The command center tree view thing and the possible need to install some products separately can conceivably be a bit baffling. Some clarity around what problems specifically vex the OP would be very useful.

sharke
Man it's true that we are exceptionally lucky to have the internet as a resource these days. It's hard to remember what it was like back before the days when you could Google anything, ask detailed questions on forums, instantly dial up thousands of video tutorials and reference material etc. I remember learning how to program back in the early 90's with a language called AMOS, which I had boxed with a manual. The "manual" was basically a reference guide to all of the commands in alphabetical order. There was no getting started tutorial, no "first steps," nothing. I had to read that reference from front to back and slowly pick up an idea of how the language, and the development environment, worked. Couldn't ask any questions anywhere. But, I guess I was a lot more patient in those days (and there weren't so many distractions) so I slowly picked it up. 
 
Same with the first "DAW" I used, which was really a tracker called OctaMED. Had a pirate copy of it on floppy disc with no instructions. I just had to piece things together by trial and error, but by jove I did it and was making music in no time. I really wonder how I would have gotten on with Sonar under the same circumstances. 

Sharke,
 
"insert rant here"...
I think the internet brings about people like our OP that don't really do the research but buy anyhow, then when they don't like it they bash the product. How can you expect there will be no learning curve? How can you expect it NOT to be different?   I'm sorry, but I came from back in the ole FORTRAN and BASIC days so I know how it is when the manual is as big as a telephone book so if I expected that Win7, 8 or 10 were going to be the "same ole thing" I would be kidding myself right? 
  Sorry... got a little carried away there for a minute... rant over.

LOL!  Was I THAT bad Doc?

I think the subject title provided the explosive myself. The detonator remains to be seen :)

Ahhhh gotcha... I agree... I also think the OP's silence has lit the fuse...

When I'm "stuck" with software I force myself to learn it. After Sonar 5 I started to hate it because of the GUI. It was too messy. I like the X series.
 
 I too recommend groove3 since tutorials are half off. Sonar Platinum is $20.
 
 I think one of the OPs rants are there is no .chm file.  I still like those instead of going to a web page.
 
 

kitekrazy1
 I think one of the OPs rants are there is no .chm file.  I still like those instead of going to a web page.
 

 
Edit > Preferences > File > Advanced, and select Always Use Offline Help.

I'm probably going to hate myself for getting involved here, but let me chime in....
I know the OP....we're good friends and went to college together in the late 80's....I love him like a brother.  He built the guitar you see in my avatar, for me as a gift when I suffered a family loss.
 
We live several hours away from each other....  and after college continued playing together via 4-track cassette player....around 1999 we each bought an M-Audio Delta 1010 and a version of Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.
 
And that's what he has used ever since.  I finally upgraded in 2010 to Sonar 8.5....and then to X3 last year, and Platinum this year. (and a Roland Octa Capture a couple years ago)
 
He finally decided to replace his aging computer and his 1010 which was having some physical issues, with (at my suggestion)  Sonar Professional and a Roland Quad Capture.....
 
And he's had more issues than I thought he was going to.....it's a HUGE change and he is completely overwhelmed at the moment. (The idea of VST's is completely foreign to him, as an example)
 
I was able to explain to him how to get the view he wanted and am trying to get him situated....but, he's more about "just recording" rather than learning the processes necessary.  And we've gotten a little frustrated with one another during this process...so I think he felt the need to vent his frustrations here...
 
So....I can guarantee you he's not a troll...and he's not a jerk....just a guy going from software that's 16 years old or more to the newest version...
 
I had made several of the same suggestions many of you have regarding Groove 3, youtube videos, google, and the like....  but....he isn't really into change....though once he gets used to it I know (hope) he's gonna love it.
 
There...how often do you get a complete explanation regarding an angry post!  ;-)
 
 
 

Ozz..
That's a first (that I can recall)...
Never said (nor thought) the OP was a jerk. 
Really feel that he should come back and give it another try. 
One thing I can say about this forum is that the people here ARE here to help. 
We've ALL been new to Sonar and we've all had trouble.  Whether it was with set up, recording, latency, how to get a track to bus correctly, whatever we've all been there.  We ALL understand his frustration and feel for him.  Hate speaking of someone in the 3rd person would like him to come back so that we can help though. Gotta start somewhere or else it ends up being a heap in the back of the studio and who wants that???