I currently have sonar 7 producers edition and I'm thinking of upgrading to x3 right now . I do not own the sonar 7 as I bought a computer off somebody with it pre loaded so I wont be in titled to the discount. When I buy the new x3 how do I go about installing it? Will I loose all my sonar 7 pe files/ work & plugins I had or will the new version just just upload and transfer everything from the sonar 7 to the x3?
 
Thanks

X3 is no longer available, it has been replaced with a new type of membership program where SONAR is simply SONAR (available in three separate versions) that evolves continuously. This link has info to the latest version.
 
You can install any version of SONAR side-by-side with any other version. Quite a few users install the new version, but keep the old version on their drives for two main reasons:
 
1. The old version may have had plug-ins or other "accessories" that aren't in the new version.
2. Users can learn the new version at their leisure and complete projects in the old version.
 
Be aware that the X series is almost like a different DAW, and therefore has a learning curve. However, I think the majority opinion is that once you learn the new version, it's overall superior to pre-X-series versions.

Well I really don't want to have 2 side by side and tie up memory. Ok so it seems my plugins will not transfer over without reinstalling them but will I be able to transfer all my cakewalk projects over with no issue or missing audio?  I see Ebay has the X3 forsale . Which of the new versions is similar to the Producer series

richie2rich4
Well I really don't want to have 2 side by side and tie up memory.

 
Most of the space the programs take up is content, extras, and project files. The program executable itself takes up little space--only a few dozen megabytes IIRC (not at my music computer right now). There's no significant memory penalty in leaving it installed, and you can consolidate the other folders. For example I just transferred any custom templates, track icons,etc. I did for X3 over to the Cakewalk content folder for SONAR Platinum, and deleted the X3 content folder.
 

You Ok so it seems my plugins will not transfer over without reinstalling them

 
You will not need to reinstall them. Worse case is they're in a folder you'll need to include in the scan paths in plug-in manager.
 

but will I be able to transfer all my cakewalk projects over with no issue or missing audio?

 
I don't remember if SONAR 7 let you save per-project folders or not, but if so, you can just open the .cwp file in the new version and SONAR will know what to do. The biggest problem is if all your audio  is consolidated in the Audio folder. How to handle that situation depends on how many projects you have.
 
Of course the new versions have many features that weren't in SONAR 7. I have had good luck opening older projects in newer versions, but I've never made as big a jump as from SONAR 7 to SONAR X3. It was always 8.5 to X1 with a few minor changes, a few more minor changes when going to X2, etc. Perhaps others can comment on the backward compatibility with big jumps but overall, I think the consensus is that it works reasonably well.
 

I see Ebay has the X3 forsale . Which of the new versions is similar to the Producer series.

Platinum is the equivalent to Producer. Make sure that X3 really is a valid copy and was never registered. Depending on how much it costs, you might be better off buying X3 then paying the upgrade price to Platinum.

richie2rich4
Well I really don't want to have 2 side by side and tie up memory. Ok so it seems my plugins will not transfer over without reinstalling them but will I be able to transfer all my cakewalk projects over with no issue or missing audio?  I see Ebay has the X3 forsale . Which of the new versions is similar to the Producer series

The current top of the line would be Platinum. Here is basic comparison among current offerings: 
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
 
There are only a few plug-ins from 7 that are gone that may make it worthwhile to keep and even those, it can be argued are replaced by better options.

Thanks fellas. I have the other plugins I purchased and didn't really care to much of the cakewalk ones.
 
 Yes there is a cakewalk projects folder in sonar 7 So I assume I can just copy and paste each project and paste it in the new version of Cakewalk?

Yes, either change the preferences in the new SONAR to point to the old project folder, copy the old projects into the new folder, if using per-project folders (and you should be) navigate to the project folder in the open project dialog or open the project file directly from Window explorer.