I think that one of the best ways to get people roleplay is to start off yourself. Have NPCs speak directly to them, in character, with whatever degree of animation and voice you're able to pull off.
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One thing I found helped alot is Refer to the characters by their names when doing initiative etc and adressing Bobs player as 'Sir Andronicous" rather than Bob. It helps set the tone.
One thing that can sometimes help is to give the players a good amount of openings. If they are somewhat hesitant to roleplay interactions between themselves, split them up a little bit and ask them each individually what they want to do. Do they want to go to the pub, find some info on the thieves' guild, or maybe practice with their weapons?
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Ask questions and expect answers. Do this in game. Have NPCs do it, constantly.
An example is the local tavern owner, who has actually been asked to keep a look out for the PCs and has a very good reason to talk to them. Have him start out asking questions like, "Where you guys from?" and "What brings you to town." Use a voice for the tavern owner and roleplay it out. If the players don't follow up with RP of their own, then it should be clear that they just don't want to RP.
Have NPCs that are interested in the PCs and have them ask background questions. Make these NPCs either travel with the party or show up constantly enough for the PCs to remember their names. Have a new question each time the NPC is "on screen."
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How much knowledge do they have of setting details?
Are you running in a homebrew world, or a published one, and if so, are those details available for viewing?
Even if they are, such as on Pathfinder WIki, it's a lot of material to read and digest. Sometimes, a player can be blinded by choices, and not know which to commit to.
While it may sound like railroading to some, or 'stifling the players' creativity', it's a good idea for the GM to give some idea of where the campaign wil be starting, what it's theme will be, and where it may end up.
No point making that 'Dread Pirate Roberts', if you're going to start, travel and end in the desert, after all.
If you've done all that, and still getting blanks, then I feel your pain.
That's a tough one I agree with a lot of whats been said so far
You'll find that they will take they lead from you so if you always use there character names
They will satrt to as well and start small I normally have everyone write there charaters name on a piece of paper
And have it in front of them.
Also how much do they know about the setting it hard to do a background when you don't know much about the world
Try putting togeather a brief timeline and a little info about the area in which there adventuring in
If the players don't want to come from a know town or city have them make one up(I often do this with the understanding
That I change or add a few details and they can't come from anywhere bigger than a village)
By doing this they then have a stake in the world
Have a session occur with zero combat
I think that one of the best ways to get people roleplay is to start off yourself. Have NPCs speak directly to them, in character, with whatever degree of animation and voice you're able to pull off.
THIS.
If you can put on some silly voices. Or get one player to do the same.
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snip...One is a newb who said he wasn't going to create a background or character goals... snip
I wouldn't have made that an option.
We tend to do character creation together, sometimes I start with a questionnaire rather than a character sheet. If someone refused to create a background then... well... it would be weird:
-So your character just appeared out of nowhere?
Yes.
-Was this near the village, or far away?
What?
-Well, where did you appear?
I dunno, in the forest.
-Okay (writes notes in GM pad)
Hey, what?
-So, when you appeared, was it a flash of lightning, a puff of smoke, eerie silence?
Just silence, nothing really.
-Okay, and you were fully armed, were you well fed or hungry? Were you tired?
No, everything was fine.
-Okay, cool. So, what's your name?
Peregrine.
-Cool name, what else do you remember? Who gave you the name?
I don't remember anything, I made up the name.
-Okay, so for some unknown reason the name of a bird came into your head... you don't even know why... (makes more notes)
I love Geraint Elberion's idea :)
I asked my characters to name there greatest fear and why they are scared of it.
I don't know Crypt of the Everflame, but maybe you can put in some sort of challange to make them get to know each other..