I've been using 8.5 for a few years.  It survived my machine's forced "update" to Windows 10.  But yesterday while recording audio, it froze and I had to use Task Manager to end it.  Now, it takes nearly a full minute to even open, and even longer to open a file, and will freeze immediately if I try to do anything in the file.  I'm pretty sure my next step should be to try an Uninstall and Re-Install.  Has anyone had this experience and does anyone have help/guidance to offer me for doing the Un/Re-Install?  
 
Incidentally, I'm somewhat dismayed that I can't call anyone at Cakewalk to get help with this, because my software is apparently deemed too old to warrant even a basic level of customer service 
 
Thanks.
Dan

You're using a version designed for XP, 3 behind the current. V8.5 isn't certified for Windows 10, so why should Cakewalk spend their resources on something outside of their responsibility?

I finally upgraded from my XP machine to W8, and from Sonar 8.5 to SPLAT. it's a great, cheap, upgrade. Maybe it's time you upgraded? That'll get you a better product, support, and recognized compatibility.
Don't be dismayed, no other software company (that I know of) would help you either. That's why they certify their products agains OS' and various hardware: if it's certified, they confirm that it should work. By using your setup, you should expect problems.

luckychrm9 Incidentally, I'm somewhat dismayed that I can't call anyone at Cakewalk to get help with this, because my software is apparently deemed too old to warrant even a basic level of customer service  

Tried getting support from Microsoft for XP recently?

Did you install all the 8.5 patches?

 
***After posting the reply below, I stumbled upon a fix; disconnected and reconnected my Focusrite.***
***But yes I'm going to upgrade.  Is Platinum the best/only choice?***
 
Thanks for the comments.  Now I have a new problem, which might shed light on the old one:
I did an Uninstall-Reinstall of Finale 2014.5 today because it's been crashing repeatedly since I got Win10, and lo and behold, now it's doing the same thing the Sonar's doing:  Taking forever to open, and then freezing if I try to click on most anything. 
 
I want to stress:  I was running fine with this rig until Win10 took over, and even then it was mostly ok until this crash the other night.  Now I'm fooked.
 
Intel Core2, 4 GB RAM, Windows10, Focusrite 2i4 I/O
 
 
 

To be brutally frank, a Core 2 with 4Gb of RAM might be a serious limitation on your system and may well be the cause of your problems.

I have to agree with the previous comments.
 
Do you have the media for your previous O.S. so you can reinstall it?  Failing that, you could probably get a new XP disc off Ebay fairly cheap... and then load Sonar 8.5.   I'd say this would be the least painful fix.

luckychrm9
 
 
***But yes I'm going to upgrade.  Is Platinum the best/only choice?***
 ...
I want to stress:  I was running fine with this rig until Win10 took over, and even then it was mostly ok until this crash the other night.  Now I'm fooked.
 
Intel Core2, 4 GB RAM, Windows10, Focusrite 2i4 I/O
 
 

 
Platinum isn't the only choice (check the Products page for your options), but I'm glad it's the one I upgraded to.  It's got lots of great features and is a HUGE step above V8.5.  
As the others noted above though, you've got a seriously underpowered PC and would probably have to replace or upgrade it too.  If you're sticking with the same PC specs, a used XP disc may be the most efficient option, just be sure to keep the PC off the internet as Microsoft is no longer providing security patches for this OS.

Widows 10 is terrible for older software, Software from the XP 32 bit days runs fin for me on Windows 7 and even 8.1.
But the slow response and freezing is what you can expect with W10 from old software. Some things like my Canon Scanner software take 6 tries just to open. 
Sonar 8.5 is a great version and I used it for longer than any other version as I skipped over X1 and X2 as I saw too many issues reported here on this forum. But that was using Windows 7. 
Owning an older version gives you begging rights for a lower price point on the new versions. 
Check your store page. 
 
And as said above, your system specs are really not even close for running W 10. It's now standard to have a min of 16 Gigs. 
 
If I was you I'd look into a new machine first and then think about a new version of Sonar next. Nothing wrong with 8.5. You'll have to look at the features list, however, and you'll see they have added a ton of good stuff. The biggest reason for the flagship is the add ons, the lower versions do most of the same work, but it's the add ons like Addictive Drums that are well worth the ticket price. 
 
For now as said above your actually better off running Windows XP and Sonar 8.5 on that computer. Windows 7 might not be an option as it was expensive to purchase back when. 

If you have not already tried it, you should try using settings for compatibility mode in Windows 10, not just for Sonar but for other programs and the drivers for your interface if there is not a Win10 compatible version available.
 
http://www.howtogeek.com/228689/how-to-make-old-programs-work-on-windows-10/
 
You probably do have an underpowered machine for optimum use of the current Sonar version, but if 8.5 is working for what you do with music, then you do not need to upgrade either the machine or the Sonar version if you can work out the kinks. If your machine will run 8.5 under XP there is enough hardware there to run it under Win 10. Of course if you can afford a new powerhouse machine and software upgrades that is a good option. And of course you can always just roll back from Windows 10 if there is nothing in the new OS that you need.