“Stereo Mix” Recording Disabled

I was surprised in the summer, upon my purchase of a Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop computer, to learn that the ability to record “Stereo Mix” (any noise(s) you hear playing live on your computer) had been removed. This is a feature that has been standard for years and was supposed to be available to all Windows XP Users.

My Lenovo was deliberately bought (secondhand, refurbished, six months old but WITH XP (Yippeee !)) so that I could avoid a machine saddled with Vista – my objections to that more recent Operating System having been brought about by my awareness of the software and hardware, that I enjoy, that it was not going to be backwards-compatible with. I don’t want to ditch my old stuff. I chose it. I like /love it. It works.

<< I want an “Upgrade” to, at the very least, NOT BE A DOWNGRADE. >>

Hmm, anyway, XP or not – Lenovo had PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED the T61 so as to not allow the recording I had taken it for granted it would achieve. Disappointed, I blamed myself for not having researched the possibility that it wouldn’t be available  (I’d bee too ignorant and naive to have the slightest suspicion) and thought that the extreme action might have been a brand-specific decision…. I remained hopeful that I would be able to buy a new alternative machine in the future that would still permit the recording.

Lately I have sent questions to some manufacturers. LENOVO and SONY have been silent. HP told me it was because of Vista that none of their computers would record what they play…..I am yet to hear from TOSHIBA.

I have e.mailed PC World and Micro Anvika…with no response yet.

If you are reading this and can elucidate, please leave a comment. I know you can fiddle around with software (I’ve found some that semi-works but that records at a very low volume with some machine distortion, it’s a “port in a storm” but, I’m  a brat and was brought up on PERFECTION, “good” is NOT “good enough”) and wires or keep functional XP machines on life-support forever  to achieve the desired result anyway….but I’d like to know if there is an elegant solution. Perhaps some small computer companies will build what you ask – and cater for the INDIVIDUAL.