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.