Driver problem

 I'm afraid the answer is USB mikes don't normally even come with drivers. So your probably using MME mode which is a terrible driver for DAW recording. 
Yes I just confirmed this by going to the web site for your mike. No drivers. 
 
If it has been working for you then fine. But word around here is that USB mikes are great for pod casting but because they don't supply stable drivers are problematic for serious DAW work.  from the web site : 
 
Though ideal for the traveling musician or the project studio, G-Track's versatile functionality can be applied to create ideal solutions for anyone who records audio, particularly podcasters, educators and business professionals.

• Plugs directly into any computer with a USB input, no drivers required

The audio interface and its drivers, preferably ASIO is the heart of DAW recording technology. 
The drivers make or break the stability and often even the synchronizing of the audio and midi tracks. 99% of people posting here for the first time are issues related to them trying to work without a proper audio interface. There is no such thing as no drivers required in the world of  DAW recording.. only for pod casting. 
 

What is there selected for playback/recording timing master and In/Out drivers in  Options (or Preferences, if you use X-version), if anything? It's not magic, just go through the settings in an organised way to find out what solves the problem. Sometimes the driver can just jump off "by itself".
 
The first thing to get is a decent audio interface (USB), and a microphone. You have no use for the mic without a proper interface. Most likely you have no use for a mixing desk, just get an audio interface with as many inputs and outputs as you need.

Nothing in drivers, and nothing in playback timing master either when this happened. So, I unplugged the mike and restarted sonar, and now I have input and output drivers! No reason I can see. All is ok on one song, but on another song all the tracks are silent except for the vocal track! Its very trying, all I want to do is record,not fix odd things that seem to happen without a reason, but I also admit I am impatient and that gets me nowhere!!
 
BTW whats an audio interface?

Your on board sound card should be the timing master as the mike is not an interface. iT has no drivers. 

Any recommendations for an audio interface? I generally use a yamaha piano, les paul, acoustic and mike for vocals? I'm no pro user(obvious!) so dont want to spend a fortune.

When shopping for an audio interface what is most important is your needs for connectivity and monitoring. 
To many people run out a grab an interface just because everyone else recommend it only to find they now have to buy some more gear to complete their set up. 
Make a wish list of what you really need in the way of connections and monitoring and start shopping. 
I just bought a Scarlett 6i6 because it had exactly what I need. I wrote a review: 
 
http://www.gearslutz.com/...rite-scarlett-6i6.html

Yes and No, the trouble is the Samson mike is not XLR so cannot be used with an audio interface. 
I was speculating a while ago that someone would eventually make a converter box. 
But the rest you are correct. You set the audio interface as your in/out with Sonar and all your audio programs. 
You'll have to buy a mike that has a standard connection ( XLR) Happens a lot. 
This is why I was saying it's a bit of a rip off that people purchase these mikes, they don't work as advertised, and they end up having to buy a normal mike and a audio interface.`I would sell the Sampson to try and re coup your money. Or take it back to the store and see if they'll trade it in on an interface.  

A audio interface with good pre amps like the Scarlett series, and any good mike will give you all you need. It's tooo bad you can't use the Sampson. It will cost you another $100-$200 to replace it. 
Your mike? Without comparing it to other mikes I cannot say but my guess is it sounds just fine. There are many, many mikes on the market, too many. And depending on what your looking for, most will sound perfectly fine if your level of expectations is in the lower end of the scale. Nothing wrong with that, this is just a hobby for most of us.
 The good old SM 57. If I owned just one mike, this would be it. A Beta 57 might be better. 
For my Vocals I'm using a old, old Audio Technica mike that looks like a 58. The number wore off 20 years ago. But I like what my voice sounds like both live and in the studio with this mike. It was only $120 back when. So finding your favorite mike is a personal thing. If you can try as many as possible. 
 
It's worth a mention that a work around for you is to not use Sonar at all. Sonar is the worlds pickiest DAW when it comes to drivers. Your mike will work fine with programs like Audacity. 
 
What some folks do is record into Audacity and import those tracks into Sonar to mix. Clunky and not perfect, but FREE> 

The audio/interface takes the place of a regular computer type soundcard (or built-in sound) on the computer. As with all things, Professional is a word that can be tossed around. There are better audio/interfaces that can cost thousands of dollars and there are other ones that can cost a couple of hundred or even cheaper ones that can cost $50. Usually the couple of hundred dollars one will have inputs for guitar, synth, microphone, whatever, and also Midi in and out. Cheaper ones probably will not have midi at all included, and with all things, then there is the quality of the device in the end and what you want it to sound like. As with anything, checking out reviews and maybe over at Gearslutz forum is a way to find out with your budget how much you want to spend and how you want to use it.