Hello, I have a new dell model 3646 inspiron computer. I can copy music from computer if I use the plug in on the front of my computer. I installed to speakers into the back of my computer in the proper area. When I use your recorder to copy to my hard drive it does not copy the music.
From this information can you tell where the problem might be,
You have to [u]Select the correct recording input[/u]. What are you trying to record? From a microphone? From a mixer of CD player? Streaming audio?
If you are trying to record streaming audio, see [u]this page[/u]. Streaming audio can be tricky to record because it depends on your version of Windows and your drivers.
I have windows 8.1, I did not see anything about a “three section version of audacity” it was not zip, so it must have been .exe Installer.
It appears to me that I am in over my head with this new version. I might add that I was able to copy from you tube to my hard drive a day or so ago. Now I cannot,
I have used audacity for a long time, but at my age near 80 to do.
You can find the 3 digit version number by looking in the Audacity Help menu and selecting “About Audacity”. If it is the current version it will say “Audacity 2.1.0”.
What is it that you are plugging into your computer?
What are you trying to record?
If you want to record YouTube and if you have permission of the copyright holders to do that then in Audacity 2.1.0:
The settings should look something like this:
Gale
Box 1: mme --Dropdown Windows direct sound
Box 2: Empty
Box 3: Line in Realtek High Def : Drop Down box; Micro Sound mapper input
Line in Realtek High def.
Stereo Mix Realtek
Box 4: 2 Stereo Input channels
You seem to have an old version of Audacity.
You also have no enabled audio playback devices in Windows.
We will have to take this one step at a time.
First step, download Audacity 2.1.0 from Audacity ® | Download for Windows. If you have some earlier 2.0.x version of Audacity you can just install 2.1.0 into the same folder as the earlier 2.0.x version and all the necessary files will be updated.
To check the Audacity version you have now, look at Help > About Audacity… . Also this FAQ may help you Audacity Manual.
Second step, enable playback devices in Windows. To do this, right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose “Playback Devices”.
Right-click over empty space and “Show Disabled Devices”.
Right-click again over empty space and “Show Disconnected Devices”.
Now you should see all your playback devices. Right-click over each playback device and choose “Enable” for each one. If “Enable” is greyed out, the device is already enabled and you don’t need to do anything.
Restart Audacity and choose the stereo mix recording device in Device Toolbar, or follow the instructions already given to use the WASAPI host and the loopback input.
If you need help after that, please tell us each host, recording device and playback device you now see in Device Toolbar.
Gale
I have been unable to install 2.10r01, when it gets to the area to select language when I click on English it does move. In addition I tried to uninstall the program that is on my computer at this time it will not work.
As soon as I can get it working I will come back. thanks
To be clear, the version needed should be 2.1.0. It may be simplest to go to Audacity download latest version then download the “Audacity Windows installer - 23.09 MB | version: 2.1.0” .
If you encounter an error when installing or after installation please tell us exactly what the error says.
Make sure you exit the old version of Audacity before uninstalling it.
When uninstalling and installing you need to do that as administrator. If necessary, right-click over the uninstaller or installer and choose “Run as administrator”.
Gale
Hello again, I now have2.1.0 installed. For the first item to do *click over the speaker near the time clock" I do see anything that resembles a speaker. On the left side of the clock there are two arrows one to the left and one to the right.
To the right of the clock there are two items zoom in and one zoom out.
I am leaving for church shortly will check later this evening or in the morning.
I am sure I am trying your patience, but I really appreciate you attempts to help me . Thanks
BTW, in the first box that has mme, in the drop down it has "windows direct sound and windows waspi, The last box is empty
This is the Windows system clock, not a clock in Audacity:
If you don’t see the speaker, click the little upward-pointing arrow as at the left of the picture above. That lets you open a dialogue where you can enable showing the speaker icon all the time.
OK, in 2.1.0 the last box is the playback device. That is what you still have to fix by enabling playback devices in Windows Sound.
Gale
Hello, I do not see a speaker near the clock, if I click above the clock I get a drop down, "preferences). Between the 3rd and 4th box there is what I would call a sound speaker.
As I said, this is not in Audacity, this is in what is known as the “system tray” or “notification area” in the Windows Taskbar. You can read this link to find out about the notification area Microsoft Windows Articles - dummies.
If you prefer, right-click the Windows logo to left of the Taskbar, choose “Control Panel”, then “Hardware and Sound”, then “Sound”. That should bring you to the Playback tab of Windows Sound where you need to enable playback devices.
Gale
I do no see any reply to my last post. I am assuming that I cannot use audacity to convert or what ever the proper wording might be. From my search for other sites, it appears to me that audacity is just for certain programs.
Sad 
Please try looking a bit harder. Gale posted a reply on Wed Apr 08, 2015 4:26 pm
hello Gale, I do thank you for helping me. I have used audacity for a long time and I hope to get it working again with your help.
I am have looking at the 4 boxes left to right
1st box mme in the dropdown windows direct sound – windows waapi
2nd box Line in real tek hi def.
3rd box 2 (stereo) record.
4th box: speakers/headphones real tek
Between the 3rd and 4 box there is a speaker- I click on it and it does not opern
I checked my sound/recording in my sound stereo Mix shows as ready
I learned more than sixty years ago while severing in the United States Navy to keep trying and I did.
I lost my audacity recording and could not get it to work and a new download, I posted a question on the forum board, enter Gale.
She hung in there and provided with much information which I appreciated so much. Reading in the manual and with her assistance I now have a working sound.
This is what I came up with in the 4 bars on the download.
1st bar: MME
2nd bar: Stereo MIX 1
3rd bar: Stereo Mix 2
4th bar: Speakers
Thanks 
So the third box is 2 stereo recording channels? Good - and you managed to get the speakers working. Well done. 
I’m male, by the way. But many people guess wrong 
Gale
Thanks for your reply. I know many males that have the name of Gale, so I did not make comment in that area, Thanks again.