I know I'm hopelessly behind the times but maybe you guys can help me anyway:)
I have a version of Sonar 6 currently installed on my XP laptop.I don't know it really well yet but I'm getting there. I have a Tascam US428 control surface and a Ketron Sound module.Everything is working properly .
So I have a chance to buy Sonar 8 producer with the tutorial DVD for 32.-. I read that this version is very easy on the computer resources so I think I want to buy it.
My questions are
If install Sonar 8, will it recognize my previous installation of sonar 6 and keep all the settings and folder locations etc?
Or do I have to start from scratch?
The software I'm about to buy has been previously registered, the seller said it would be completely functional, only I won't be able to get support from cakewalk. Is that true?
There also is a Sonar 8.5. I don't know what it has that Sonar 8 doesn't have, but would I eventually be able to upgrade to that if I installed Sonar 8?
Thanks for your help

Where to begin?  First, you just admitted that you have a previously registered copy of Sonar, therefor, you won't be able to upgrade to any version of Sonar using that software.  Second, 8.5 is about 8 or 9 years in the past, so there's no support for it now.  Why don't you list your computer specs and let people advise you on which way to go?  The new X series of Sonar has a great deal to offer and will be fully supported.  I see that you have XP on your laptop, to I don't know how well this is supported these days, but I think that you'd be wise to consider upgrading your whole system and joining the 21st century  Either way, welcome to the forum, and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.
 
 

No Lynn, I do not want to get into it to the point that I have to replace my XP laptop. AFAIK newer versions of sonar don't run on XP, so if someone could please help me out and answer my questions (I just edited them a bit to make them clearer.) BTW My sonar 6 may have been registered (It came with my laptop) and the sonar 8 has definitely been previously registered.
So I'm not upgrading an existing installation in the sense that I'm trying to get something from Cakewalk for free... I just want to know if I installed Sonar 8 if it will recognize that I have Sonar 6 already. Will it use the settings I have created on Sonar 6 and give me Sonar 8 with my old preferences in place?
Thanks :)

If Sonar 6 came with the laptop I think you should be able to register it and I'd recommend doing so.  Loading Sonar 8 should be no problem for you at all.  It was a long time ago,  but I think S8 was a dog and S8.5 was really a good, stable version. Normally when you upgrade the new version searches the old and uses the same settings. Even if it does not, you should be able to change things to match in the "Preferences" section.  Loading an old file from 6 and playing in 8 will work and use the file settings from the old version and be fine in the newer Sonar.
 
8.5 was a paid update.  I m not sure how you would go to 8.5 from 8.
 
Good luck and i hope you have the opportunity to get to Sonar 2015 and a new laptop.  Life in this version is way cool.

I used all the sonars since Sonar 7. Not to versed in sonar 6. However from my experience like Jimbo said... when you install new sonar.. usually settings will transfer over. You can open up all your sonar 6 projects in 8 as long as they dont use any 3rd party plugins that ur Sonar 8 doesn't have access to anymore. Usually even then itll just skip that plugin. Sometimes you might have to change a directory or something but its rare. Like Jimbo said u might have to adjsut ur preferences a slight bit, but usually the new will just take over the old.

OK.  CW does a great job of recognizing your past versions and settings.  Actually, if you can get 8.5.3, you'll love it.  I loved S6 when I had it, so I'm sure you'll appreciate any version that's newer.  Best of luck.

Hi Roxy:
 
Welcome to the Cakewalk forums! 
 
"If install Sonar 8, will it recognize my previous installation of sonar 6 and keep all the settings and folder locations etc?"
 
Yes. I believe it is when you start the new version of SONAR, that you will be asked if you want to import (or something like that) your settings from the older version of SONAR, select yes to transfer your settings from the older version of SONAR to the newer version.
 
"The software I'm about to buy has been previously registered, the seller said it would be completely functional, only I won't be able to get support from cakewalk. Is that true?"
 
Yes. The above is true.
 
"There also is a Sonar 8.5. I don't know what it has that Sonar 8 doesn't have, but would I eventually be able to upgrade to that if I installed Sonar 8?"
 
SONAR 8.5 is the most stable and fully featured version of SONAR before the SONAR X series of products and the SONAR newest series of products. SONAR 8.5.3 is so stable, fully featured, and customizable, that some users still use it rather than the newer versions of SONAR. SONAR 8.5 is a full upgrade version of SONAR, but at that time Cakewalk changed the naming convention, so it was called 8.5, instead of SONAR 9.
 
You will be able to install SONAR 8.5 if there is a version of SONAR 8 on your computer. SONAR 8.5 was a downloaded version that depended on some files from the SONAR 8 installation (unless you bought the SONAR 8.5 installation disks). So, if you have the SONAR 8.5 installation package (downloaded version), you can install 8.5 after you have installed SONAR 8. You will want to update to SONAR 8.5.3, after you install SONAR 8.5, if possible.
 
As, with SONAR 8, you will be asked if you want to import your settings from the older version of SONAR, when you start-up 8.5.
 
EDIT:
 
Oh yeah, if you use SONAR 8, you'll want to update that to 8.3.1, if you can. So the best version of SONAR 8 to use, is to update to 8.3.1. And the best version of SONAR 8.5 to use, is to update that to 8.5.3.

I started with Sonar 6, then 7 then right to 8.5. I remember the forum back then and 8 was not very good. It was like X1 was to X3. So I personally wouldn't pay money for it. Seek out 8.5. 
It's actually not supposed to be sold so the person selling it is breaking the rules. Not that anyone really cares anymore. Someday soon you will own the new version. 
I still run 8.5 on my old XP laptop. I don't really do any work with it anymore as you can never go back, I just use it to look stuff up to help on the forum. If your stuck with XP on that laptop 8.5 is the best Sonar for that system. 
 
I never had an issue playing any Sonar files even as far back as my 2004 Guitar Studio CWP files, they played on all version right up until now. It's only missing plug ins and soft synths that will be still there if you keep the old versions installed. Don't un-install 6. keep it. 
 

I used 8.5 the longest out of all the Sonars. It served me well. Made some great quality music with it. Was very very stable. I can't recall a crash off the top of my head that was due to sonar rather than my computer. I do very much enjoy the X series and most recently platinum.
 
I still got Sonar 8.5 on my less capable laptop incase i need to record on the go or do some quick mixing. Later on id transfer the project to x3 or platinum. Great program, especially if you're not ready for the x-series yet.

That was a lot of useful information, thank you for that.
The reason why I'm even asking is:  my Tascam US 428 is having some issues so I ordered a Presonus Audio Box VSL22 interface. It works on XP and USB2 plus it has onboard effects so that would lighten the processing load on the computer.
This Audio Box also comes with a basic version of Studio one. I don't know if anybody here is familiar with that program. I saw a youtube video of it and it looks very easy to use and powerful.
But....I think the Audio Box which used to come with Studio one ver 2 now comes with Studio One ver 3 which doesn't run with XP anymore, it requires Windows 7. I have not been able to find a download for the free version of Studio one ver 2.
I don't have the Presonus Audio box yet. But It should be here any day now.
So that's why I'm thinking about which direction to go..
So the Sonar 8   I can buy is 32.- and that includes a Tutorial DVD.
Would I be able to upgrade that to ver 8.3.1 even if I can't register the program? I'm imagining those are mainly bug fixes but those would be nice to have especially since the Sonar 8 is considered to be a "Dog". Does Cakewalk have those fixes available for download still?
Or should I just stay with Sonar 6? How much better is Sonar 8? I read it's easiest on resources compared to other Sonar versions.