Back after a year or so and cant find a way to register or download Sonar X3 upgrade

Couple of thoughts:
 
1.  When you go to the Cakewalk Store, are you selecting the correct Region?
 
2.  Did you check your email for any download links?  (Perhaps spam folder as well), and is the email address connected to your Cakewalk account a valid email address?
 
3.  While it may not be convenient or cost-effective to phone technical support, with you being in the UK, you DO have enough posts to allow you sending Private Messages to folks like Noel, Bothwick or Ryan Munnis.  They have been VERY helpful to the small number of folks who have asked them for assistance in resolving registration/download issues.  This may be your best bet, if the first couple of thoughts I listed above do not resolve things for you.
 
I am not at all sure why you seem bitter/disappointed (or something else) with regard to your past experiences with Sonar and/or Cakewalk - and I do not need to know.  I would suggest that by all accounts, both here in the forum and out on the web, Sonar X3e (particularly Producer Edition) is being regarded as one of, if not THE, best released version of Sonar - perhaps ever.
 
X3e does not have any 'show stopper' crashes that I am aware of, and has a rich, useful, and powerful set of features and add-ons.
 
For any issues/questions that arise, the forum has been extremely cooperative and thorough in helping folks get things figured out.
 
Lastly, per some posted content from the Cakewalk folks, the largest set of reported issues with X3e are actually problems with 3rd-party plugins, and not with Sonar itself, so please consider that prior to jumping to any conclusions with regard to the stability of X3e.
 
I hope this works for you, 
 
Bob Bone
 

What I don't understand is why some people buy it from a 3rd party vendor when you can buy it directly in the Cakewalk store? It was pretty easy to spend my money there. 
And yes the customer service is top notch as far as my dealing have been. I've never had to phone them but Ryan jumped on my download issue with in an hour and sorted it out. And that was after hours! 
 
And it is to be noted that yesterdays deal  is for only plain Jane X3. I personally would spend the extra and get Studio. Well worth the few extra dollars. 

Cactus Music
What I don't understand is why some people buy it from a 3rd party vendor when you can buy it directly in the Cakewalk store? It was pretty easy to spend my money there. 
 

Probably because it's nearly always cheaper elsewhere and many other retailers don't screw UK customers for an even higher price to cover "exchange rate fluctuations".

I bet if we hear anything else it's going to be that he didn't realise the price I was for the base version of Sonar.

I do wish Cakewalk would change that as it does seem a bit misleading, even if it was just called X3 Basic.

Thanks for the tip on how to do it, SCOOK, but sadly the Cake system is now saying I have an invalid registration number.
EDIT: *YAY* after three attempts, the system accepted my number and I have download links!  
Currently in France till June 1 with minimal internet, so I may have to find the nearest MacDonalds and see if I can download over the next few days. Super size me! (grin).
 
And to all you wise, welcoming folks:  
Yes, I DID know I was getting the base version.
Nothing in  Studio or Producer that I care to have right now, plus JRR shop saved me a few bucks (also they let me pay in USD, saving even more) and since I have dealt with them for years, I trust them.
If the honeymoon works out OK, I might upgrade later. This is a dipping toe in water after a long absence, not some newb jumping in with  both feet.

I remember someone else having a very similar problem to the OP.

Well, hopefully X3e will be a positive change from your X1 experience, and perhaps we'll see you around here and not always at your otheR hangout.  
 

And also be warned that after you download the X3 you'll have to go through the whole process again to download the X3e patch. Your looking at around 9 Gigs.  And You'll probably have bad luck using a public hot spot. Most have bandwidth limitations. One missed bite in the download and you might have a corrupted version. I'd find a place where the internet is solid. Go buy a bottle of wine and make friends with someone. Library? 

If he had X1 then there's no need to download Dimension Pro as it hasn't changed and that's by far the largest part of the download. SO the remainder should be only about 2-3 gig plus the x3e update.

mudgel
...there's no need to download Dimension Pro...

This won't be available anyway. It's not included in the basic edition.