Cannot record audio (HP notebook with Windows Vista)

[OLDGUY]

When I was using XP, I could record any audio(streaming, tv tuner,You Tube, anything).I used Audacity. My new HP notebook with Vista SP 2 and Media Player 11.0, does not let me record anything with any program I can find. The sound works fine through the speakers. Any recording program I try does not show my sound card in the input options. Right clicking sound icon in Vista also does not show my sound card under the recording tab. I read somewhere (maybe in this forum) that mp11 disables sound recording. Is this true? If so, would using an external usb sound card work? Or will Windows 7 fix this? Or is this Microsofts way to sell music? Or am I being paranoid? Or....
Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Windows 7 looks like a service pack for Vista, but it doesn't fix the audio recording problem. Micro$oft Evil Corp. is purposefully preventing us from recording sound (Time to switch to Linux may be?)

First of all you need to try to enable the "Wave Out mix" ("Stereo Mix", "Record What you hear"):

1. Go to the Control panel and double click the "Sound".
2. Select the "Recording" tab
3. Right click on the background of the tab and select "Show Disabled Devices"
4. Find the "Wave Out mix" ("Stereo Mix", "Record What you hear") item, right click on it and select Enable.
   Now you can capture audio from any program in Windows.

The problem is that you won't be able to enable the "Wave Out mix" ("Stereo Mix", "Record What you hear") on many computers with built-in sound cards. But you can use software like Ask & Record Toolbar, Replay Media Catcher, Replay Music and Replay AV on such computers. The above mentioned programs use a universal audio driver allowing you to record sound even on those computers that don't have any sound cards.

You can also connect line-out of your cound card with line-in (or speakers out with mic in) using an audio cable (that has a 3.5mm mini-stereo male on both sides).

And you can buy a sound card that has a "Wave Out Mix" / "Stereo Mix" / "Record What you hear" or a similar option.

More options:
Missing sound recording option "Stereo Mix" / "Record What you hear" / "Waveout mix"

[OLDGUY]

Stream Recorder:

Thanks for taking the time to reply, three times no less. I tried checking the "show disabled devices" button, but nothing shows. I have recorded from the headphone jack into the line in recording jack on an older Archos Jukebox Recorder. Since the Recorders hard drive is making unpleasant clunking sounds, and the quality is not too great anyway, this is not a good solution. I will try the programs or sound card idea you suggested. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by OLDGUY

I have recorded from the headphone jack into the line in recording jack on an older Archos Jukebox Recorder. Since the Recorders hard drive is making unpleasant clunking sounds, and the quality is not too great anyway, this is not a good solution.

I agree, this is one of the worst options. Personally I don't like it at all.

Originally Posted by OLDGUY

I will try the programs or sound card idea you suggested.

Try freeware Ask & Record Toolbar first. Or try Replay Music if you need song splitting and tagging (please note that this feature is not 100% perfect, but can save lots of time in many cases).