I recently bought a new desktop (Windows 8.1) and I'll be wanting to move my old Cakewalk stuff soon. One thing I've learned is that I'm really not interested in 90% of the stuff on Sonar X-2. Really I'd just like to be able to record my new songs with a minimum of fuss. Vocal mike and Guitar Rig, for example. The ability to incorporate extra tracks, bass guitar etc. I don't want to clutter up my new computer with a lot of stuff I'll never use. Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated.
Justin

Audacity?
 
Seriously just do a custom install and omit the stuff you do not want.
 
Then do not use the stuff that you do not use.

Can you define "clutter"? After all, it's just 1's and 0's really. Are you short on drive space that installing other SONAR components would box you in? 
 
I'd just do a full install and, like said above, just don't use what you don't want. But if you change your mind it's there. 
 
now, 3rd party VSTs I can understand. They get scanned and that slows things up, they can be buggy and crash the rig, and you have to worry about whether they'll be around in a year from now and such.