Having some issues with scanning VSTs.  I have added and removed a few .VST files, but Cakewalk still shows them or doesn't show them.

For example, I have deleted the Drop Zone folder from c:\program files \cakewalk\vstplugins, but if I choose:  insert > soft synths > vstplugins > Drop Zone  ... I still see it as an option.  If I try to load it, it goes through the motion then an error window pops up and says it can't find the .dll

I also have EZ drummer installed on this computer, and the .dll in one of the locations below, but Sonar just can't find it.   

How do I get Sonar to refresh it's index of plugins that I have in these 3 file paths below?

Maybe the Plugin Layouts contain entries to plugins which once were, now aren't available anymore? Try another Layout/create a new?

Or instead use an "external, system global" Plugin Manager I wrote, which maintains your single Vst Scan Path for Sonar, whenever you make changes to your Vst installations:

http://www.familiekraft.de/PluginManager

What is "Plugins Layout" - is that a function of Sonar that I can click into and edit?

I'm really surprised there's not a "scan whole computer" function.  

Maybe this isn't what you need but may help someone: I run 64-bit and some plugs create 2 dlls with identical names: one in the 32-bit folder and one in the 64-bit folder.  You may have to delete one (or rather rename it and save it as a back-up), or make sure Sonar scans the folders in the right order.  if it finds the wrong one first, it quits and you are screwed.

Sorry that this is a pain and no easy answer: I have been fighting it off and on for a year: every time I install something new or reinstall and existing virtual instrument, I go through all this scanning hassle.

When you start Sonar, do you see any kind of VST error message?

No, no error message at all.  I also don't see it scanning folders (like it only did the first time I installed Sonar) - it seems to have them already remembered from the first scan.  

Hmm, that's freaky.  For me, sonar scans everytime it starts (which takes a long time, by the way).  Guess we need someone with more technical expertise to jump in.

No problem.  Thanks for the try, I appreciate that.

Just force a new scan by going to Utilities, Plugin manager, Click 'scan VST plug-ins'. You can also manage your plugin layouts there too.

konradh


...I run 64-bit and some plugs create 2 dlls with identical names: one in the 32-bit folder and one in the 64-bit folder.  You may have to delete one (or rather rename it and save it as a back-up), or make sure Sonar scans the folders in the right order.  if it finds the wrong one first, it quits and you are screwed.

Sorry that this is a pain and no easy answer: I have been fighting it off and on for a year: every time I install something new or reinstall and existing virtual instrument, I go through all this scanning hassle...

Dear konradh,
 
this is exactly the reason why I wrote a "Plugin Managing Utility". I, too, am on Win7 x64, but use Live8 and FLStudio, too, which are x32 bit applications. I use Automap, which, in addition to the x32/x64 hassle of plugin installation create another bunch of x32 and x64 DLLs for the plugins I want to automap enable.
Then there is jBridge, which I need, as I'm using Cubase x64, too, and it's own VSTBridge sucks. jBridge again creates another bunch of x32 or x64 DLLs for all my x32 and x64 DLLs, and my automap enabled x32 and x64 DLLs, too.
 
How does anyone think should I manage this mess, organize these DLLs into folders for hosts to scan, maybe manage multiple such folders, one for every host, as each host needs other DLLs (x32/x64/jBridged or not etc.)? And each time I updated a  plugin, I had to work out where is what, what is automapped, what is jBridged, automap/jBridge again, move their DLLs to the appropriate folders, let the host scan again, wonder why things aren't where they used to be in my host, why old plugins are used, instead of the currently update ones etc...
 
Cakewalks plugin manager is nice to have, but I want to have my Plugins sorted into category folder in EVERY host, not just Sonar, and, as you can read here, has its malfunctions, too.
 
Well, I developed my http://www.familiekraft.de/PluginManager, which finally gives me back the freedom of just installing and updating plugins, which automatically creates and updates Scan Paths for hosts to scan, properly ordered/categorized the same in every host, even without that " (Automap)" extension to plugins...
 
In wonder why there's no feedback in this Thread: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2594947 where I introduced my free Plugin Manager. EVERYONE once in while has troubles with the x32/x64 DLL mess of his VST Plugins, no matter how hard he tries to organize everything pretty strictly.
 
Have a look, ask questions, I'm there to help.

@Blogman - that would have been my first move, but as you can see from my screenshot, that function is grayed out for some reason.  I can't scan.