Cannot Record Audio On Windows 10 Desktop Pc

I cannot record streaming or line in audio on my refurbished HP Windows 10 Pro PC. I always used Audacity on my XP machines which worked fine. Now I either get an error message or, when using WASAPI with Speaker as input, I get feedback. It seems like Windows 10 blocks my audio drivers from working unless I am recording from a microphone (which my PC does not have). Does this make sense? Is this Microsoft policing "copyright" or is it just me? I can't even digitize a tape recording my grandaughter made. I booted up with a linux distro and it works fine but it is unhandy to do this when I want to record something, unfortunately I need windows to access other software which I am stuck with. Any thoughts on a work around or software would be appreciated. Thank You