Recording What You Hear

So... I've worked my way through a lot of the other threads here (and elsewhere), to no avail. I still can't record what I hear, as I could previously without any difficulty at all.

I've bought a brand new Medion desktop with sound running from the motherboard, meaning Device Manager is showing "High Definition Audio Device" (as well as 4x NVidia High Definition Audio, presumably from the NVidia GeForce G210 video card). Drivers for all have been updated as much as possible, and Everest hasn't given me any more information than I already knew.

Still I cannot see Stereo Mix (or an equivalent) as an option in the Recording Devices- both Disabled and Disconnected Devices are selected as shown, and devices which are disconnected, as my headset currently is, appear. Sound Recorder will not open, as "an audio recording device cannot be found", and attempting to do anything with any other program (GoldWave being my tool of choice) has proved equally fruitless. All I want to be able to do is record exactly what is coming out of my speakers.

I'm getting at my wits end, partly becuase this is something that someone, somewhere, who has designed the software or built the computer has decided should not be possible without jumping through hoops. Can anyone help a guy out?

Your basic choices are:

Try as many other drivers as you can locate and try to install them in all possible modes, including compatibility mode. Try Vista drivers, etc.

If that ultimately fails, and it might, you have 2 more choices:

1: run a common cable from your sound card speaker outputs to your sound card mike inputs. That may provide stereo mix.

2: Buy a sound card KNOWN to provide "what you hear" on Windows 7. That may be an internal card or an external USB card. Asus Xonar is a likely candidate for internal. Behringer UFO-202 is a likely candidate for USB, about $35.

Additionally:

3: Prepare to tear your hair and rend your garments. Feel free to cuss and resort to strong drink.

4: Ask yourself out loud, "why must this be"??

5: Give up quickly and go with another sound card.

That's just the way it is in Win 7. It's a driver-based issue. The drivers have the capabilities that those who write the drivers choose them to have.