For various reasons, my recording computer needs to be rebuilt. I started with Sonar X2 Studio, got an inexpensive upgrade to X2 Producer, bought the X3 Producer on the cheap and finally acquired the upgrade to Sonar Platinum. I am just a hobbyist and I am fine installing just Sonar Platinum. I also have a Nektar Panorama P1 controller and a Korg PadKontrol along with my Yamaha MO8 keyboard to install.

So, should I install the peripherals first, so that when I install Sonar they are there, or does that matter? Also, since I have Sonar Platinum registered through Cakewalk, is it a simple matter of downloading the Command Center software, signing in through that and letting it go to town? As part of one of the prior upgrades, the installs for both Dimension Pro and Rapture Pro was included separately, but does that matter, of will the CCC module install that for me? I also got XLN Audio's Addictive Drums with 3 AD Paks when I got Platinum, so how do I get all that reinstalled? It's that also part of CCC? I know the XLN provides its own update module, and is that part of the CCC package somehow? Sorry for all the questions, but before I do this, I want to have a game plan together, so any help or advice is appreciated.

I had same thing except with Sonar 8.5 and Sonar x1. I built new computer and transferred everything. For the most part it went smooth and picked up my projects. However some of my older effects from sonar 8.5 and x1 were gone as i had reinstalled 8 or 8.5. In some of my instrumental projects some of the instruments tended to be missing. Took a bit of time to replace them.
 
I installed Addictive drums again after upgrading to platinum and installed my expansion packs and still found everything perfectly so had no issues there. Most of my issues i think happened when i upgraded to Rapture pro, because most of my dimension pro instruments suddenly went missing which i suspect the combining of rapture pro and dimension pro was the culprit and for some reason still have not found the solution as the track does not want to be replaced and been to lazy to recreate the instruments lol.
 
All in all it was a fairly smooth process with some hiccups. I think taking precautions and organizing your files for a proper transfer would be greatly to your benefit.

I usually have all the hardware installed first but it should not matter.
 
WRT SONAR, there are a few plug-ins from older versions which might be nice to have. Most plug-ins can be installed individually by using the advanced install option of the release containing the plug-in. V-Vocal is the exception, it require a minimal install of SONAR. Here is a post containing the info regarding plug-ins by version http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3217211. While not absolutely necessary, if you plan on restoring V-Vocal, run that minimal install prior to loading a newer version of SONAR.
 
With the exception of Addictive Drums and any upgrade to Melodyne (if you purchased one), the Command Center can handle everything else when it comes to Platinum, including DPro, Rapture and RPro, which is bundled with Platinum. You will need to download and install the XLN Audio installer to re-install Addictive Drums and you will need to handle any Melodyne upgrades, if any, directly with Celemony.
 
Because the Command Center requires rewriting the installers, there are some products which do not appear in it. You may need to check your Cakewalk account to download and install those items, such as older versions of SONAR (if you want the missing plug-ins) and zeta+2.
 
Also if you are running the regular Rapture and not Rapture Pro, do not forget the expansion packs available from the Rapture support page.

Thanks folks...about to take the plunge....

Like Scook was talking about, i had installed Splat on my new machine and was missing all my v-vocals and then remember the Roland/Gibson transaction so i installed Sonar x1 and got all my v-vocals back. 
 
Lets us know how it goes and Goodluck! always scary doing this.

Woodyoflop
Like Scook was talking about, i had installed Splat on my new machine and was missing all my v-vocals and then remember the Roland/Gibson transaction so i installed Sonar x1 and got all my v-vocals back. 
 
Lets us know how it goes and Goodluck! always scary doing this.

So then, does it matter which versions I install in which order then?  It sounds like it doesn't from what you are saying here.  User scook seemed to allude that there is a certain order to reinstalling, but if I can install in any order, I could install just the SONAR Platinum version and later (if I feel like it) install SONAR Producer X2/X3...is that right?

It's usually better to install earlier versions before later versions.
 
The individual .exe files consume minimal space on your hard drive so you've really got nothing to lose.

Bristol_Jonesey
It's usually better to install earlier versions before later versions.
 
The individual .exe files consume minimal space on your hard drive so you've really got nothing to lose.

OK, so then I guess I will install X2 Studio, X2 Producer, X3 Producer and finally Platinum then to take advantage of all the available plug-ins they offer...But maybe I could skip X2 Studio and just install Producer then -- assuming that Studio was a true subset of Producer in the X2 line?

There is no need to install everything and definitely no need to install X2 Studio. As I mentioned above, refer to the link for the unique plug-ins and run the installers taking the advanced install option. If you want V-Vocal, you will need to at least run the minimal install of X2 which includes the SONAR program itself.
 
Installation order is not critical but when installing the actual program (in your case X2 for V-Vocal), it is a good idea to install it before Platinum.
 
One thing I failed to mention above was the content change. If you are interested in the loops which are bundled with SONAR make sure to install the X2 or X3 loop libraries. They include the 4GB Beatscape content, called "Loops and One Shots" which was dropped from Platinum.

Well, as I sit here thinking it over, I have the space on my system drive to install X2 Producer, X3 Producer and Platinum so there's really no harm in installing them I guess.  That will ensure I get all the extras/goodies that came with each version, and I can revert back to any version if needs be I suppose.  I am nearly due for an upgrade to Platinum (again) in December, and I'm not sure I'm gonna jump yet anyway...I already (obviously) have enough toys to keep me busy for the foreseeable future.  Thanks again folks!