PA9 Backups - BUN Files Might Save You!

I've been using PA9 for many years and I know about bun files and why they are good.  But I don't use them in normal day to day activities.  In the past, when I decided to move from one PC to another, I first created bun files for all my projects that had audio.  Projects with midi and no audio are not a problem when moving to another PC.

A few weeks ago my (6 year old) PC croaked and needed a new motherboard which meant, since everything has changed in 6 years, I ended up with a new PC with a new system disk and the 2 hard disks from the old PC.  But since I hadn't planned to move to a new machine, I did not have bun files but I did have complete backups of the projects and wave files.  Actually I had complete backups of both disks in the old machine on an external USB connected hard disk.

To get PA9 to install and connect the projects to the correct wave files, I had to make sure that the file path leading to the wave file folder in the new PC was identical to the file path in the old PC.  Luckily I got WinXP on the new PC so I could make that happen and PA9 installed fine.  But, if I would have gotten Vista or Win7 on the new PC then I could have been in a heap of trouble and could have, I think, lost access to 8 or 10 years of audio recordings.

I figure the same issues exist for Sonar and maybe other Cakewalk products.

So, even though it is a pain, it seems like bun files should be kept for all projects with audio tracks just in case you lose access to your PC before you can plan a migration to a new PC.  And of course you need to have backups of those bun files and all the PA9 projects (and everything else you want to keep).

Take care!
Larry

Steve,
I'm not sure but I think the bun files do not include the custom presets for effects.  If I recall correctly, after the bun file opens the audio effects will be remembered and the specific setting that was used will be set but the drop down list with the named (or custom) presets will be missing.

Is that right?  If so, I'd sure like to know how to save and restore them when moving to a different machine.  And since I didn't use bun files on this last (unplanned) move, I'd like to find them on the old system disk and get them into my new system.

The SONAR per project audio folder feature just might be enough to get me to move to Sonar!  Probably some form of Sonar Home Studio.

--Larry

PS:  The first URL you provided should be
http://www.cakewalk.com/s.../Lessons/BackingUp.asp

Correct, presets are stored in the registry. I will send you a handy little utility that should help with moving them over.

Hi Larry,
I'll be sending you an email shortly. We may have to try a few things to get you squared away.
Thanks.Post Message