Like the many of the other people on this forum I took the plunge as well and upgraded to the platinum edition. Today is the first day that I have been able to explore it. I do have some issues that I hope someone can help me with,
 
Background: I Re-imaged my hard drive and loaded a fresh install of windows 7. Then I got all the windows updates. I downloaded Cakewalk's Command Center and loaded everything through it. I also installed all of the extra stuff I purchased from cakewalk through the years like the pro channel modules and Zeta 2.
 
What Works: Sonar platinum works well. In fact, I think it is even more stable than X3. I opened a few projects and every thing worked well. There are no issues with any cakewalk products and everything works great. I must admit that I have not had a chance to run a lot of tests yet because i am still working on some install issues. but so far i am happy with what I see.
 
What Does Not Work: I am having some issues with addictive drums. I put the code in the AD's site. The one I got from cakewalk, but all that comes up on the installer is the demo version of the program. Before I put the code in the website I downloaded the AD installer and loaded Addictive Drums 1 and all the add on packs I purchased over the years.
 
I purchased a lot of add on midi packs over the last two years and I wanted to load addictive drums 1 before I loaded AD2. If I were to pay for an upgrade for Addictive drums 2 from their website they would automatically upgrade all of my add on packs because it is a different engine.
 
After testing everything out it seems like the installer only installed the demo version of AD2. I say this because only 3 kit pieces work and none of my add on packs work in addictive drums. I have not chosen or loaded any of the AD2 packs you get from buying platinum. Mainly because I want to iron out this issue first. So my question is this. What am I doing wrong? Will my AD1 add on packs upgrade with AD2? Do I need to install the 3 packs I got from buying platinum in order for AD2 to work?
 
The other problem I have is addictive drums is showing a needs repair on AD1, AD2 and Addictive Keys. I let the installer repair it but it does not remove the needs repair message. The programs work fine within Sonar and there are no issues there, but for some reason the installer wants to repair these programs every time I open it. I really think AD2 is the demo version and I did put my code in from cakewalk. The website excepted the code, but it does not say anything in the installer. It said AD2 demo. After I installed the demo it said AD2.
 
The other Issue I am having is that the command center seems too automatic. It installed the 64 bit version of Sonar and it did not give me a choice between 64 bit and 32 bit installations. I usually install both versions on my hard drive and there is no way to choose and install both versions using the command center. The reason I do this is because there are older plugins and projects that don't work in the 64 bit version and I am not yet willing to part with them or spend the money and buy the newer 64 bit versions.
 
If worse comes to worse I will just install a 32 bit version of X3. But I would rather move away from the X series altogether.
 
Hopefully I can get these issues ironed out by the end of the day and I can start having fun with this latest version of Sonar! Any thoughts?

You can download and do a manual install. I haven't done that, but maybe someone who has can describe if you can install the 32-bit version that way.
 
As to Addictive 2 issues, I've seen this mentioned in other threads but I don't recall the resolution. 

If the initial install was performed using the Control Center, the installers are already downloaded. The default location for the cached downloads is "C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk\Command Center\Downloads." The actual path is shown on the Control Center settings page accessed by clicking the gear in the upper right-hand corner of the Control Center. Running the installers from the cache will allow a 32bit install on a 64bit OS.

 
Thank You Scook! I was able to install the 32 bit version and all the 32 bit plugins I use.
 
Now all I need to do is figure out this Addictive Drums issue and I am done. It seems as though I found the error code which says
 
Cotton Boot
XLN Online Installer
CommandLine: admin
Type: Standalone
 
It seems the stand alone version of addictive drums does not work. This does not matter because I only use it inside of Sonar. I still only have the demo version of Addictive Drums 2. It seems as though it is time to contact XLN audio and see what they say. Is anyone else having this issue?

Alright this is what I have been able to come up with. None of my add on packs for AD1 will merge and load with AD2. If you buy the upgrade on their site then you can get the extra drums you purchased to show up in AD2.
 
Running tests on this I was able to use all the midi files from AD 1 with AD 2. If you were to download the demo from AD you would get the program with a sample pack of Fairfax that would unlock a few drums. You need a drum pack loaded in order for AD2 to work otherwise forget about it. That is one of the main differences between AD 1 and AD 2 that I can see. Apparently AD 1 comes with a set of default drums while AD 2 needs a drum pack.
 
It seems I would still need to pay for the upgrade to get all the drum Packs from AD1 to Work in AD2. I wish I would have known this before I purchased the Sonar upgrade. This information would have been helpful in choosing which packs to install. I have about $180.00 in add on packs for AD1 and now I would need to spend an additional $79.00 to get them to work in AD2. I am not going to do that. I will just use AD1.
 
There should be some special pricing for this or something needs to be worked out for cakewalk customers so that we can get our packs working in AD 2 for a discount.

Yes, AD1 and AD2 are two different products. The AD2 packs work, just not in AD1. From XLN's perspective you are being offered the same deal as any other AD1 owner. Given you paid for AD1 and the AD2 Producer Bundle, $79 seems like a special price to me.

scook
Yes, AD1 and AD2 are two different products. The AD2 packs work, just not in AD1. From XLN's perspective you are being offered the same deal as any other AD1 owner. Given you paid for AD1 and the AD2 Producer Bundle, $79 seems like a special price to me.

Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to complain. I think that the 79.00 upgrade is a good price. I just did not know that you would not be able to merge the AD1 packs with AD2. On XLN audio's site they say that with the purchase of the upgrade you will be able to merge the packs. I did not know cakewalks upgrade did not give you that option.
 
It is really a non issue for me because I can still have use of the midi packs from AD 1 for AD 2. I just need to open both AD 1 and AD 2 in the same project in order to choose the midi files I want. For the most part I am happy with the upgrade. If I would have known this going in then I would have chosen a drum pack that I already have for AD 1 in AD 2. I was under the assumption that I already had use of the kit because it was in AD 1.
 
I do appreciate your help scook. I value any feedback you give. Thanks Again

My use of Addictive Drums is only with my Cakewalk purchases, that is both AD1 and AD2.
I must say other than AD2 being 64 bit(not VST3), I think AD1 is much better. Maybe the AD2 'engine' is better. Must claim though, I am not a proficient user.
Seems to me, AD2 is geared more towards buying kits and not really a more advanced upgrade to AD1, other than 64 bit from 32 bit.   
 
I humbly request to be taught otherwise.

You may be right SimpleManZ but I am trying to reserve judgement until after I have had some time to work with AD2. I can say that so far I like AD 1 better. Maybe after I have some time to figure it out I will like AD 2 just as much.
 
A few weeks back I got an email about an upgrade sale for AD 2. The price was somewhere around $59.00. The only thing holding me back was the fact that Sonar would come out with a new version soon and I would upgrade then. So now I am just holding off for the next XLN upgrade sale.
 
Well the good news is my install issues that I listed here are resolved. Now if I can only get my audio interface to behave.