I have a new computer with Windows 7 and Sonar 8.5.  I'm unable to open most buns and/or wrk files that I made on my old computer with XP and Sonar 8.5. I can't open files from my hard drive, my Segate backup or flash drives.  I get this message:    Could not open file.  The file may be damaged or incompatible with this version of Sonar."  (it's the same version)  I can't open in safe mode either.

Today I went to my working partner's home who has these same files on his computer, (also Windows 7 and Sonar 8.5).  Although we did these works when we both had XP, his are loading fine on Windows 7.  I brought his copies home and they will not open here.  So the files are not corrupt, it must be Sonar.  Should I reload Sonar......everything new I do is just fine........it's just the old stuff which I happen to need right now (sigh).  One more thing, it may be a coincidence, but these files all contain VSTs from Goliath.  (Goliath VSTs are working in new projects.)

Thanks for any ideas you might have.
Kaye Krebs

bun (bundles) files are generally not deemed to be very reliable.
I would suggest that you open the bun file(s) on your friend's computer, save the project as a cwp along with the associated audio files and copy those over to your computer.

I tried his cwp  projects with no audio, no luck.    I also disovered a few I can open with VSTs (just a few tracks of VSTs, not loaded like some of the others.)  I still can't figure out why I could open a few of these projets, but not most of them.  I reloaded Sonar 8.5 and got the same result.  

CWP files don't contain any audio. The audio is stored in a separate file so in order to use the CWP file, you need the CWP file and the audio files. 

Did you try saving from partners as a CWB file?

Yes, I know you need a bun to capture the audio, or bring the audio file with the cwp.  I can't open the buns.   But most of these files are MIDI, the only audio being a mix or maybe a few MIDI tracks I recorded to add an effect.  So, I've also tried opening as a cwp project, skipping all audio, no luck.  I have two projects from 8.5 I can open.  I guess today I have to try to compare those two to the rest to figure out why they open.   I loaded Sonar 6 last night and discovered I can open everything except, of course,  8.5.   I haven't been able to open old 6 files either.

SO if these files open and play just fine on an other computer there should be no problem. Your problem is the way Sonar can scatter stuff all over your hard drive. I never use Sonar's file system for that reason. 

Using windows, create a folder, in your case I would use a exterior storage device as the location. 

This is so simple... Now open the project on the other computer. 
It's all there? It plays fine? 
Perform a "SAVE AS" and point it to the new folder on the back up drive. 
check the " copy all audio" box  
Save as a " CWP " not any other format. 
There you go, If that won't open on ANY version of Sonar I will be amazed. 
A few things to watch are 32 bit and 64 bit systems. 
Different interfaces with mismatched clock rates. 

I transfer songs between 3 different computers all the time. 
The main thing is before you even hit record to put the project in a folder where you want it to be. You can set this in the folder options too. Other wise Sonar will save your CWP file in a different location than the audio. Or worse, all your audio from dozens of songs are mixed together in one folder. 
This is basic Windows folder and file management that has been the same for a long time now. Just hitting save in any software without knowing where it is going is foolish.   "SAVE AS" is your friend. 

Thanks.  I will try that tomorrow.  But you raise an issue that hadn't occurred to me:  all these files were made in 32bit and I am now in 64. However, I think my partner has also switched to 64 with Windows 7.  

32 or 64 bit shouldn't matter. Try opening the CWB file in safe mode... Hold down the shift key while clicking on File-Open. 

I have 8.5 PE and recently bought a new computer...I went from XP to Win7...Went from 32bit to 64bit.  I was afraid the same exact thing was going to happen to me, but so far so good.  But, I've always kept these as cwp files.

I'm a maroon when it comes to computers (or everything else too, if you asked my father) so I really can't offer anything but my mojo.  I hope you get this worked out.