Here’s a tip for Windows 7 users who have trouble using recording functions, because they have an error: "Error while opening sound device. Check input device settings and project sample rate" when using a program like Audacity.
The issue is probably the common behaviour in Windows Vista and 7 that recording inputs are not always enabled in the system mixer, so not available for applications to "see". Exit Audacity and go to the system mixer to enable and select the correct recording device:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php? … es#vistacp
Make sure you use the right-click menu to "show disabled devices" and to "enable" the one you want to record with. Then right-click again over the device you want to record with and hit Properties. On the Advanced tab, make sure the "Default format" matches both with the project rate bottom left of the Audacity screen, and with the number of "recording channels" on the Devices tab of Audacity preferences.
The tip actually worked, so I found out … but puzzled why that is the default behavior in Win7! (Found here)