Great news Pete, glad you got it sorted. Enjoy.

I recommend installing a PCI card with USB ports for audio...use the motherboard USB for keyboard, mouse, printer, hard drives, etc.

Dude, for $100 I bought a standalone version of Win 7 from Walmart. And now it's even cheaper.
 
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=windows+7
 
Worth every penny having that DVD in my collection instead of those BS reinstall disk that you make when you buy a new system. No junkware on it.
 
There's also Acronis True Image that will take you back to Win 7.
 
Lots of options

Got to say - I too am quite happy that you are beyond what had been driving you bonkers with trying to be productive with Sonar.
 
YAY!!!!!
 
Bob Bone
 

Anderton
I recommend installing a PCI card with USB ports for audio...use the motherboard USB for keyboard, mouse, printer, hard drives, etc.

Hi Craig,
I've had recommendations to specifically *not* use  3rd party USB ports for audio interfaces - so it seems like it's real black magic, juggling USB ports and trying them all out to see what works best 

Anderton
I recommend installing a PCI card with USB ports for audio...

+1000
 
I've done this (first PCI, now PCIe) for every USB and Firewire interface I've owned in the past 8 years and, not so surprisingly (to me anyway), the result is smooth sailing with interface performance.  
 
Sure, you can try your luck with one of the onboard USB/FW ports, but this just as often results in incompatibility or resource-sharing issues.  Installing a dedicated PCI(e) card gets around all of that.
 
Of course, this only works with a desktop.  With a laptop, you're stuck with what's there.

jbraner
...I've had recommendations to specifically *not* use  3rd party USB ports for audio interfaces ...

Hm, I wonder if this has to do with USB2/USB3 incompatibilities with some controllers.  If you're device is USB2, then just stick with a USB2 card and there shouldn't be a problem.  (I've used numerous inexpensive ones over the years without a single issue).

I'm not sure - I was trying to get my new interface to run comfortably at 64 sample latency, and it was Jim Roseberry who mentioned not to run it on a 3rd party USB port.
 
It *is* a USB2 device (MOTU Ultralite AVB) that is supposed to run on USB3 ports - so I guess that just adds to the "fun" ;-)
 
I'm definitely not arguing with you or Craig - just saying that I've heard conflicting opinions ;-)

I get fed up with just about everything in my life at one point or another. It passes.
 
Glad it all worked out.

Another advantage of a card is the USB power tends to be cleaner. A lot of dirt from hard disks etc. gets on the mobo USB lines. There was an audible, obvious improvement in audio quality (no clicks from hard drive spikes, hiss, etc.) with the PCI card.
 
What you DO want to avoid is a USB hub, but you also want to avoid combo USB/Firewire cards. Don't know why, but I've heard nothing but negative reports about the latter option.