I'm goint ot have to to re-install Sonar to new HD. I'm currently on 8.53PE, but have versions 5, 7 and 8 too. ( all are boxed versions with all discs)

When I upgraded in the past, I always left the previous version and just installed the new as well, but given that I'm starting form scratch, is there any reason to install all the earlier versions or should I just do 8.5 plus the relevant patches ?

Assuming I do 8.5 only and later find out that there was something in the earlier versions that isn't covered in 8.5 can I then reinstall whatever earlier version without screwing up 8.5 ?

Also, when I reinstall non-sonar vsts - is it going to cause problems with my projects if they are not in the exact same file/folder location that they were previously or will it find them ok as long as they are there somewhere once i have done the VST scan ?

As a rule I usually install whatever VST to the default folder that the installer suggests, so most should end up where they were before, but there's always the possibility that some may end up somewhere different. FYI far as synths go, they will be frozen within the projects, but if I unfreeze for some reason and the synth is not exactly where it was, will it still work ?

IIRC the early versions of 8.5 needed 8 installed too, but I currently only have 8.5 installed so I guess they did away with that idea.

Try it on it's own it will tell you if you need the previous version installed when you go to install it anyway.

You can install an older version without messing up the current install so don't worry about it.  It's best to install the latest version last though as some of the files in the shared folders get updated so if you do have to install an earlier version run your latest versions installer again afterward just to be on the safe side.

Apply any patches at the end.

Thanks Jonbouy. I will do that.  FYI, he's putting my XP32 on a 64bit system for me, so I can always add W7 64  if I don't go down the separate PC route. Seemed the most elegant solution to my current needs.