My Offline Sonar Plattinum Install with Windows 10

     I thought some of you might find what I have to say where "Re-installing from Scratch with a fresh brand new completely new  Windows 10 with Sonar Platinum went". 
 
I saved all my REG codes from my account, along with all the install files that I had from using Command Center. 
 
I made a brand new fresh Windows 10 Install. Why? I wanted to have a fresh Windows 10 installed system with only my music software in the case I can't get it activated in the future and need to start over from scratch with those essential things for me.
 
That being said, I had all the install files to begin with that I saved to install Sonar Platinum. 
 
I ran into the normal stuff "Demo Mode", which at that point I exported the file to import the file to activate OFFLINE, meaning I ran into a few things I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COME TO CAKEWALK AND USE THE SERVERS FOR A FEW THINGS.
 
That all worked fine for Sonar Platinum. Meaning, regardless I need to contact a server. I ran into the same thing with the plugin's for Dimension Pro and CA compressor which was the freebie giveaway by cakewalk. 
 
As for the rest, I really didn't run into to many "Must contact the server to work stuff". Because I saved all my codes from my account. 
 
In the end, I found out, and it's the only reason I mention this here for those of you who might wonder. What I found was that even if Cakewalk were to issue a Sonar "Activate OFFLINE for it's customers code or file", There are still PLUG INS like Rapture PRO and others like CA Compressor that you will still have to activate ONLINE, or with the offline method.
Meaning NO SERVER, NO FUTURE ACTIVATION USE. 
 
 
That being said, I am sure some of you may ask : What are you doing anyway?  I made an IMAGE backup of my Windows 10 system "Updated" as of now with a fresh install and all of my recording software from Cakewalk and other's like Waves and ILOK ACTIVATED just incase I need to reinstall from scratch. This way everything is activated already. 
 
I did not use the Cakewalk Command Center at all in my new reinstall. I wanted to see if I could do it without having that. What I found is what I said, Dimension Pro and CA Compressor required "At least for me" an Export to get OFFLINE activation. MEANING, NO SERVER, NO ACTIVATION IN THE FUTURE. REGARDLESS OF SONAR PLATINUM BEING ACTIVATED. 
 
My entire point. For those of you who think that if there is an issue of "UNLOCK" Sonar Platinum, that doesn't mean you are safe when it comes to the plug ins that you may use, because some of them require ONLINE activation also.
 
Either way, I'm not complaining. I'm happy with what I have now, and I plan on using it for a long time. I am just taking steps to secure my usage of the software in the future and thought I would mention my experience in the hopes that it might help others be better informed as to the fact that just because you might be able to get Sonar Platinum activated IN THE FUTURE with whatever or IF cakewalk provides, you still have the problem with getting some of the plug ins activated even if you have the CODES in your account saved. 
 
My advice would be MAKE AN IMAGE BACKUP NOW! That's what I did today, I have a FRESH Windows 10 installed completely updated along with all my Music recording software activated and backed up to image so that in the future if I have to start over I can do so without having to worry about uninstalling other things if I install them that is. 

Happy Holidays everyone! I'm not trying to start a bunch of bull here. I'm just wanting to let others know my experience and what I am doing WITH MY BACKUP to prepare for the future in the hopes that it might help others. 
 
Seasons Greetings Everyone! 
 
 
 

I also did a complete new install but online, I did this two days ago.
I bought a new notebook with Windows 10Pro. It came in this week with the Creators update included (1709)
After making some network connections I copied the whole history I have from Sonar 4 up to and including SPLAT, for backup.
Then I installed Cakewalk Command Center and logged in. The CCC allowed me to install SPLAT just as it is.
As I missed a number of plugins I also copied the missing folders from the VSTPlugins and VSTplugins(x64) folders in the Program Files Folder et voilà most of the plugins are there.
I did not check all functionality but noticed that basically it works fine. CCC contains all registration keys so no manual action is needed.
 
Happy Hollidays
Jan

Thanks for the report.
And seriously smart imaging your system too.

Kudos to all of you and thanks for sharing. The information is precious for those who can fathom it, but
it's a little too deep for me.
 
It hurts my head when try to I read it all. I thought I was technically minded, but this discussions and others like it on this forum, have left me with an "I give up", "I'm throwing in the towel" feeling.
 
Please don't misunderstand. I am not criticizing. In fact, I will continue to seek out posts exactly like this one and I will bookmark it for email notification.
 
Maybe it will sink in! LOL!
 
Thanks again!
Ray
 
 
 

What I did, and I apologize for not being more descriptive as to what I did. 
 
Here's what I done : 
 
I copied all of the downloaded files I had in Command Center's Download folder that were used by "Cakewalk Command Center" to my external hard drive so that I could install the software one at a time. 
I also copied all the code's from my account in case I needed them to activate anything I installed. 
 
I then reinstalled my entire PC with a new version of Windows 10 "Which is what I use now" and updated everything on it for Windows 10 first. 
 
My next step was to start installing the Cakewalk installer files for "Sonar Platinum". 
 
First issue I ran into was of course "Demo Mode".  So I had select the export option for offline installation. 
 
I uploaded the file and downloaded the response file. No problems there. But if the servers go down then I wont be able to get it activated again, I'll get to that later. 
 
I went one by one by one, and I found that the CA-2 Compressor software also required the same process if you aren't using Cakewalk's Command Center, or go online to do a request for authorization. 
 
I ran into the same thing with Dimension Pro Plugin for Sonar Platinum, I had to be able to go online and send the offline file and import it to activate.  
 
Ran into the same thing for Rapture Pro. 
 
My point is, I am just trying to inform everyone that if you have the means that it would be a good idea to go ahead and activate your software now and back it up to image. 
 
Why did I install my software WITHOUT USING THE CAKEWALK COMMAND CENTER? 
 
1st : To see if I could do that which I was able to now while the servers are up. 
 
2nd : Because considering cakewalk is for the most part no more, I didn't want a server software like Cakewalk Command Center on my PC because in the future I wonder if it couldn't be used as a back door to hack my PC. Yeah, I'm probably being paranoid, but once support is shut down, who knows. There is a reason for softwares to issue security updates for their software ya know. 
 
3rd : I updated all my Windows 10 version software and installed and setup and activated every Cakewalk software that I have and made an Image backup of it ACTIVATED, so that in the event that the cakewalk servers go down. I can reactivate them myself by reinstalling from Image. 
 
While I get this "Calm down people because if the servers go down Cakewalk said If or When and all that BS, they also sold LIFETIME licenses to people and took the life out of them by making them nothing more than a 1 or 2 year update process".  Then they tried to rationalize them by saying : "Well they actually paid less than one year". No they didn't, WHY? Because they were sold that Lifetime update on the premise that : "There would be a future cakewalk software update, rather than shutting things down altogether". So no, lifetime update purchasers did not get what they paid for IN MY OPINION. 

Either way, this is what I did to try and secure my future use of Sonar Platinum. I need to get another backup hard drive because the one I am using now is really old. Old school manufactured hard drive, LOL, it might out last me, but I still would rather have a double backup hard drive. Yeah, I know I could do the cloud backup stuff, but I got burned trying that in the past. 
 
Either way, I am not here to start a heated blame game topical discussion or anything like that. 
 
I am simply just telling others what I have done to try and secure my usage of Sonar Platinum for the future, and I welcome any and everyones advice as to what I might could do to improve upon it. 
 
Yeah I could backup to disc of some sort, but I've lost some things over time using disc, they just fail in the end is my experience thus far. 
 
Multiple backups I believe "With a basic setup of NEW install of Windows and ALL MUSIC SOFTWARE ACTIVATED AND INSTALLED TO AN IMAGE BACKUP" in various means, backup hard drive/etc.... I think is your best option. You wont have to worry about activation that way. 
 
Although that being said, If your PC decides to lay down and tear up and you have to reinstall you may be out of luck, or I may be. 
 
One of the main points I wanted to get across here is the fact that : LOOK : Even though the IF/WHEN comment was made about activating Cakewalk software in the future, I realized on installing everything WITHOUT CAKEWALK COMMAND CENTER that : Some of the Plugins made by cakewalk STILL REQUIRE a SERVER activation also, whether it's the offline method getting a response file or through command center. 
 
Anyway, The last thing I want to do is cause others fear of losing their software. I am just sharing my experience for what I did and I hope someone finds it helpful in some way. 
 
BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP TO IMAGE BACKUP!!!!!!!!!! 
 
Sonar Platinum in my opinion is still the best, and who knows what the future may hold. For me on a new install and nothing but my Line 6 Toneport KB37 and Sonar Platinum and plugins ACTIVATED and all of my music software that I have saved to an Image backup. It is working PERFECT!  
 
Note : Only other thing installed is my browser which is OPERA installed on my computer, everything else is Windows 10 and Sonar Software and my Music recording software from Ilok & Waves and others, activated. 
 
Happy Holidays everyone! 
 
Bobby
 

I thought you were pretty clear in your first post and I think you have as good a plan as you can have. The only flaw is the image will only run on that same PC and only if that PC never needs a new MoBo and processor. It's a good plan because this is at least feasible being Mobo's and what not can last a long time. It is the hard drive that is most likely to fail first. 
I will do what you have done as well but I will do this with Windows 8.1 as W10 to me is the heart of all recent issues with Sonar.