I am a long time SONAR user.  When I got my last computer, Windows was at the Vista era and it was recommended to stay away from that.  So I went with XP.
System has worked perfectly for many years.
Had my computer at my tech's shop and he wondered why I was still on XP.  Said I have tons of horsepower to run anything including WIN10.
I am using Producer X1 and am very happy with it.  Absolutely without issue.  But I am looking at Platinum features and would like to upgrade.
What would happen if I simply upgraded my existing system to Win 7 or better?  Do I have to bundle all of my files or will they open normally in a new OS?  I have at least a hundred...
I am terrified to do this.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Don

There are really only two compelling reasons to migrate away from XP on a DAW: 
1. you lust after some killer plugin that won't run on it
2. you need a 64-bit O/S for large sample libraries
 
If you don't use virtual instruments, and you're content with the tools you have, then there's actually very little benefit.

Thanks.
 
I do not use any MIDI at, so virtual stuff is not relevant.
 
I do want some of the newer mixing/mastering plugins.  Main reason for upgrading.
My tech also tells me the architecture of Win7 will allow much faster processing.  Not sure if this is true or not.
 
This computer is dedicated to my music.  Not on internet.  Really nothing else on it.

I would get Windows 7 because with Win 7 you can upgrade to a free Win 10.
That way you can wait until all of your drivers are updated and the bugs are mostly out of Win 10 before upgrading.  This is exactly what I am doing, waiting.

I stayed on XP until a couple of years ago , then I went to 8 …the only reason I went to 8 was I got a really good deal on a lap top that came W 8 64 bit….if I was more of a computer guy I would have definitely  went to W 7  on my own dime on that machine .
then I bumped up my SONAR to X3 PE….before that I was on 6 PE 
 
I think you will probably have a pretty smooth transition since you have been using X1 … 
 
As far as all you work , you should have no problem opening your projects up in the new OS as long as you have SONAR installed …be it X1 or Plat ….you may have to install any 3rd party plugs and synths to maintain the version of the work you have done after you have completed your OS and SONAR upgrade…
 
I'm not much of a bundle file save guy , can't comment there …I feel most comfortable working w per project folders and saving them as that …
My MO is to back them up and store them on an external drive to archive ….then I have a few hard drives that I went out and got an enclosures for where I can keep my samples , per projects and stream ….
 
So far I've had very good results opening up older projects from older SONAR versions ( 5 & 6 ) they open up fine exactly as I have saved them in my current version of SONAR X3 and OS …..
 
all the best , 
 
Kenny
 

You cannot do an in-place upgrade from win xp to win7 at all ever unless there is some hack now.
You had to go xp -> vista -> 7 because Microsoft is just mean.
 
There was PCMover windows 7 upgrade assistant that I used a long time ago to migrate a venerable fortress of studio goodness to windows 7 but you cannot go from 32 bit xp to any 64 windows bit os with it as if that is impossible.
 
Beginning with X3, Sonar will not installation XP as it uses a Visual C library that cannot be installed on xp , again because Microsoft is mean, and they want it to die.
 
I'm typing this on an xp partition of a multiboot laptop btw.
 

So if you want to upgrade your OS from XP, you are going to need to do a clean install of the new version of Windows, unless you are planning on using Vista. That means you lose everything from your XP installation and possibly everything on the drive partition on which XP is installed. Your Sonar project files can be copied onto storage on another drive or partition and they should open in Platinum, because Sonar versions project files are backward compatible with previous versions BUT projects depend on the plugins they call, and you would need to be sure that those plugins will run in your new OS environment. If the main reason you are going to move from XP is for 64-bit architecture, be aware that the translation of 32 bit plugins can be problematic even with "bridging" utilities. So many of your XP based projects may not open as expected, and you will need to re-jigger them with other plugins. Also be aware that your current hardware may not run on a new OS if there are no available drivers. It is not usually a simple task to move everything over, and you need to do a lot of research to be sure that things will work beforehand, or a lot of swearing afterward. A wise move might be to pull your XP drive and install the new OS on a new drive, so if things go awry you can just swap in the old XP drive again. Dual boot is another option with its own set of issues. At a minimum you will need to install all your programs again under the new OS, and usually reauthorize them if they require that. If they only allow a limited number of installations, you may have to uninstall/de-authorize them under XP before they will authorize in the new OS. 

panterrasports
I am a long time SONAR user.  When I got my last computer, Windows was at the Vista era and it was recommended to stay away from that.  So I went with XP.
System has worked perfectly for many years.
Had my computer at my tech's shop and he wondered why I was still on XP.  Said I have tons of horsepower to run anything including WIN10.
I am using Producer X1 and am very happy with it.  Absolutely without issue.  But I am looking at Platinum features and would like to upgrade.
What would happen if I simply upgraded my existing system to Win 7 or better?  Do I have to bundle all of my files or will they open normally in a new OS?  I have at least a hundred...
I am terrified to do this.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Don

I don't know your system specs. I assume though as you are running XP they are on the low side. If so get a new PC with Windows 10 installed. If you wait till next year you get USB-C features and other stuff, and Windows 10 bugs/driver support will have been ironed out.

Doktor Avalanche

panterrasports
I am a long time SONAR user.  When I got my last computer, Windows was at the Vista era and it was recommended to stay away from that.  So I went with XP.
System has worked perfectly for many years.
Had my computer at my tech's shop and he wondered why I was still on XP.  Said I have tons of horsepower to run anything including WIN10.
I am using Producer X1 and am very happy with it.  Absolutely without issue.  But I am looking at Platinum features and would like to upgrade.
What would happen if I simply upgraded my existing system to Win 7 or better?  Do I have to bundle all of my files or will they open normally in a new OS?  I have at least a hundred...
I am terrified to do this.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Don

I don't know your system specs. I assume though as you are running XP they are on the low side. If so get a new PC with Windows 10 installed. If you wait till next year you get USB-C features and other stuff, and Windows 10 bugs/driver support will have been ironed out.

 
Hey , Doktor Avalanche , you sure don't pull no punches …. 
You know what ? I agree w you ….
I have a perfectly good working XP computer that I had custom built for me stored away with everything I used w this system …
My current i3 will continue on as a  place holder machine , then I will probably end up doing exactly what you have just suggested to the OP  …
 
have a good one , 
 
Kenny

Thanks for all the feedback.  Helps a lot.
 
My tech suggested the dual drive setup, leaving the XP drive intact.
I can migrate stuff with no risk.
I use an RME FF800 so there are no issues with drivers.
Once everything is stable, I can change over 100%.