I installed windows 10 a few days ago using a "CLEAN" install with a 5.9gig version of win 10 that includes the first two updates and auto activates itself as long as you have an internet connection available on the machine during the install. It does a great job of installing almost all the correct motherboard drivers and with a "clean" install which means not an upgrade so you deactivate all non windows included programs so all the crap on your system is deactivated. You can either wipe your hard drive or keep all the old personal (like SONAR PROJECTS) and windows files which will be place into a folder on your c drive in a windows old folder that you can move back to where they were after the install. I created a bootable flash drive with the free program RUFUS to install this custom version of win 10  , the windows 10 install took about 1 hour. You could burn a Dual-Layer DVD if you wanted to for the install but it will probably be slower to install. I then turned off all the update options of windows 10 that I could and everything is running GREAT! I love windows 10 some really cool new features with windows placement, screen recording and just a snappier faster OS/interface. If anyone wants a copy of this ISO i'll upload it to my server and walk you through install if you need. PM me if interested, just trying to help because I love everything about SONAR so I guess that means I love all you all. :) -Shawn

So how long did it take to install all your programs?

Well, I'm a multimedia producer so I have LOTS of programs like video editing software, web production and SONAR plus things like MS OFFICE but I have all my stuff on hard drives ready to install so that only took a few hours but it was ALOT of stuff but I'm pretty use to doing that because when I do get a virus or something crappy on my computer I can't get rid of I re-install my OS and programs because even though it takes a few hours my PC runs flawlessly for months if not longer. One thing I forgot to mention is I also turn of all the "action center"  notifications, remote op, system restore and bit defender to further optimize the performance/experience which only takes a few minutes to do and I could walk you through. Once you do this you almost have to try to get a virus (I don't use ANTI-VIRUS)  and your PC will fly. So I can re-install my OS and all my many programs and have a really optimized DAW/Multimedia workstation in about 3/4 of a day including coffee and smoke breaks. The time and headache I save by having to do this maybe twice a year is way more than worth it. Thanks Mike! -S

my latest studio shot: :)
 

shawn@trustmedia.tv
Well, I'm a multimedia producer so I have LOTS of programs like video editing software, web production and SONAR plus things like MS OFFICE but I have all my stuff on hard drives ready to install so that only took a few hours but it was ALOT of stuff but I'm pretty use to doing that because when I do get a virus or something crappy on my computer I can't get rid of I re-install my OS and programs because even though it takes a few hours my PC runs flawlessly for months if not longer. One thing I forgot to mention is I also turn of all the "action center"  notifications, remote op, system restore and bit defender to further optimize the performance/experience which only takes a few minutes to do and I could walk you through. Once you do this you almost have to try to get a virus (I don't use ANTI-VIRUS)  and your PC will fly. So I can re-install my OS and all my many programs and have a really optimized DAW/Multimedia workstation in about 3/4 of a day including coffee and smoke breaks. The time and headache I save by having to do this maybe twice a year is way more than worth it. Thanks Mike! -S

I wasn't looking for any tips just asked the question about how long it took you to install all your software. But honestly, I don't want any tips from a guy who in the same paragraph talks about "when I do get a virus" and then later you say you don't run any Anti Virus software and all the talk about reinstalling OS's.
I think the last OS I had that deteriorated in performance over time was maybe win 95 or 98. If counting on reinstalling my OS and all my software twice each year I'd be looking for better advice myself.
I'm very happy with having done an in place upgrade to Win 10 and even though I thought I may do a full install down the track I don't have any performance issues to make that necessary at this time.

sorry but sometimes I do get viruses maybe twice a year at the most because I use the internet on my DAW and I use torrents and what not so sometimes I get unwanted surprises. I can honestly say that the time saved having a multi-use machine setup and maintained this way is by far the best for me...but I can't say that for me or someone else who has the same kind of setup or a dedicated DAW. This may be too much information. -S

To me ANTI-VIRUS is a virus because it can really slow down your machine and is always bothering you with popups...so I don't use it. -Shawn

Here I am as a young lad using SONAR DAW on the internet with no ANTI-VIRUS...harmless!
 

 
CHEERS!

Please do not download MS software from anywhere apart from a MS source. Turning off updates not recommended here is an article:
http://www.howtogeek.com/...y-downloading-updates/

Having a virus scanner is strongly recommended, esp if you are using unauthorized windows 10 distributions. It should not effect your DAW if you configure your file and process exclusions correctly.

If you install web development software that's likely to slow your machine down, consider dual boot.

Do not allow bittorrent anywhere near your DAW.

I can't really find a way in win 10 to turn off updates...if I could I would do them every six months because I hear people are having to "fix" sonar after mandatory win 10 updates... :( so far no problems for me tho and I'm on a cell phone metered connected that's tethered and it's still downloading updates in the background... :( :( :( anyone know how to change this? THANKS! -Shawn