Hello all, so I saved my pennies and just sprung for a new custom built computer just for Sonar and recording. It will have an SS hard drive and a 2 TB hybrid 7500 rpm second hard drive.  i7, Windows 10, 16 gig ram, separate video card and Fire Wire card for my Sapphire Pro 40.
My question is, what is the best way to load everything up.  should I install all drivers for outboard gear first, then Sonar, then the additional programs used for recording?  I plan to install only the working programs on the SS hard drive and use the larger drive for storage, sample files?  This is my first experience on Windows 10 so any advice would be greatly appreciated, as there are many of you here that are very knowledgeable about computers, I am not so much. Anything to be aware of with Windows 10 during setup?  My old computer worked best with the Hopkinton update, I am hoping I can use a newer version of the Sonar updates. 
 
Thanks in advance,
Art 

By "custom built for Sonar" do you mean you bought a system from a company that builds computers for audio work (like Studiocat or ADK) or did you build it yourself?
 
Or maybe you bought a prebuilt, off the shelf system like a Dell or HP from Best Buy or something.
 
This is important because if you bought a custom build from a good DAW computer builder (and they knew you were going to be using Sonar) then you are likely good to go (aside from driver/program installation but they would normally do that for you as well AFAIK).
 
If you built it yourself there will likely be a few windows tweaks you'll want to do, such as ensuring Windows is set to Performance mode and none of your hardware (especially USB/Firewire/Data Drives/the OS/etc aren't going to "go to sleep").
 
If you bought an off the self system with windows preinstalled you are going to want to remove all the "bloatware" that came with the system or do a totally clean install of Windows. If you are going to uninstall the bloatware (instead of a clean install) then use something like CCleaner or RevoUninstaller to really scrub the bugger. Figure out what ALL the preinstalled programs are and make decisions of what to remove from there. For what you decide to keep make sure you get right into their individual "options" setting to ensure they are not going to take any automatic background actions like searching for updates or autolaunching or anything like that. Also find where to disable "Startup" programs or "Task Scheduler" in windows to make susre there is nothing on the list that might distract your system from doing your audio work.
 
If there is a wireless network card on the system learn how to disable it so when you are working with audio you can keep it from distracting the system.
 
From there it's probably best to install and/or update your system drivers and BIOS first (unless the computer was custom built by a DAW builder... in which case don't do that without their go ahead).
 
Search for and install ALL available Windows "Important" updates (and if you are okay with the optional updates get those installed too... I think Win10 forces you to do this anyway).
 
Create a system image. So you can return to this clean/first setup state.
 
Then install the drivers for all your necessary audio devices one at a time creating a manual "Windows Restore Point" each time (that way if something goes weird with an install you can use restore to get back to that point instead of doing a full system image reinstall). Most driver/program installations will create a restore point anyway automatically but I make my own with a descriptive name anyway just in case (and with the name it's easier to know what to revert back to).
 
Once you have all your audio devices installed start installing your audio programs, starting with your DAW of choice. It should be noted that IF you own previous versions of Sonar (such as X3, X2, X1, etc) and you think you MAY want to get at them to maybe access older projects (in case SPlat doesn't read them properly) you should install those versions in order of release. So X1 first, then X2, then X3 (you can skip versions you don't care about but just make sure you install in sequence). Also remember that some plugins have been removed over the years so if you use those plugins (eg: VC-64 and V-Vocal have been removed) you need to install them from those versions of Sonar. You can use the "Advanced Installation" option to get at just the plugins of each version though so a full install of the program isn't necessary.
 
It should be noted that the BASIC Sonar installation for each version is actually very small and takes up very little disk space. It is all the content libraries (such as the loops and instrument/synth samples) that take up most of the space. So you can safely install older versions of Sonar itself and just not install the synths and sample libraries (and most of those will come with SPlat anyway). You just gotta figure out what your needs are and what you'll miss if it's not installed.
 
Create Restore points through out this entire process for each installation.
 
After you get everything set up, installed and tested/working create another SYSTEM IMAGE (not a restore point but a full image) of your now fully set up and functioning system. You can return to this point at any time by reloading the image or even transfer it over to a new disk drive (in the case of a total system failure).
 
I am not a tech nor a DAW builder (although I did build my own system and it runs pretty good after over 3 years of kicking the crap out of it).
 
I have not installed Win10.
 
These are just general guidelines based on my intertube scourings and my own experiences as a highly motivated DAW user.
 
Please defer to the advice of proper professionals on all these matters.
 
Cheers.

Thank you for your quick response.  The computer is being built by a shop that builds custom for a range of applications, gaming, audio,  business, etc.  The only thing that will be loaded onto this computer is Windows 10 until I get it.  He installed a Pentium i7 quad core processor, an Asus motherboard, though I don't know the model number, a video card with it's own memory, an express slot Fire Wire card, 16 gig ram, wi fi.  That's about all I can tell you regarding the build.
Thanks,
Art

Also, you mentioned a System Image, would that be installed on the 2 TB hard drive and exactly how do you do that?

Okay, cool. Ask them to make you a "factory reset" system image. They probably will anyway but ask them to put it on a set of disks, a thumb drive and maybe make a recovery partition on one of the system drives.
 
They'll know what you mean and advise you further. The point is this image will be your "total start from scratch image" you can use even in the even of total data drive failure (meaning you could totally replace your C drive with a blank one, load that system image and be starting with your brand new computer all over again).
 
 
So ask them about those types of system image/backup options. If you are working with a company like that they may already be providing you with a quality backup management scheme. If not then ask the about a program called "Acronys" (which is a system back up program) or ask them how they recommend to do system images.
 
You lose all new data when you restore an image though so back up your projects or anything else you want independently. Then you can just move those back to the freshly reinstalled image.
 
System RESTORE is a different thing that just reverts the programs and installations to a previous state (to solve problems like viruses or bad programs). That WON'T wipe out your files/projects. Just restore the previous state of programs.
 
So ask them about that and how to best access/execute such actions.
 
If you already have all the main hardware (like interfaces and MIDI controllers) and know which programs you want to initially install send them a full list with program version numbers and hardware model numbers. Maybe even stop by the shop (if it's a brick and mortar store) with the devices so they can do the installs for you.
 
However get them to make a SECOND image of AFTER all those drivers are installed. That way you have a totally clean image then one that has your CURRENT hardware drivers installed.
 
From there you can install your own programs and make your own image with the programs installed... OR you can see if they do that for you and test it all out.
 
 
Again... just some recommendations. I don't know who you are using or how much they are willing to do for you but it doesn't hurt to ask questions and see how much you can get for your money.
 
Hoepfully they are offering you some post purchase support as well. Any quality DAW builder will make themselves available for follow up questions and general support. The idea is you pay MORE now so you can just get some damned music tracked instead of futzing around with your computer (like the type of crap I was yammering about above).
 
I wish I could afford one of those pro builds.
 
Cheers.

Thanks so much for your help.  I will follow up with the builder, it is a brick and mortar store close by so I can refer to them for any issues.
 
Best,
Art

Also... I'm sure you are already aware of this but on this very forum there is an area specifically for computer info. TONS of great stuff there and wicked smart folks.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Computers-f84.aspx
 
They can answer a lot of these questions much better than I could.
 
There is also a pro DAW builder who hangs out there that many of the doods use to build/maintain their systems. Jim Roseberry from Studiocat. Keep an eye out for his posts and if your current DAW builder flops out on you I'm sure those guys could set you up right.
 
Good luck.

Thanks again, I will check out the other forum section.