Apologies in advance for what will probably be a long query filled with minute detail. I'll try to eliminate some of the chaff, but feel it's important to include sufficient detail to fully explain my situation.
 
Briefly, I go back as far as Guitar Tracks 2 and upgraded to GT-3 and, finally, GT Pro 4. At about that time, I stopped recording for a couple of years or more, and didn't really put much time in on 4. When I finally wanted to begin recording again, I found out that they had removed simultaneous multi-track recording from 4, which resulted in extreme disappointment, because I'd formerly been able to record 8 individual tracks at the same time. Now, I was restricted to a stereo track consisting of two channels. Bummer!
 
I contacted Cakewalk, and they generously offered me a good price on Sonar X1 Essential, which would restore the multi-track recording capability. I made the purchase and installed it on my recording computer, which was running Windows XP SP-3. It ran fine, and I was able to read project files from the 3 previous versions of Guitar Tracks. Despite this, I didn't do any new recordings at the time, I just fiddled with it a bit to learn the new interface.
 
Over time, I was notified of and update to X1, which I downloaded, but never installed. Similarly, when I was notified of X2, I purchased and downloaded it, but didn't have the time to play with it, either, so I just saved it on a disk for later installation. (never happened!)
 
When X3 came along, I also bought it and saved it to disk. (In fact, I mistakenly bought it twice, about 6 months apart, but put it on the back burner and never installed it. Until yesterday.)
 
One of the reasons for the delay is that I want/need to update my recording computer. I have a choice of machines to suit the purpose, but I have upgraded other software and have to be careful to use a common-denominator operating system that is supported by all the hardware and software. The biggest limitation is my sound card: an M-Audio Delta 1010LT multi-channel device. Gives my 8 simultaneous channels, and works great. However, Windows 7 is the last version for which drivers were written. From what I've seen, Sonar is supported on Windows 7 & 8.1, but there seem to be mixed results on 10. So, it appeared that everything should be ok if I installed X3 on a 64-bit Windows 7 Professional system, which is what I did last night.
 
Installation went fine -- I chose to install both the 32 & 64 bit versions of X3. Each will open .bun & .cwb files copied from my old XP recording computer. But that's about as far as it goes. I can sometimes play the timeline, but some of the transport controls don't appear to be 'live', despite the fact that they work. And it will frequently freeze, requiring me to shut it down with task manager.  Happens with both the 32 & 64 bit versions.
 
Now, I'm filled with questions:
 
1) I'm having a little trouble even identifying which version of Sonar I have. I originally bought what was called Sonar X1 Essential. X2 also had the 'Essential' name when I bought it, but the next upgrade was simply called Sonar X3. The bottom line is, I'm not exactly certain which version I have anymore. I see that there's an LT version - is this simply Sonar X3, renamed by leaving out the 'Essential' from the name? If I look at the version number in the Help/About section, it shows Sonar X3 (X3a Build 209)
 
2) I saw references to a version e of Sonar X3, so thought that I might look for it. Clicking on 'Check for program updates' in my X3, returns a message that my software is up-to-date. So what the heck am I running? Sonar X3 Essential? Plain old Sonar X3?
 
3) What is the latest/most recent update for my product?
 
4) To attempt a fix, should I uninstall both the 32 & 64 bit versions, and then reinstall one or both? My system is 64-bit Win 7 Pro, with 16GB of RAM. The bundle files that I will importing were written on 32-bit versions of GT 2 through GT4 Pro, and Sonar X1 Essential. I wouldn't think it'd make a different, but...
 
5) Any other ideas? (more info happily-supplied, if requested...)
 
Thanks,
Chuck
 

If you look in the help menu there is an "about" option which should (I think) tell you which version of Sonar you are running.

As for installing only one version, my instinct would be to do a complete uninstall of Sonar (including deleting all relevant registry entries - I'm sure there is a guide on how to do this somewhere) and to just install the 64-bit version. I'm sure there will be someone who chimes in that it's perfectly OK to have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions installed, but I'd avoid that if only to rule out any conflicts. I run the 64-bit version and I use 32-bit plugins without any difficulties, although there will certainly be the odd ancient plugin which doesn't work. Probably time to start thinking about the future and move on from 32-bit though - you won't be able to use all of your RAM unless you run the 64-bit version.

Hi. I agree with sharke (James) that you should go x64 all the way, regarding both RAM and and vst's. It will save you from potential issues regarding "bridging" plugins in the future as well.
There is also an update to SONAR X3 (X3e)
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013361/SONAR-X3e-Update
You could also take a look at SONAR Platinum, if you feel like looking into the future
http://forum.cakewalk.com/SONAR-X3-Producer-customers-Get-the-full-SONAR-Platinum-experience-for-60-days-m3369332.aspx
All the best.
 

sharke
If you look in the help menu there is an "about" option which should (I think) tell you which version of Sonar you are running.

Thank you for your suggestions. With regard to your quotation listed above, I included that information in my original post: "If I look at the version number in the Help/About section, it shows Sonar X3 (X3a Build 209)"
 
Probably will uninstall the 32-bit version and stick with the 64-bit -- if I can get it to work. Main reason for installing the 32-bit was to (maybe) be more compatible with the bundle files recorded in the older, 32-bit programs.
 

cbrillow
 Main reason for installing the 32-bit was to (maybe) be more compatible with the bundle files recorded in the older, 32-bit programs.
 

The main reason for this is plugins, and not SONAR itself. I would (at least) do the update to X3e.
All the best.

Update: I tried the X3e download link again -- for the 4th time! -- and it worked. Thanks again for your attention. I'll let you know how it goes...
 

Zargg71There is also an update to SONAR X3 (X3e)
https://www.cakewalk.com/...13361/SONAR-X3e-Update

 Thanks for taking the time to respond to my query and for posting the link. I mentioned seeing the reference to the X3e update in my post, but was unsure whether my version was called Sonar X3 or Sonar X3 Essential, given its lineage from Sonar X1 Essential, which was the first version I used. I guess I have Sonar X3a, and would be happy to try the X3e update. Unfortunately for me,  the download link on the page you referenced doesn't work. The other two links on that page - for the Studio and Producer updates are ok, but the one I need doesn't start a download dialog.
 

Zargg71You could also take a look at SONAR Platinum, if you feel like looking into the future

I don't need a full-blown, Pro-version, recording software. Guitar Tracks was totally adequate for my needs  and this package has additional bells, whistles and complexity beyond that. I only want to make music-minus-one tracks for practicing with my band when they're not around.
 
 

Did you try to log in at http://www.cakewalk.com/ ? If you have not done this recently (last year(s)), I would contact Cakewalk to get your account up and running.
All the best.
 

Hello, Ken.
 
Once again, thanks for your input. To answer your question, yes, I was logged into my Cakewalk account when attempting the download. For whatever reason, only the Studio and Producer update links started download dialogs - the plain X3 link did not. But I went back and tried a fourth time, and got the download.
 
Next, I uninstalled both the 32 & 64-bit versions and cleaned up the registry with CCLEANER.  Then, I installed only the 64-bit version, followed by the 3e update.
 
It is less problematic than the initial attempt, but I'm still not convinced that everything is ok. For one thing, when I read in a bundle file from an earlier version, there's quite a delay after the .wav files have been imported, before the interface becomes 'active'. In other words, some of the controls appear not to be selected. The time counter is blank, no screenset is selected, and all of the playback transport buttons appear inactive. If I hit 'Play', sometimes playback will start, sometimes it won't. I find that relocating the cursor/start position somewhere within the timeline will 'wake things up.' Changing to a different screenset will sometimes also get its attention.
 
It does seem reliable enough that I may move my Delta 1010LT into this box and try out a recording with it. Although it doesn't make a lot of sense, maybe it will be more amenable to files recorded on this newer machine than it is importing bundles from different versions of older Cakewalk software.
 
Take care,
Chuck
 

Zargg71
Did you try to log in at http://www.cakewalk.com/ ? If you have not done this recently (last year(s)), I would contact Cakewalk to get your account up and running.
All the best.

I had a M-Audio Delta 1010lt in Win7 for years, so you should be ok in that area. Do you use ASIO drivers? Have you tried to adjust your latency in SONAR, in Preferences (P), Audio, Playback And Recording. Is your "allocate files" set to anything other than 0 (will slow down that start of project, and is on the same page)? Hope it helps.
All the best.

And if your AI suddenly becomes unavailable, it could be due to connection problems of some sort. But it could also be due to taking time to unpack the .bundle, and copying all content to a new location. They can get quite big...
All the best.