshooting Sound Problems with External Speakers and Headsets in Windows 7
The document walks you through instructions such as performing a sound test, using the correct settings and more. I believe these steps can resolve your issue. Either way, please provide your results.
Thank you for choosing the HP Forums. Have a great day!
Mario